Career of the week: Energy Engineer
Day to day tasks
You could:
research and design new generating sites
decide on the best locations for sites
plan and oversee production programmes for sites
manage and coordinate teams of technicians or site workers
design and select equipment
meet environmental standards, like carbon reduction targets
find the most cost efficient and productive processes
carry out laboratory experiments
convert experiments into large-scale industrial processes
work with geologists, geophysicists and specialist contractors
manage projects and budgets
Working environment
You could work at a power station, in an office, in a laboratory or on a rig.
You can get into this job through:
a university course
an apprenticeship
University
You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers may expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.
Relevant subjects include:
mining or petroleum engineering
energy engineering
Earth sciences
environmental engineering
renewable or sustainable energy
Getting work experience during your studies through summer internship and year placement schemes can give you an advantage.
Your university careers service can help you find suitable opportunities.
If you're interested in postgraduate research and want to continue your studies up to PhD level, you may be able to apply for a course like an EngD.
These courses are offered by the Industrial Doctoral Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy. You would be sponsored by a company to research offshore technologies for wind, wave and tidal power.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
For more information
Apprenticeship
You may be able to start by doing a higher or degree apprenticeship in areas like:
nuclear engineering
electrical power networks engineering
power and propulsion gas turbine engineering
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
More information
Further information
You'll find more on energy engineering careers from the Energy Institute, [National Grid Careers | https://careers.nationalgrid.com/] and Energy & Utilities Jobs.