Cryogenic engineer

Earnings (Yearly Average): $ 96,310 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022)

Employment and Outlook: Average (O*Net Online, 2022)

O*NET-SOC Code: 17-2141.00

Related Career Clusters: Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Health Science; Manufacturing

Scope of Work

Cryogenics is a broad field that focuses on the production of extremely cold temperatures and the impact of such temperatures on matter. Cryogenic engineers work for the military, the aerospace industry, the healthcare community, and other public or private entities in need of more efficient processes facilitated by a deep freeze. Practitioners in the field have, for example, brought about revolutionary advances in refrigeration, rocket technology, and medical equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. The field is continually expanding as the needs of other disciplines encourage cryogenic engineers to produce innovations with broad applicability.

Education and Coursework

At the high school level, aspiring cryogenic engineers should take advanced science and mathematics courses, as well as any engineering courses available. Students entering undergraduate engineering programs typically rank in the top half of their high-school class and excel in the quantitative section of the SAT or ACT. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for employment in the field. Although colleges and universities generally do not offer a cryogenic engineering major, many engineering and applied sciences programs offer relevant courses and allow students to build a major with a cryogenics concentration. Students should pursue extensive coursework in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering. Those interested in specializing in a particular application of cryogenics may choose to take courses in relevant areas; for instance, a student interested in cryogenic medical technology may benefit from studying biology, anatomy, and related subjects.

A master’s degree in either chemical or mechanical engineering is preferred for advanced positions, and requirements for admission into graduate programs are stringent, with only the highest-ranked undergraduates gaining entry into the most competitive programs. A direct correlation exists between pay grade and the educational level attained. Unlike many fields, cryogenics employs graduates of programs in a wide array of concentrations, from mechanical and chemical engineering to physics. Some cryogenic engineers choose to pursue a doctorate in engineering, which may provide individuals with further employment opportunities in industry, academia, or government.

The Cryogenic Society of America (CSA), a nonprofit technical society, provides a list on its website of universities with courses in cryogenics, low-temperature physics, and superconductivity.

Career Enhancement

Requirements concerning certification and licensing vary based on the industry of employment. Cryogenic engineers working for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will be expected to renew their safety certifications frequently and take additional courses to expand their knowledge when necessary. Any cryogenic work performed for other federal agencies will carry similar expectations in terms of both safety and additional training. Engineers employed by private corporations will be held to different standards but will still be expected to hold job-specific safety certifications and pursue additional education commensurate with their work needs.

Those interested in pursuing a career in cryogenics should consider joining a technical society such as the Cryogenic Society of America (CSA). Membership in the CSA includes a subscription to the association’s trade magazine, Cold Facts, which contains announcements concerning upcoming conferences and networking events, as well as news about advances in the field. Although joining such an association does not ensure employment or greater pay, it does provide interested students and job seekers with access to tools that will make them more competitive applicants.

Daily Tasks and Technology

Whether working for NASA, the US military, or a private firm, cryogenic engineers can expect to spend most of their time in a laboratory researching extremely cold temperatures or developing technology that makes use of such temperatures. Cryogenic engineers may seek new ways to freeze and transport food, work to increase the scientific community’s understanding of superconductivity or design cryogenic fuel systems for rockets. In the medical field, cryogenic engineers may design improved equipment for surgery, medical imaging, or cancer treatment.

Regardless of industry, cryogenic engineers typically use a variety of specialized tools. These may include cryostats, which are devices that keep the substances stored inside at cryogenic temperatures; cryocoolers, which are used to lower the temperature of a substance to cryogenic levels; and thermosiphons, which are used to transfer heat.

Safety is of great concern for all involved in the field, as cryogenic engineers frequently subject matter to extremely low temperatures that can have damaging effects on the human body. Many of the gases and liquids used in cryogenic research, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide, are flammable or toxic. Preventing accidents remains a major consideration, and cryogenic professionals are often expected to complete various safety classes and hold safety certifications. Despite safety precautions, hazards such as explosions, cold burns, and related health problems make the field potentially dangerous.

Earnings and Employment Outlook

Employment in the field of cryogenic engineering, and other highly specialized fields of engineering such as mechanical engineering, is expected to experience as fast as average growth (5–9 percent) between 2016 and 2026. In a field in which only a select number of highly specialized scientists can even meet the minimum requirements for employment, the demand for competent cryogenic engineers remains acute. Experience working in the field is highly desirable, as is technical proficiency with cryogenic systems and related equipment.

Those who secure entry-level positions with a traditional undergraduate engineering degree and little to no experience can typically expect salaries in at least the $60,000 range. As education and experience increase, so too do rates of compensation. Research laboratories, government agencies, institutions of higher learning, medical technology firms, and a variety of other entities routinely hire cryogenic engineers at all levels to carry out research, plan and manage projects, and present findings to government agencies and major clients. If employment trends hold steady, entering the field of cryogenics may prove to be a beneficial career choice for students pursuing degrees in mechanical engineering or chemical engineering.

Related Occupations

• Aerospace Engineers:Aerospace engineers determine the most suitable design and materials for the construction of aircraft.

• Biomedical Engineers:Biomedical engineers examine the utility of medical equipment and technology, offering suggestions on possible improvements, rectifying design flaws, and developing new equipment when necessary.

• Mechanical Engineers:Mechanical engineers build and improve the design of machines and make mechanical systems more efficient.

• Food Scientists: Food scientists study the deterioration and preservation of food items, as well as ways to make processed food healthier and more nutritionally beneficial.

• Nanosystems Engineers:Nanosystems engineers research and develop nanotechnology and related systems and tools.

Future Applications

Regardless of industry, most companies face the growing dilemma of how to make cost-efficient products while adhering to the growing body of environmental legislation governing local, state, and national commerce. Green technology is the wave of the future, and cryogenic engineers are at the forefront of the effort to find energy sources that are more ecologically friendly. Efforts to use alternative fuels such as frozen hydrogen have met with some success.

Cryogenics will be an important aspect of other industries as well. Despite budget reductions, NASA continues to explore space, and cryogenic engineers will play an integral role in researching more efficient technology to facilitate deep-space voyages. In addition, ever-increasing population growth and dispersion across the United States and the world will necessitate improved preservation and refrigeration techniques so that food items can be transported safely to those in need. In these areas and others, the skills of cryogenic engineers will prove essential to further innovation.

Bibliography

Cryogenic Society of America, www.cryogenicsociety.org. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.

"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022: 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor, 25 Apr. 2023, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172141.htm. Accessed 17 Sept. 2023.

"Summary Report for: 17-2141.00-Mechanical Engineers." O*Net OnLine, 2022, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2141.00. Accessed 18 Sept. 2023.