Engineering Technician
An Engineering Technician is a professional who works alongside engineers in various fields, applying principles of mathematics and science to practical projects. They are involved in creating and modifying designs for engineering systems, participating in tasks related to mechanical, civil, industrial, environmental, and electrical engineering. Engineering technicians typically hold an associate's degree and may work in diverse environments such as laboratories, offices, or construction sites, where they test and analyze systems or assist in product design and development.
Their workday can vary significantly based on their specialization; for instance, civil engineering technicians might focus on construction projects, while mechanical engineering technicians may be involved in designing consumer products or industrial machinery. Engineering technicians should possess strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. They enjoy understanding how systems operate and are comfortable using technology and software relevant to their field. Overall, the role of an engineering technician is crucial in turning theoretical concepts into tangible solutions across multiple sectors.
Engineering Technician
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Architecture & Construction, Arts, A/V Technology & Communications, Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
Interests: Mechanics, analyzing information, working with your hands
Earnings (Yearly Median): $60,700 per year $29.18 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 1% (Little or no change)
Entry-Level Education Associate's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work.Engineering technicians work in careers spanning the broad spectrum of the engineering field. These include mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, and electrical engineering. As technicians, they work alongside engineers to apply the theories and principles of mathematics and science.
Engineering technicians create and modify designs and concepts used in various engineering systems. Technicians working in construction test and analyze building systems. Other technicians work in road construction, comparing and analyzing highway systems and traffic data. Engineering technicians also work in product design and development, helping to produce machine parts, engines, and other industrial systems.
Work Environment. Engineering technicians work in laboratories, offices, or construction settings. They transition from testing in the lab to on-site assistance as needed, and work with others to implement the vision of the engineer using a variety of technologies.
Occupation Interest. An engineering technician should be interested in how things work and run. Technicians enjoy observing and analyzing complex systems. They like working with their hands, taking things apart and putting them back together again. They are precise and attentive to detail, and they enjoy running tests to perfect a project or machine. They apply abstract concepts to models and tangible objects.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. An engineering technician’s typical workday varies depending on the field of engineering in which they specialize. For example, civil engineering technicians assist and perform tasks for civil engineers in a number of capacities related to construction. They work for city governments or corporations, estimating construction costs, mapping traffic patterns, reviewing blueprints, inspecting project sites, preparing reports, determining building materials, and drafting plans using computer software. They spend most of their days performing these activities in an office, working regular hours. Sometimes they visit the site of a project to monitor its progress.
A mechanical engineering technician may work on any number of product design projects, including designs for toys, automobile parts, engine parts, medical devices, and household appliances. Technicians assist mechanical engineers in the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of a product or machine. They work in laboratories and offices and may work in machine shops. The daily responsibilities of a mechanical engineering technician include preparing sketches and drafts, testing components, recording data, calculating costs, and creating prototypes. In some cases, technicians operate computer systems or heavy machinery while creating or modifying a product.
Industrial engineering technicians work in a variety of industries. They assist industrial engineers in helping businesses manage their resources and personnel more effectively. Working in teams, industrial engineering technicians spend their days in an office or observing workers in the field. They help companies revise their methods of operation, and in preparing charts and presentations to help implement those revisions.
Industrial Engineering Technicians (17-3026.00). Industrial Engineering Technicians study and record time, motion, methods, and speed of maintenance, production, clerical and other work operations to establish standard production rates and improve efficiency.
Civil Engineering Technicians (17-3022.00). Civil Engineering Technicians help civil engineers plan and build highways, buildings, bridges, dams, wastewater treatment systems, and other structures. They also do related surveys and studies. Some inspect water and wastewater treatment systems to ensure pollution control requirements are met. Others estimate construction costs and specify materials to be used.
Mechanical Engineering Technicians (17-3027.00). Mechanical Engineering Technicians help engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture industrial machinery, consumer products and other equipment.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Most engineering technicians work in an office setting, although some work in manufacturing areas or laboratories. Many engineering technicians also conduct work in the field. Depending on their area of specialty, the work of some technicians may involve heavy equipment, electrical equipment, or hazardous chemicals.
Human Environment. Engineering technicians work with engineers, scientists, construction workers, draftspeople, and businesspersons on a daily basis. Technicians must be able to communicate their ideas effectively and take instructions from their colleagues.
Technological Environment. Regardless of specialization, the work of an engineering technician relies heavily on technology. Civil engineering technicians, for instance, use computers to draft architectural and construction designs. Mechanical engineers operate heavy and complex machinery. Industrial engineers use computer software to draft office layouts and map workflow processes.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Aspiring engineering technicians should enroll in classes related to mathematics, science, and computer science. They must be comfortable with visualizing data using charts and graphs. It is important that individuals interested in becoming engineering technicians familiarize themselves with laboratory science and the scientific method. A working knowledge of engineering, mechanics, and machinery is also helpful.
Postsecondary. Most engineering technician jobs require only an associate’s degree; unlike engineers, an engineering technician is not required to complete a bachelor’s degree. Individuals who pursue a bachelor’s degree more often go on to become engineering technologists. Most employers require a two-year associate’s degree from a school accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Some fields require only a certificate from an ABET-accredited vocational school or training program.
Postsecondary training for engineering technicians focuses on skills related to math and science, though specifics vary from field to field. For example, an industrial engineering technician will take courses in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software.
Related Occupations
− Drafter
− Electronic Engineering Technician
− Energy Conservation & Use Technician
Bibliography
"Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineering-technicians.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
"Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Aug. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineering-technicians.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
"Mechanical Engineering Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineering-technicians.htm. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.