Around the world, all types of engineers work together every day to help make communities and people healthy, happy
and safe!
From biomedical to agricultural engineers, all are creative problem solvers innovating solutions that shape our futures. Kids can take a
closer look at the types of engineers below to learn what kind of work they do, and explore the featured hands-on activities that showcase each
engineering type—for elementary, middle and high school students. And, check out our 'What is Engineering?' video.
Aerospace Engineers
Explore our Aerospace Engineering Curriculum:
The sky's the limit! For those who enjoy putting things in motion, aerospace engineering strikes a chord. Be it a satellite observing the Martian atmosphere, a turbine engine from a commercial airliner, a fixture for testing performance of a defensive missile, or an active ballast for reducing sway in an ocean liner, aerospace engineers are on the job.
The sky's the limit! For those who enjoy putting things in motion, aerospace engineering strikes a chord. Be it a satellite observing the Martian atmosphere, a turbine engine from a commercial airliner, a fixture for testing performance of a defensive missile, or an active ballast for reducing sway in an ocean liner, aerospace engineers are on the job.
Aerospace engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields: astrodynamics, flight structures and materials, propulsion and fluid dynamics, instrumentation, control systems, and navigation.
Where do aerospace engineers work?
Aerospace engineers work in a variety of organizations, including:
- NASA Flight and Research Centers
- Robotics Companies
- Automotive Facilities
- Department of Defense
- Private/Commercial Space Firms
Biomedical Engineers
Explore our Biomedical Engineering Curriculum:
Promoting health, happiness and safety! Globally, biomedical engineers contribute to improving access to effective, safe, quality and affordable medicines, medical technologies and devices through the development of new innovative solutions. Biomedical engineers apply their knowledge of analytical and design principles to the development, testing and analysis of novel and improved medical treatments and devices.
Promoting health, happiness and safety! Globally, biomedical engineers contribute to improving access to effective, safe, quality and affordable medicines, medical technologies and devices through the development of new innovative solutions. Biomedical engineers apply their knowledge of analytical and design principles to the development, testing and analysis of novel and improved medical treatments and devices.
Biomedical engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields:
math, physics, chemistry, design, human biology, anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience and bioethics.
Where do biomedical engineers work?
Biomedical engineers work in a variety of roles, including:
- Medical research facilities
- Medical device and instrument companies
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Biotechnology firms
Civil Engineers
Explore our Civil Engineering Curriculum:
If you can dream it, civil engineers can build it! Almost every piece of infrastructure you see (and lots you don’t) were designed by civil engineers: buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, highways, airports, water and sewer systems. Civil engineers meet the needs of the future by balancing human demands with the requirements for healthy, natural environments.
If you can dream it, civil engineers can build it! Almost every piece of infrastructure you see (and lots you don’t) were designed by civil engineers: buildings, bridges, tunnels, dams, highways, airports, water and sewer systems. Civil engineers meet the needs of the future by balancing human demands with the requirements for healthy, natural environments.
Civil engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields: built environments, architectural, construction, geotechnical and earthquakes,transportation and water resources.
Where do civil engineers work?
Civil engineers often split their time between the office and outdoor field sites. They work in a variety of organizations, including:
- Structural Design Firms
- Geotechnical Consulting Firms
- Commercial Construction Firms
- Residential Development Firms
- Local, State and National Departments of Transportation
Environmental Engineers
Explore our Environmental Engineering Curriculum:
Finding solutions to the world’s pervasive and global problems! With rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change impacts, our world is facing new challenges to ensure both environmental and human systems can thrive. Environmental engineers work at the nexus of environmental and public health to provide clean drinking water, ensure safe sanitation, improve air quality, and remediate polluted sites.
Finding solutions to the world’s pervasive and global problems! With rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change impacts, our world is facing new challenges to ensure both environmental and human systems can thrive. Environmental engineers work at the nexus of environmental and public health to provide clean drinking water, ensure safe sanitation, improve air quality, and remediate polluted sites.
Environmental engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields: math, physics, chemistry, design, along with a deep understanding of environmental sciences such as biology, water chemistry, hydrology and atmospheric science.
Where do environmental engineers work?
Environmental engineers may work in a variety of organizations, including:
- Public utilities such as drinking water or wastewater treatment plants
- Oil and Gas Production Firms
- Construction Companies
- Consulting firms working on an array of public and private sector projects
- Local, federal or international governing bodies
- Environmental non-profit organizations
Chemical & Biological Engineers
Explore our Chemical & Biological Engineering Curriculum:
Harnessing organic and inorganic matter to improve the world! Whether it’s optimizing the composition of a particular substance or developing new products that are stronger and more reliable, chemical and biological engineers develop exciting new technologies for a variety of industries, including energy, agriculture, and environmental science.
Harnessing organic and inorganic matter to improve the world! Whether it’s optimizing the composition of a particular substance or developing new products that are stronger and more reliable, chemical and biological engineers develop exciting new technologies for a variety of industries, including energy, agriculture, and environmental science.
Chemical and biological engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields: chemistry, chemical process engineering, petrochemical engineering, polymers, anotechnology, plastics, materials engineering biology, biomedical engineering, biochemical engineering, environmental health engineering, bioinformatics
Where do chemical and biological engineers work?
Chemical and biological engineers may work in a wide variety of organizations, including:
- National research labs
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Alternative energy production
- Industrial manufacturing
- Food engineering research
- Materials engineering firms
Mechanical Engineers
Explore our Mechanical Engineering Curriculum:
Dealing with everything that moves or flows—from nano-devices to roller coasters! They use their knowledge of materials to design and manufacture products and systems that advance the world around us. Mechanical engineers not only design these innovations, they also design the machines that produce and test these innovations.
Dealing with everything that moves or flows—from nano-devices to roller coasters! They use their knowledge of materials to design and manufacture products and systems that advance the world around us. Mechanical engineers not only design these innovations, they also design the machines that produce and test these innovations.
Mechanical engineering spans many disciplines, but is generally broken into a few subfields: properties of materials, solid and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, control, instrumentation, design, and manufacturing to understand mechanical systems
Where do mechanical engineers work?
Mechanical engineers work in a wide variety of industries, including:
- Aerospace Industry
- Air Quality and Pollution Control
- Amusement Park Design
- Automotive Industry
- Medical Device Industry
- Power and Energy Generation and Storage
- Consumer Product Design
More types of engineering are coming soon!
