• Question: hello and thank you for giving us the oppotunity to learn more about engineering first of all and second of all since i dont know much about engineering what sort of things does it involve and what sort of degrees do you need for your skilled areas ?

    Asked by twihard2000 to Rory, Roma, Mark, Jaz on 14 Jun 2014.
    • Photo: Jaz Rabadia

      Jaz Rabadia answered on 14 Jun 2014:

      There are lots of different types of engineering. I studied mechanical engineering at university ( mainly working on things that move like cars, pumps, fans) As Debenhams energy manager, I mainly carry out energy engineering. This involves looking at ways of saving energy in a Debenhams store through engineering projects.
      Projects i have carried out so far include installing more efficient lighting and heating systems in the store. Also in the staff areas we are fitting sensors so the lighting only comes on when people are in the room. Similarly in the window displays we fit sensors that switch off the lights when there is enough natural daylight, so lights only come on when its dark outside

      Jaz

      When you hear from all the other engineers you’ll see just how different our jobs are 🙂 but they all require a good level of problem solving skills.

    • Photo: Roma Agrawal

      Roma Agrawal answered on 15 Jun 2014:

      Great question- there are LOADS of different types of engineering!

      I studied Physics at university because I didn’t know what I wanted to do- and that’s a degree you can get all sorts of jobs with (it’s true!)

      Then I did a Masters in Structural Engineering- my job is to make sure that buildings and bridges stand up and are safe to live and work in. I worked on the Shard, have you visited it yet?

      Roma

    • Photo: Mark Greaves

      Mark Greaves answered on 15 Jun 2014:

      Hello!

      Engineering is all around you, pretty much everything you use/touch/see will have had an engineer involved at some point!

      For my job I look at pumps, pressure vessels, combined heat & power engines, steam boilers, heat transfer equipment, chemical dosing equipment, explosive atmospheres, health & safety legislation and environmental law & permits to list but a few.

      Typically in the water industry we employ the following engineers:
      Process / Chemical
      Mechanical
      Electrical, Instrumentation, Automation & Control
      Civil
      Hydraulic
      Modelling
      Geotechnical
      Architects
      Environmental

      To start off with maths and the sciences will give you a good base.
      Having a good imagination, problem solving skills and a can do attitude will get you a long way!

      Mark

    • Photo: Rory Hadden

      Rory Hadden answered on 15 Jun 2014:

      That is a very tough question to answer. I hope the great answers from the other Engineers help!

      I don’t think there is such a thing as a ‘typical’ engineer (as you see from the answers below). In my own career, I have been a chemical engineer (they take cheap raw materials (e.g. oil and turn them into expensive products e.g. plastics). Then I worked as an environmental engineer (I was helping to make a new way to clean up oil soils). Now I look at how things burn so that we can make safer buildings.

      Although these all sounds quite different, the skills involved are the same: problem solving, creative thinking and meeting lots of interesting people!

      I hope that helps – let us know if you want to hear more!

      Rory

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