What Is Engineering and What Do Engineers Do?

Engineers apply physical and chemical laws and principles and mathematics to design millions of products and services that we use in our everyday lives. These products include cars, computers, aircraft, clothing, toys, home appliances, surgical equipment, heating and cooling equipment, health care devices, tools and machines that makes various products, and so on (see Figure 1.3). Engineers consider important factors such as cost, efficiency, reliability, and safety when design- ing these products. Engineers perform tests to make certain that the products they design with- stand various loads and conditions. They are continuously searching for ways to improve already existing products as well. They also design and supervise the construction of buildings, dams, highways, and mass transit systems and the construction of power plants that supply power to manufacturing companies, homes, and offices. Engineers play a significant role in the design and maintenance of a nation’s infrastructure, including communication systems, public utilities, and transportation. Engineers continuously develop new, advanced materials to make products lighter and stronger for different applications. They are also responsible for finding suitable ways to extract petroleum, natural gas, and raw materials from the earth, and they are involved in com- ing up with ways of increasing crop, fruit, and vegetable yields along with improving the safety of our food products.

The following represent some common careers for engineers. In addition to design, some engineers work as sales representatives for products, while others provide technical support and troubleshooting for customers of their products. Many engineers decide to become involved in sales and customer support, because their engineering background enables them to explain and discuss technical information and to assist with installation, operation, and maintenance of var- ious products and machines. Not all engineers work for private industries; some work for fed- eral, state, and local governments in various capacities. Engineers work in departments of agriculture, defense, energy, and transportation. Some engineers work for the National Aero- nautics and Space Administration (NASA). As you can see, there are many satisfying and chal- lenging jobs for engineers.