Engineering jobs are traditionally white-collar jobs with tasks that require engineering degree holders who have spent at least four to five years in college. However, in contrast with other professional job titles like 'lawyer' and 'doctor', the term 'engineer' has lately become vulnerable to the engineering of human resource directors who believe in using it for motivational purposes. Consequently, it is quite common today to hear a garbage collector called a 'sanitary engineer', and what is referred to as an engineering' job may not be what a degree-holding engineer is looking for at all.

The federal government's Standard Occupational Classification system covers 17 engineering specialties that fit with the traditional job roles of engineering degree holders. Besides these, there are many areas of expertise accepted by professional societies, but this article will cover only the major types of engineering jobs.

Aerospace Engineering

People in aerospace engineering jobs design, build, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and oversee their manufacture. Those working in aerospace engineering jobs may be:
• aeronautical engineers holding engineering jobs concerning aircraft or
• astronautical engineers holding engineering jobs concerning spacecraft.

Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural engineering jobs concern the efficient and enhanced utilization of biological resources, especially in the field of food cultivation. Engineers in these jobs concern themselves with developing the tools and support structures of cultivation.

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering jobs are concerned with finding solutions to medical and health-related problems. Engineers in this field combine information from the fields of biology, medicine, and engineering to come up with groundbreaking solutions. Special medical, surgical, and medical-test equipment result from biomedical engineering.

Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering jobs apply the principles of chemistry to find solutions related to the production or use of chemicals or biochemicals. Chemical engineers design and develop processes and equipment for large-scale chemical manufacturing. They oversee all phases of the development of such products and processes. Chemical engineering jobs may also be available in associated fields like healthcare, biotechnology, energy, food production, etc.

Civil Engineering

Civil engineering jobs involve the design and supervision of construction and real estate development. Civil engineers concern themselves with all factors that impinge upon the design and development of construction. They are also sometimes involved in ensuring legal compliance with construction-related rules and regulations.

Computer Hardware Engineering

Computer hardware engineering jobs deal with the research, design, development, testing, and supervision of computer hardware systems. The term "hardware" refers to tangible computer accessories, including chips, circuits, systems, and plug-in equipment. Computer hardware engineers are electronic engineers dedicated to computer systems and applications.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering jobs deal with the design, development, testing, and supervision of the manufacture of electrical equipment. Electrical engineers mostly concern themselves with systems involving the generation and supply of power.

Electronics Engineering

Electronics engineering jobs relate to a wide range of technologies. Electronics engineers are involved in the design, development, testing, and supervision of the manufacture of electronic equipment such as music players and GPS systems. Electronics engineers specialize in areas like industrial robot control systems that are closely entwined with computer technology.

Environmental Engineering

Environmental engineering jobs involve finding solutions to environmental problems using principles from scientific fields like biology and chemistry. Environmental engineers provide solutions to contain and reduce water and air pollution and address recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues.

Health and Safety Engineering

Health and safety engineering jobs are concerned with the application of engineering knowledge to create equipment and processes that enhance workplace or product safety. Some health and safety engineering jobs involve working in manufacturing industries to ensure that the designs of new products conform to public safety standards.

Industrial Engineering

Industrial engineering jobs focus on finding solutions to the utilization of resources in industrial processes. Industrial engineering jobs associate the task of increasing productivity with the management of factors like people, technology, and process organization. Most industrial engineers reach management positions in their careers.

Marine Engineering

Marine engineering jobs are concerned with the design, construction, and maintenance of marine vessels and associated equipment. Marine engineers apply knowledge from various disciplines to design and produce water vehicles.

Materials Engineering

Materials engineering jobs deal with the development, processing, and testing of source materials used to build industrial products, from computers to shoes and skis.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering jobs relate to the research, development, design, manufacture, and testing of mechanical devices. Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and most revered engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineering jobs are concerned with activities like production operations in manufacturing, maintenance, and even technical sales. Many mechanical engineers move into administrative or managerial positions in their careers.

Mining and Geological Engineering

Mining and geological engineering jobs are involved with the activities and processes surrounding mining and earthworks. Engineers in this field work to enhance the process productivity and safety of mining operations.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering jobs are concerned with researching and developing equipment, processes, and systems that are involved in harnessing the power of nuclear energy for humankind. Nuclear engineers plan, build, monitor, and work on nuclear plants, processes, and units to supply energy requirements. Nuclear engineers also develop beneficial uses of nuclear radiation, such as medical applications.

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum engineering jobs involve searching for earthbound reservoirs of oil or natural gas. Petroleum engineers work with geologists and other industrial specialists to devise methods and processes for extracting oil and natural gas from the earth. Petroleum engineers are involved in all aspects of the enhancement of methods and processes of petroleum production.

Though there are great numbers of subdivisions of these major branches of engineering, and there will certainly be many more engineering disciplines in the future, these are and will remain the core disciplines of traditional engineering.