Engineering careers in action

Ever wonder what an engineer actually does all day?

It’s a good question – and as you might guess, there’s no one answer! That’s because the scope of work that engineers do is so broad, spanning everything from the smallest nanoparticles to global-scale projects.

The scope of engineering

Engineers transform ideas into innovations. Their work shapes the infrastructure that keeps us safe; the intelligent systems that are shaping health care, energy distribution, transportation and more; and the new technologies that are creating our future.

You will find engineers spending time at a desk, at their computers. But you will also find them in research labs, on manufacturing floors, in hospitals and biomedical facilities, out on construction sites, underground in mines, and at launchpads for satellites. Some engineers might only use a computer as their main tool; others might be working with quantum simulators, oscilloscopes, PID tuning tools, laser levels, torsion testing machines and much more.

These diverse environments highlight just how varied an engineer’s day can be. But what does this look like in practice?

UBC Engineering grads at work

Here’s a look at where some UBC Engineering alumni are applying their skills across a range of industries and projects:

The many paths taken by UBC Engineering alumni reflect the many directions an engineering degree can take you. If you’re looking for choice, UBC offers 14 engineering programs at its Vancouver campus, ranging from biomedical engineering to mining engineering, while UBC Okanagan offers five programs, with options to concentrate in specific areas, like aerospace, mechatronics and biomedical.

Check out our program options

One degree. Two campuses. Your choice.

Collaboration is part of the job

As you might have noticed from the examples provided above, engineering is a collaborative endeavour. That’s because engineers are working on complex problems that no one person could figure out on their own.

Engineers work alongside other engineers, both from their own area of focus as well as other areas of engineering. As engineers move up into leadership positions, they are also more likely to work more closely with non-engineers – with people in backgrounds in finance, logistics, marketing, government – as they lead teams and large projects.

Being part of interdisciplinary teams is one of the things that makes engineering such an exciting career.

You are constantly learning from others and identifying ways that together, you can do hard things. It also underlines the importance of exceptional communication, teamwork and project management skills.

You’ll get lots of practice learning how to be part of an effective team over your time at UBC. Many courses include group projects, and in your final year you will work in collaboration with an industry partner on a capstone project.

capstone project

Focusing on different aspects of the design cycle

You might have also noticed from the alumni profiled above and elsewhere on our site that engineers spend their days doing a mix of creative problem-solving, technical analysis and collaborative teamwork. These are all part of the design cycle, which is the process by which engineers come up with and test their ideas.

You’ll get very acquainted with the design cycle during your engineering education, starting right in first year. In their day-to-day jobs, some engineers may be involved in all stages of the design cycle, whereas others may focus in one area, like developing and testing solutions.

Find your path at UBC Engineering

No matter the setting – be it a research lab, a construction site, a start-up company, or a global tech powerhouse – engineers are united by their drive to solve problems, collaborate across disciplines, and turn ideas into innovations that shape our world. The diversity of their roles and workplaces reflects the broad scope of engineering itself, and the many directions a UBC Engineering degree can take you.

If you’re inspired by the possibility of making a real impact – whether it’s improving infrastructure, advancing technology, or contributing to sustainability – as the examples of our alumni show, engineering offers a path to do just that.