Engineering assistants perform administrative or sub-engineering work in various engineering disciplines. A high school diploma is required, and a college degree may be necessary. Computer skills, organizational skills, and communication skills are essential. Involvement in engineering organizations and familiarity with the industry can be helpful.
Engineering assistants are employed by organizations that perform work in civil, aerospace, environmental, and other engineering disciplines. There is a wide range of roles played by engineering assistants, depending on the industry and hiring organization. In some companies, engineering assistants support engineers by performing administrative and administrative tasks; in others, engineering assistants perform sub-engineering or basic engineering work. Typically, at least a high school diploma is required to become an engineering assistant, and depending on the specific roles involved, a college degree may also be required. A two-year degree in an engineering or related technical field is often desired, and some employers hire engineering assistants with four-year degrees in non-technical fields.
You can start preparing for a job as an engineering assistant while you’re in high school. Computer courses and any science or engineering courses offered will be valuable. Advanced math classes will help develop your engineering skills. Getting involved in engineering organizations offered to students, such as Engineers of the Future and Scientists of America, if you live in the United States, for example, can also give your resume an edge when applying for engineering assistant positions.
If you know which industry you want to work in, familiarizing yourself with that industry is helpful. For example, if you are interested in supporting engineers who design and build bridges, read heavy road construction publications and visit industry websites to familiarize yourself with terminology and processes. Contact civil engineering organizations in your area and ask about possible educational opportunities for young people.
Generally, to become an engineering assistant in any industry or capacity, you’ll need strong computer skills. Knowing word processing, spreadsheet, database, programming and other software can be important. For higher-level, more technical engineering assistant roles, knowledge of computer-aided software or design may be required.
Having strong organizational and coordination skills is required to become an engineering assistant. People in this role are often called upon to track metrics, coordinate report and document production, establish technical libraries, and perform other tasks that require good organizational skills. Having strong personal writing and communication skills is necessary to communicate effectively with others on engineering project teams. Analytical skills and the ability to solve problems are also important if you want to become an engineering assistant. Other requirements for the job may involve obtaining a valid driver’s license to visit job sites or the ability to obtain a security clearance if you wish to work for an engineering organization that does government contract work.
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