Types of engineers

There are many branches of engineering, each of which specializes in specific technologies and products. Typically, engineers will have deep knowledge in one area and basic knowledge in related areas. For example, mechanical engineering curricula typically includes introductory courses in electrical engineering, computer science, materials science, metallurgy, mathematics, and software engineering.

When developing a product, engineers typically work in interdisciplinary teams. For example, when building robots an engineering team will typically have at least three types of engineers. A mechanical engineer would design the body and actuators. An electrical engineer would design the power systems, sensors, electronics, embedded software in electronics, and control circuitry. Finally, a software engineer would develop the software that makes the robot behave properly. Engineers that aspire to management engage in further study in business administration, project management and organizational or business psychology. Often engineers move up the management hierarchy from managing projects, functional departments, divisions and eventually CEOs of a multi-national corporation.

Branch	Focus	Related sciences	Products
Aerospace engineering	Focuses on the development of aircraft and spacecraft	Aeronautics, astrodynamics, astronautics, avionics, control engineering, fluid mechanics, kinematics, materials science, thermodynamics	Aircraft, robotics, spacecraft, trajectories
Architectural engineering and building engineering	Focuses on building and construction	Architecture, architectural technology	Buildings and bridges
Biomedical engineering	Focuses on closing the gap between engineering and medicine to advance various health care treatments.	Biology, physics, chemistry, medicine	Prostheses, medical devices, regenerative tissue growth, various safety mechanisms, genetic engineering
Chemical engineering	Focuses on the manufacturing of chemicals and or extraction of chemical species from natural resources	Chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical thermodynamics, process engineering, Transport phenomena, nanotechnology, biology, Chemical kinetics, genetic engineering medicine, Fluid mechanics	Chemicals, Hydrocarbons, Fuels, medicines, raw materials, food and drink, Waste treatment, Pure gases, Plastics, Coatings, Water treatment,
Civil engineering	Focuses on the construction of large systems, structures, and environmental systems	Statics, fluid mechanics, soil mechanics, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering	Roads, bridges, dams, buildings, structural system, foundation, earthworks, waste management, water treatment
Computer engineering	Focuses on the design and development of computer hardware & software systems	Computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering	Microprocessors, microcontrollers, operating systems, embedded systems, computer networks
Electrical engineering	Focuses on application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism	Mathematics, probability and statistics, engineering ethics, engineering economics, instrumentation, materials science, physics, network analysis, electromagnetism, linear system, electronics, electric power, logic, computer science, data transmission, systems engineering, control engineering, signal processing	Electricity generation and equipment, remote sensing, robotics, control system, computers, home appliances, Internet of things, consumer electronics, avionics, hybrid vehicles, spacecraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, optoelectronics, embedded systems
Industrial engineering	Focuses on the design, optimization, and operation of production, logistics, and service systems and processes	Operations research, engineering statistics, applied probability and stochastic processes, automation engineering, methods engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering, systems engineering, logistics engineering, ergonomics	quality control systems, manufacturing systems, warehousing systems, supply chains, logistics networks, queueing systems, business process management
Mechatronics engineering	Focuses on the technology and controlling all the industrial field	Process control, automation	Robotics, controllers, CNC
Mechanical engineering	Focuses on the development and operation of energy systems, transport systems, manufacturing systems, machines and control systems	Dynamics, kinematics, statics, fluid mechanics, materials science, metallurgy, strength of materials, thermodynamics, heat transfer, mechanics, mechatronics, manufacturing engineering, control engineering	Cars, airplanes, machines, power generation, spacecraft, buildings, consumer goods, manufacturing, HVAC
Metallurgical engineering/materials engineering	Focuses on extraction of metals from its ores and development of new materials	Material science, thermodynamics, extraction of metals, physical metallurgy, mechanical metallurgy, nuclear materials, steel technology	Iron, steel, polymers, ceramics, metals
Mining engineering	Focuses on the use of applied science and technology to extract various minerals from the earth, not to be confused with metallurgical engineering, which deals with mineral processing of various ores after they have already been mined	Rock mechanics, geostatistics, soil mechanics, control engineering, geophysics, fluid mechanics, drilling and blasting	Gold, silver, coal, iron ore, potash, limestone, diamond, rare-earth element, bauxite, copper
Software engineering	Focuses on the design and development of software systems	Computer science, information theory, systems engineering, formal language	Application software, mobile apps, websites, operating systems, embedded systems