Five Unusual Career Paths for Engineers

What comes to mind when you think of a 'typical' engineering job? There are many directions a qualified engineer might take, from civil and mechanical engineering to research and development in a wide variety of fields.

In addition to the more common career paths an engineer might take, there are a host of more obscure roles that they could also step into - whether by accident or by design. So if you're longing to take your career into a fresh direction, perhaps one of these roles could provide the inspiration you've been looking for...

Arctic Engineer

Arctic engineers typically work in the private sector or with government agencies planning and regulating development activity – including addressing the challenges of design, construction and operations – in the coldest regions of the world. Projects undertaken by arctic engineers have included developing ice-resistant roads and structures, future-proofing various infrastructures against the effects of climate change and constructing artificial islands.

Beer Engineer

It might sound like a novelty T-shirt slogan, but Beer Engineer is a real and very important job. Generally hailing from chemical engineering backgrounds, beer engineers are usually hired by large breweries to work on processes such as separation and biochemical reactions, all in aid of creating the perfect alcoholic beverage. Their expertise has taken the centuries-old practice of brewing from a trial-and-error methodology to a precise scientific process.

Oil and Gas Diver

A common engineering role in Middle Eastern countries and other oil-rich regions of the world, oil and gas divers spend weeks on gas rigs and are responsible for installing welding, underground pipe and other necessary materials for the safe and efficient harvesting of fossil fuel resources. 

Roller Coaster Engineer

Possibly every teenage boy's dream job, a roller coaster engineer is responsible for the often complex responsibility of designing, building and repairing theme park rides. With high-octane roller coasters becoming faster and more sophisticated all the time, this is a role that requires equal parts skill and imagination, ensuring that the balance between excitement and consumer safety is always perfectly calibrated. 

Skate park Engineer

Another opportunity to indulge your inner adolescent - professional skate parks require the perfect blend of angles, slopes and surface area to allow skaters and bikers to achieve the perfect run. Many of the world's leading skate parks and courses have been painstakingly designed and are constantly monitored by dedicated engineers.  

What's the strangest or most interesting engineering project you've ever worked on? What unusual routes would you like to take your career down if you could do it all again? As ever, let us know in the comments section below...