Energy engineer
Renewable energy engineer
Energy engineers research, design and build power generation plants, and work in the oil and gas industry.
Salary range: £20,000 to £80,000
How to become an energy engineer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
University
You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers may expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.
Relevant subjects include:
- mining or petroleum engineering
- energy engineering
- Earth sciences
- environmental engineering
- renewable or sustainable energy
If you’re interested in postgraduate research and want to continue your studies up to PhD level, you may be able to apply for a course like an EngD.
These courses are offered by the Industrial Doctoral Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy. You would be sponsored by a company to research offshore technologies for wind, wave and tidal power.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Apprenticeship
You may be able to start by doing a degree apprenticeship in power or nuclear engineering.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More information
More information
Further information
You’ll find more on energy engineering careers from the Energy Institute, National Grid Careers and Talent Source Network.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- thinking and reasoning skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- researching and designing new generating sites
- deciding on the best locations for sites
- planning and overseeing production programmes for sites
- managing and coordinating teams of technicians or site workers
- designing and selecting equipment
- meeting environmental standards, like carbon reduction targets
- finding the most cost efficient and productive processes
- carrying out laboratory experiments
- converting experiments into large-scale industrial processes
- working with geologists, geophysicists and specialist contractors
- managing projects and budgets
Working environment
You could work at a power station, in an office, in a laboratory or on a rig.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into planning, policy development, or freelance consultancy.