Research Engineer
Research Engineer
Career Overview
Research engineers use engineering and scientific methods to investigate problems, develop new technologies, and improve existing products, systems, and processes. They design experiments, analyze results, build and test prototypes, and work with other specialists to turn ideas into practical solutions.
Education
A bachelor's degree in engineering is typically the starting point for this career. Depending on the area of research, a master's degree or doctorate may be helpful or required, particularly for advanced research and development positions. Strong skills in mathematics, science, computing, and technical problem-solving are valuable.
Work Environment
Research engineers commonly work in laboratories, research facilities, engineering offices, manufacturing environments, universities, technology companies, and other organizations involved in research and development. Their work may combine computer-based analysis, laboratory experiments, prototype development, testing, and collaboration with scientists and other engineers.
Future Outlook
Research engineers can contribute to advances in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy, advanced materials, biotechnology, electronics, aerospace, and other emerging technologies. As organizations continue developing new products and improving existing technologies, opportunities should remain available for engineers with strong technical, analytical, and research skills.
Recommended High School Courses
- Chemistry
- Computer Programming
- Algebra
- Physics
- Communication
- Computer-aided Design Competency
- Advanced Functions
- Trigonometry
- Statistics
- Calculus & Vectors
- Robotics
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
- Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
- Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
- Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Estimate operational costs.
- Determine operational methods.
- Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
- Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
- Communicate technical information to suppliers, contractors, or regulatory agencies.
- Discuss designs or plans with clients.
- Document technical design details.
- Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
- Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
- Create graphical representations of industrial production systems.
- Supervise engineering or other technical personnel.
- Develop technical methods or processes.
- Review technical documents to plan work.
- Direct quality control activities.
- Implement design or process improvements.
- Prepare contracts, disclosures, or applications.
- Prepare operational reports.
- Prepare procedural documents.
- Analyze design or requirements information for mechanical equipment or systems.
- Schedule operational activities.
- Devise research or testing protocols.
Schools
Massachusetts Institute O...
Princeton University
Rice University
Stanford University
University Of Arizona- Co...
University Of Notre Dame
University Of Southern Ca...
Mcmaster University
Queen's University- Ki...
University Of Alberta
University Of Regina
Approx Salary Expectation
Low End:
$63,000.00 /yr
Avg/Med:
$122,000.00 /yr
High End:
$184,000.00 /yr
Related Careers
References
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
Salary.com, https://www.salary.com/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.
Salary.com, https://www.salary.com/.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.