10 Unique Jobs You Didn't Know You Could Do with An Engineering Degree

If you’re full of good ideas and can make constructive criticism about any app, why not develop your own? The job requires interest and patience, experience with various mobile platforms and code translations across systems.   

You’ll need - of course - a genuine interest in the subject, but also proficiency in math and programming, which are all skills you could learn by studying software engineering at a reputable university.

Hackers get a bad rep, but they’re not all bad. In the past few years, there’s been a growing demand for ethical hackers to protect corporations, governments and organizations from cyber attacks. They try to penetrate networks and computer systems to identify security flaws, anticipate attacks and fix any vulnerabilities.

Professional hackers are usually IT pros with knowledge of web application architecture, shell scripting and coding languages. A degree in software engineering or computer science and a couple of years of experience in security is also required.

The Internet of Things has already begun to transform the way we live. By 2020 more than 20.8 billion IoT devices will be in use, according to a report by Gartner.

As an IoT solution architect, it would be your job to propose original IoT concepts and design the blueprints, or even be involved in manufacturing. To break into the industry, you’ll need a good degree in electrical or software engineering. Knowledge of Java, Python, JavaScript, HTML and CSS, networking, embedded systems and cloud computing is also beneficial.

The world has spent years accumulating data, and now is the time to do something with all that information. Many companies are hiring data engineers to build the infrastructure they need to analyze big data. The role of a data scientist is to extract and prepare data, conduct advanced analytics, and apply the findings to improve products or production.

Industrial data engineers must understand both manufacturing processes and IT systems and possess strong root cause analysis skills to identify correlations and draw conclusions. As a data engineer, you’ll essentially be a trained software or industrial engineer whose job it is to design, build, integrate and manage data from different resources.

Have you met Sofia? The humanoid robot is able to sustain eye contact, recognize individuals, display up to 62 facial expressions and have conversations using voice recognition technology. She made headlines last year when she gained Saudi citizenship and became the first robot in the world to have citizenship of any country.

Of course, as humans, we’re naturally fascinated by intelligent machines and how they can think, respond and analyze information. If this is something you’re interested in, a degree in a electrical, software engineering is the perfect starting point.

Are you interested in 3D printing and design? Whether you’re working in architecture design or industrial design, you’ll need heaps of creativity and a solid knowledge of computer aided software like Solidworks, Fusion 360 or Rhino, as well as strong analytical and problem-solving skills. A degree in mechanical or architectural engineering from a reputed university could help you kickstart a career in 3D printing and design.

Are you environmentally aware and conscious? Do you think of saving planet Earth for future generations to enjoy? If so, then you could be a perfect sustainable architect.

This role involves overseeing the design and construction of buildings with a focus on the role a structure will play in its environment. You use only construction materials that won’t contribute to landfills, as well as making certain all the building’s systems and equipment have high energy-efficiency ratings.

A sustainable architect’s primary goal is to create attractive, affordable, and comfortable buildings that don’t harm the environment, either during their construction or their lifetime. To work in this important role, you’ll need a bachelor’s in architectural engineering.

Apply for a bachelor’s degree or a master’s program in STEM at Alfaisal University

Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital city and business hub, Alfaisal University offers world-class courses fully taught in English in engineering, business administration, life sciences, medicine and pharmacy.  

Alfaisal University has a proven track record in supporting gender equality, and many of the women who have studied at Alfaisal University have since thrived.