Organizations that work in civil, aerospace, environmental, and other engineering disciplines hire engineering assistants. Depending on the industry and the hiring organization, engineering assistants perform a wide range of tasks. Engineering assistants assist engineers by performing clerical and administrative tasks in some companies, while performing sub-engineering or basic engineering work in others. A high school diploma is usually required to work as an engineering assistant, and a college degree may be required depending on the specific duties involved. Some employers will hire engineering assistants with four-year degrees in non-technical fields if they have a two-year degree in engineering or a related technical field.
While still in high school, you can start preparing for a job as an engineering assistant. Taking computer courses, as well as any scientific or engineering courses that are available, will be beneficial. Advanced math classes will aid in the development of your engineering abilities. Participating in engineering organizations for students, such as Future Engineers and Scientists of America if you live in the United States, can help your résumé stand out when applying for engineering assistant positions.
Familiarizing yourself with the industry in which you want to work is beneficial if you know what industry you want to work in. For example, if you want to help bridge engineers design and build bridges, familiarize yourself with the terminology and processes by reading heavy highway construction publications and visiting industry websites. Inquire with local civil engineering organizations about possible educational opportunities for young people.
In general, strong computer skills are required to work as an engineering assistant in any industry or capacity. Knowing how to use word processing, spreadsheets, databases, scheduling software, and other programs can be useful. Knowledge of computer-aided design or drafting software may be required for higher-level and more technical engineering assistant positions.
To work as an engineering assistant, you must have excellent coordination and organizational skills. People in this position are frequently tasked with tracking metrics, coordinating the production of reports and documents, establishing technical libraries, and other tasks that necessitate good organizational skills. To effectively communicate with others on engineering project teams, strong writing skills and personal communication skills are required. If you want to work as an engineering assistant, you’ll also need analytical skills and problem-solving abilities. Other job requirements may include the ability to visit job sites with a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a security clearance if you want to work for an engineering firm that does government contracting work.