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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Breaking Into Power Engineering Jobs

As society begins to move further from the production of power through traditional means, leaving oil, coal, and other similar fuels behind in search of greener and more ecologically friendly power sources, power engineering jobs are becoming more varied than they once were. While power engineers may have once only worked in electrical plants that generate their power from coal or natural gas, these engineers may now work directly with the development of alternative fuel and alternative power plants.

Power engineers may help design and develop the power plant itself that will distribute electricity derived from wind farms miles away. Or help to develop the dam and power plant that will harness the power of a river and use it to light, heat and cool a city miles from the site.
Regardless of what type of energy source power engineers are dealing with the activities in which they are involved and the knowledge and skills required of them will be basically the same. Power engineering jobs are usually involved in the design, development and maintenance of power harnessing systems and power distribution networks.

Primarily the engineer is involved in the design and development of systems that get power from the source to individual businesses and residences. In order to accomplish this task the engineer usually creates a design of the system needed. That design is then used to develop a scale 3d model that will be used to test the efficiency and effectiveness of the design before the real world construction project begins.
Changes may be made to the design several times before moving to the next phase. The 3d model may undergo numerous versions as well. Design engineering jobs require the power engineer to be intimately involved in the construction of power collection and relay systems as well, as additional design changes may be required once the project is underway.

The power engineer will need to possess strong communication and problem solving skills. Additionally, these jobs require a strong understanding of mechanics, physics and mathematics. The engineer will need to be able to use engineering computer software programs as well, including CAD and design testing software.
Generally, power engineering jobs call for a bachelor's degree as the minimum education requirement for applicants. You should keep in mind that a bachelor's degree is usually only appropriate for entry level engineering positions. Most engineers will complete a masters and/or PHD in order to advance within their field.

Even those engineers that do not pursue additional degrees often take continuing education courses, complete specialized training programs, and take refresher courses from time to time. Engineering is a field in which the science is continually changing and advancing. Keeping up with this new knowledge while working in power engineering jobs is an essential part of remaining current in the field.

By Johnny E Smith

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