Are These Jobs Viable for Engineering Career Changes?

Much of the career content at Design News is geared toward helping engineers get started and advance in their engineering careers. Based on metrics such as starting salaries and job satisfaction, many engineers find the profession to be a rewarding career. But as with any profession, that is not always the case.

According to an article published the career site Indeed.com titled “9 Jobs for Engineers Seeking a Career Change (Plus Tips),” there are several reasons why engineer may want to consider changing careers. Some include burnout, changing interests, career advancement, and last but not least earning potential. Engineering is considered by many to be demanding profession often requiring constant updating of knowledge and skill sets, and some individuals may find keeping up with the constant reskilling to be a grind after a while.

Given that engineers have combine interest in technology with an analytical mind, what else can engineers do? The article lists several interesting possibilities. Following is Indeed’s rundown, with average starting salaries and the job description in quotes. Following Indeed's individual job descriptions are thoughts and analysis.

Technical writer

National average salary: $74,296 per year. According to Indeed, "A technical writer creates complex, technical content for handbooks, manuals, websites and journals. They can work in various industries, including health care, information technology (IT), manufacturing and government. Technical writers often have a degree in their specialty."

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Engineers have the ability to quickly synthesize technical information quickly, which gives them an advantage over writers from other backgrounds. The key is writing ability. Technical writers that combine both technical know-how and solid writing ability have a potential stated advantage in the job market.

Like other professions, though, the specter of AI possibly supplanting technical writers could loom larger as generative AI tools become more sophisticated. Another drawback is the relatively modest starting salaries for technical writers vs engineers, though experienced technical writers with in-demand skills can generate six-figure incomes.

Engineering professor

National average salary: $61,014 per year. According to Indeed, "An engineering professor teaches courses at the postsecondary level at community colleges and universities. They often have an advanced degree in their field. Professors design and present lessons, assess student performance and provide feedback. Many professors also conduct research and contribute to their field in addition to their teaching duties."

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Some degreed engineers that lack tenure at colleges can also be adjunct instructors teaching courses. In some cases these engineers have day jobs as engineers and may teach an evening course several evenings a week, that would give them a potential entry point into the engineering teaching profession.

Consultant

National average salary:$75,020 per year. According to Indeed, "A consultant is an industry expert who advises an individual client or business. Their guidance might relate to how to optimize processes or whether to expand operations. A consultant's knowledge supplements what a client doesn't know and ensures they have the necessary information to make strategic decisions."

Many industries, including electronics and manufacturing, employ consultants in advisory or sometimes more substantive roles in helping projects get done or in research roles. Engineering consultants often have years of relevant experience and are well-connected in their fields. They are often omnipresent at industry trade conferences and exhibitions, and can often give a good “birds-eye” view of trends in a particular area.

Supply chain manager

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National average salary:$90,713 per year. According to Indeed, "A supply chain manager oversees the production of a good or service. They might start a project by sourcing raw materials and managing inventory to ensure efficient operations. Supply chain managers also manage the manufacturing process and ensure the quality of the final product."

Indeed including this choice is interesting, because unless an engineer has been involved in procurement or manufacturing processes, his or her experience may not always translate to supply-chain activities.  Nevertheless, the supply-chain disruptions in areas such as electronics over the years, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, make a supply-chain manager potentially a viable choice for an engineer with some business acumen.

Actuary

National average salary: $120,164 per year. According to Indeed, "An actuary works with companies to apply math and statistics to determine values for risk. They assess the relevant markets and consumer trends to predict outcomes such as floods, hurricanes, accidents and fires. Actuaries often work for insurance companies to determine premiums and hold professional licensure."

This is another interesting choice. While engineers have penchant for numbers, I wonder how many of them would want to make a complete career shift from working with say, robots or semiconductors to analyzing lots of data on natural and man-made disasters. Also, would engineers that have invested years in technical education now want to go through the rigorous process of obtaining an actuarial license?

Product manager

National average salary: $105,434 per year. According to Indeed, "A product manager oversees the development of new products from conception and design to launch. They help identify consumer needs, direct product features, evaluate progress and collaborate on rollout. Individuals with engineering backgrounds may enjoy working as product managers for computer and technological products."

I wonder how much of a departure this is from engineering altogether, for many engineers I have known become product managers, often responsible for the development and marketing of a particular product line or division at their firms. Some become quite successful and earn more than the salary above, with escalating title promotions. But good product managers combine engineering knowledge, business acumen, and strong communications skills, which not all engineers can easily develop.

Data scientist

National average salary: $119,380 per year. According to Indeed, "Data scientists collect and analyze information to help organizations plan for the future. They combine math, computer science, modeling and statistics to gain insights into the market and consumer trends. Their work helps companies set goals, determine prices, market products and consider expansion."

Considering the big move towards AI and machine learning, data science would seem like a viable career path for engineers to pursue, given that AI and machine learning is making major inroads into many engineering disciplines.

Quantitative analyst

National average salary: $147,576 per year. According to Indeed,  "A quantitative analyst applies statistics and analytical reasoning to assess risk, predict behavior and analyze trends. They report to executives and stakeholders. Quantitative analysts can work in the financial field in commercial banks, investment banks, wealth management firms, insurance companies, management consulting firms, accountancy firms and financial software companies."

Given the ability of engineers to analyze and think in a quantitative manner, a quantitative analyst would also appear to a be a potentially lucrative career path for engineers that like to analyze and crunch data.

Software Architect

National average salary: $135,600 per year. According to Indeed, "A software architect is a high-level decision-maker on an IT team who advises developers and organizations on software design and functionality. They help enforce technical standards and recommend platforms, coding languages and operating systems for different projects."

As many engineers now spend time coding and in software design, software architecture would seem to be a viable career path for those with software expertise. This is likely to continue as products are increasingly software-based. Just look at all the interest in software-defined vehicles.

 Mobile developer

National average salary: $129,017 per year. According to Indeed, "A mobile developer designs, tests and maintains systems and applications for mobile devices. They can work for organizations to develop brand-specific applications or cell phone manufacturers to design applications like calendars and messaging programs that come standard on devices."

With the boom in mobile devices ranging from smartphones to wearables, a mobile developer could be a good career for engineers with both software and hardware skills.

Patent attorney

National average salary: $171,346 per year. According to Indeed, "A patent attorney helps their clients obtain patents for their inventions and designs. They can work in a range of industries, including health care, IT, education and defense."

As engineers understand the nuances of technical systems and products, their knowledge can be valuable in the patent field. But being a patent attorney would involve obtaining a law degree, which can be a considerable investment in time and money.