Acoustic Engineer
What the work is
Studies and applies the science of sound and vibration in the design and development of technologies to solve acoustic related problems, such as sound quality, transmission of sound, noise control or environmental noise pollution.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Measures sound levels, reverberation and vibration within buildings and outdoor environments
- Analyses and performs tests on acoustic designs to enhance or control sound and vibration
- Models, predicts, measures and assesses the impact of noise on the environment and noise sensitive receptors, including wildlife
- Advises on materials and structures that can be used to minimise noise levels that could disrupt the local environment, and ensures those levels comply with local laws
- Designs noise and vibration attenuation solutions for environmental noise, building engineering services systems in buildings, transport infrastructure and industry
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the engineering workshop of a regional hospital, where the machines that help care for patients are tested and repaired. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A machine the ward thought was broken is back in service within the hour
- Staff tell you a new device is easier to use because of a change you suggested
- You design a small fix that makes a clumsy piece of equipment safer to handle
Hard days
- Two wards want the same machine and only one is available
- A device fails a safety check on the day you most need it in use
- You are called away from a long project to deal with a fault that cannot wait
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 243931, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.