Environmental Engineer
What the work is
Assesses environmental impacts for engineering projects while working with other Professionals to develop solutions for long-term environmental sustainability. Plans and designs equipment and processes for the treatment and safe disposal of waste materials.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Assesses and identifies the potential environmental impacts of air, water, soil and noise levels of engineering projects
- Develops and designs equipment and sustainable processes to prevent, control or remediate environmental impacts
- Oversees and coordinates environmental management plans for engineering projects, such as hazardous waste treatment facilities and air pollution control systems, to protect the environment
- Works with Environmental Research Scientists, Urban and Regional Planners, and other Professionals to assess causes of long-term environmental problems, and to develop solutions
- Liaises with regulators, contractors and other internal and external stakeholders to ensure engineering projects meet environmental requirements and objectives
- May develop uses for renewable energy and contribute to sustainable energy planning and design
- May be involved in the development and planning of sustainable infrastructure, and implementation of environmental rating tools
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 243935, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.