Energy engineer

You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers may expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.

Relevant subjects include:

• mining or petroleum engineering
• energy engineering
• Earth sciences
• environmental engineering
• renewable or sustainable energy

If you're interested in postgraduate research and want to continue your studies up to PhD level, you may be able to apply for a course like an EngD.

These courses are offered by the Industrial Doctoral Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy. You would be sponsored by a company to research offshore technologies for wind, wave and tidal power.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You may be able to start by doing a degree apprenticeship in power or nuclear engineering.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

Further information

You'll find more on energy engineering careers from the Energy Institute, National Grid Careers and Talent Source Network.

You'll need:

• knowledge of engineering science and technology
• maths knowledge
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• thinking and reasoning skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• knowledge of building and construction
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

• researching and designing new generating sites
• deciding on the best locations for sites
• planning and overseeing production programmes for sites
• managing and coordinating teams of technicians or site workers
• designing and selecting equipment
• meeting environmental standards, like carbon reduction targets
• finding the most cost efficient and productive processes
• carrying out laboratory experiments 
• converting experiments into large-scale industrial processes
• working with geologists, geophysicists and specialist contractors
• managing projects and budgets

You could work at a power station, in an office, in a laboratory or on a rig.