Engineer
Before you can even create energy, you have to collect something with a machine, move something with a machine, process something with a machine -- there is always a machine needed to do the tasks necessary to create and move energy to where it is needed. These systems are designed, maintained, and improved upon by engineers. Engineering is the theory and practice behind the manufacture of machines, electrical systems, chemical systems, and any real system where a physical process occurs. Engineers possess college degrees obtained after four years of heavy study in the fields of math, science, computers, and design.
Energy Manager
These individuals are tasked with the job of ensuring that the energy production is at the correct level and is brought to where it needs to go. These individuals are the ones behind the operators, making sure that the power plants are running at capacity; no more and no less. These are the people behind making sure that oil makes it to the processing plant and that its derivatives make it to where they need to go. These individuals have climbed the advancement ladder for a better part of their careers, and have a strong technical background. These individuals frequently start as engineers and are required to have an intimate knowledge of the systems they oversee. Energy manager jobs are usually good to have.
Process Engineer
A process engineer is an individual responsible for engineering an energy-producing process. That is, the process of creating the energy, moving the energy, and storing the energy -- i.e., every step along the way from raw resource to the outlet in your home. These key energy jobs are vital, because without them houses would have no power and gas stations would sit empty. If energy management personnel are compared to conductors, the process engineer is the person responsible for laying out the track. This requires a strong technical background, as the process engineer's designs will need to be able to work for many years at a continuous pace. Should there be a problem, these individuals will redesign the system, usually with the smallest amount of change possible.
Environmental Energy Engineer
Personnel classified within the environmental energy field have their careers geared towards collecting energy from sources considered to be “green,” including wind, water, geothermal heat, solar power, and many other sources. Given the limited amount of resources that is available to us, it is imperative to utilize renewable and freely available sources of energy, and that is what is asked of environmental energy personnel.
Senior-Level Energy Manager
After climbing the ladder of advancement, those who have demonstrated themselves loyal to the company and capable of taking a leadership role get promoted to a senior level. Here, the perks and salary are nothing to sneeze at, and there is a certain level of job security that these individuals enjoy. These individuals can oversee other energy jobs, including highly critical jobs not suited to have any junior-level personnel attached to them.
Pipeline Engineer
Oil is a traditional source of energy, providing the means for heating homes and making our vehicles move. After the oil is collected, it needs to be taken to the central processing plant. This is achieved simply enough, or so it would seem, by a giant pipeline. It really isn't simple at all, though, and there are a number of issues involved that a technically trained engineer must handle. Fluid dynamics, material sciences, and other scientific fields adorn the resume of the pipeline engineer.
Drilling Engineer
Oil is located deep beneath the surface of the planet. In order to collect it, one needs to drill a hole several thousand feet into the Earth crust to be able to access it. This is no easy feat, given the amount of different kinds of mineral and rock that make up the ground beneath our feet. It is no surprise that a career in drilling can yield a good salary. Drilling personnel need a strong background in geological sciences, material science, and a few other technical skills.
Wind Energy Specialist
Among of the “green” energy sources, wind power is theoretically capable of providing the planet's power needs with a wind farm no bigger than Delaware. Hundreds of meters into the air, there is always a high wind current, and wind generators collect this and turn it into electricity. Personnel in this field work to design, maintain, and repair these wind turbines.
Hydraulic Energy Specialist
Another part of the “green” energy movement, this career path collects energy from the natural tendency of water to flow from north to south. Structures such as the Hoover Dam are hydroelectric generators, and once again let nature create the energy we need. Workers in hydraulic energy design, build, maintain and repair the hydroelectric systems that provide electricity to those near large rivers and water reservoirs.
These are some of the best jobs to hold in the energy industry. There are many offshoots to these careers, making them a great starting point for job seekers looking for energy jobs.
