Want to be an engineer but not sure what type? Here are 10 popular engineering majors and what they’re all about
Aerospace
Aerospace engineers design and develop flight vehicles (like aeroplanes, helicopters, rockets, spacecraft and satellites) and their systems.
Job insight: Working for the Defence Science and Technology Group, Harrison is always learning. “I’ve reached a point where I can contribute meaningfully to groundbreaking projects. It’s rewarding to be part of something bigger than myself.
Biomedical
Biomedical engineers mix physics, biology and tech to design and build the devices and equipment used in healthcare and medicine.
Job insight: Biomedical engineer Justin d’Ettorre works at Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical tech companies. He helps pioneer medical tech development that shapes patient outcomes and experience.
Chemical
Chemical engineers design the processes that turn raw materials, like plants, oil or even waste materials, into useful products like medicines, clean energy and food.
Job insight: Michel Hannoun, a chemical engineering student at UNSW Sydney, says: “It’s rewarding to build solutions that are technically sound and environmentally responsible.”
Civil
Civil engineers design, build, service and adapt the public infrastructure we depend on. Think: roads, railways and waste networks.
Job insight: Civil engineer Genevieve De Michele loves seeing the product of her work in the real world. “I drive past the Legacy Way tunnel and I get so excited when people are using it.”
Electrical
Electrical engineers use maths and physics to power our homes, classrooms, cities and satellites – designing and managing both large- and small-scale systems that transmit energy and process information.
Job insight: Electrical engineer Sayura Kairbekova says: “There are so many career paths available with an electrical engineering degree, such as project engineer, communications engineer or test engineer.”
Environmental
Environmental engineers design and build sustainable infrastructure, helping prevent negative environmental impact before it even happens.
Job insight: Erica Deegan is an environmental and water engineer who believes careers in this field tackle some of the most pressing problems our communities face. “We help, move and guide communities through challenges, solving problems along the way.”
Mechanical
Mechanical engineers design, analyse, manufacture and maintain machines, like renewable energy, power generation andtransport systems.
Job insight: Mechanical engineer Sanduni Gamage likes playing a part in looking after precious resources. “With things such as climate change and population growth, it becomes ever more important to adapt, improve and innovate in how water is sourced and supplied.”
Renewable energy
Renewable energy engineers design, build and maintain renewable energy technologies, like solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind and biomass.
Job insight: Kosala Gunawardane, Associate Professor of Renewable Energy Engineering at UTS, says: “As we transition the AC power grid to DC and renewable energy, there are so many things to build and develop and contribute.”
Robotics and mechatronics
Robotics and mechatronic engineers develop smart machines and self-operating robots.
Job insight: Katrina Lo Surdo works in circuit board design and hardware development. “These are the embedded systems that ensure all the robot’s electrical elements are connected correctly.
Software
Software engineers mix computer science with engineering and use their knowledge to design, develop, test and maintain software programs and apps.
Job insight: James Schifferle is a software engineer and enjoys that his work is hands-on and that he gets to write code every day.
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This article first appeared in Careers with STEM: Engineering 2026.
