Interesting Careers In Engineering: Working With Commodities, Logistics, And More

Requiring high-level skills in mathematics, science, and computer applications, engineering is among the most lucrative careers in the current job market. However, the recent All India Survey on Higher Education notes a decrease in enrolments in engineering courses, representing a 10% reduction from 40.85 lakhs in 2016-2017 to 36.63 lakhs in 2020-2021. Aside from changing priorities among students and new avenues for career progression, the lack of job opportunities in the core engineering streams of civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering plays a role in this decline.

While universities and engineering institutions are implementing new educational policies to increase employability, this can also be an opportunity for students and graduates to explore the less traditional specializations or areas of focus in engineering — some of which are discussed below.

Commodities

Despite global economic challenges, India’s commodities market remained resilient. Not only did the country expand its commodity derivatives trading with huge markets like the US and China, but there has also been a rise in online platforms where individuals can trade commodities across global markets at low spreads and transaction costs. By monitoring market movements and speculating the prices of precious metals like gold and silver and sought-after energies like crude oil and natural gas, commodity traders stimulate economic activity and profit generation in the sector.

The flexible market access and continued growth of the commodities sector in India incentivize engineers to enter the industry and take on highly specialized roles and responsibilities. These include sourcing goods and raw materials, simplifying materials management, and implementing cost-reduction strategies in engineering projects and facilities.

Logistics and supply chains

While commodities engineering focuses on procurement and sourcing needs, logistics combines engineering principles with every stage of the supply chain, from transporting and storing materials to manufacturing and distributing finished products. Supply chains are essential to every industry, translating to wide-reaching job prospects. However, supply chain resilience and management are especially crucial in the rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem here in India.

Beyond continuous investments, the country recently entered a memorandum of cooperation with Japan to advance semiconductor supply chains and be more equipped to provide chips to industries like transportation, communications, and information technology. As a logistics engineer, you will work with supply chain personnel, company executives, and logistics analysts to implement technical solutions for improved manufacturing, inventory tracking, and distribution of semiconductors

Aviation or Aerospace

Another interesting niche in engineering is that of aviation or aircraft, which entails working with aircraft and propulsion systems to optimize performance and comply with safety regulations. Considering India-owned airlines like Air India are building new warehouses for engineering spares, aviation engineers are highly in demand to coordinate and direct the testing, use, and repair of aircraft and ground support equipment — which typically involve complex engineering concepts like avionics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.

Meanwhile, other airlines would need aviation engineers to develop quality standards and design methods for aircraft through their knowledge and understanding of the technology, practice, and theory of flight.

Biomedical technology

It is worth noting that India’s healthcare sector has been accelerating throughout the years, particularly in the field of biomedical technology, which is projected to reach $50 billion (approximately ?416 000 lakh crore) by 2050. As the government also unveiled the National Medical Devices Policy 2023, these developments prompt the need for engineers who can help develop medical products and systems that enhance service delivery and the quality of care.

Overall, biomedical engineering encompasses the design, development, and maintenance of medical devices and machinery, as well as the evaluation of their safety, efficiency, and effectiveness for healthcare services.

The previous examples show how expansive an engineering career can be when students go beyond the usual routes of civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Nonetheless, alternative career options like civil services and entrepreneurship remain for those who studied engineering but want to pursue other goals. For more resources on education and career development, check out the learning portal brought to you by Vidyavision.