The earth is made up mostly by bodies of water. And since that is the case, it is appropriate that we study what the effects of water. It may sound simple but have you ever wondered what the effects of water in everything around us are? This question and several others are addressed by hydraulic engineers.
What is a Hydraulic Engineer?
Hydraulics engineer is a type of engineer that studies the effect of water as well as its uses based on the sources. They perform researches to further enhance our understanding on different behavior of water and its impact on our daily lives. Also, they design and supervise the construction of projects that can be used to harness water as a form of energy.
Duties of a Hydraulic Engineer
- They are responsible in designing and providing supervision and guidance in the development of different projects that will be used to maintain a city’s water supply as well as fixing the drainage system to prevent floods and other water related accidents from happening.
- Ensures that the completed projects will withstand wear and tear by performing maintenance and research work. They will need to establish or improve on a design based on the properties of the body of water that needs to be controlled.
- Identifies the right materials that are needed to be used in the construction of a facility that would control water behavior. This includes equipment such as pumps, pipes, conduits and turbines.
Work Condition of a Hydraulic Engineer
- Hydraulics engineer spends most of the time on the field working within a team that usually consists of scientists, hydrologists and other engineers. They can also work in an office setting when doing analysis. There will be times that they work side by side with other engineers during the design and implementation of a project.
- Expect to travel overseas to attend different seminars as well as study other structures that could greatly help when doing research for a particular project.
Educational Requirements of a Hydraulic Engineer
- A bachelor’s degree in civil or chemical engineering is required for this position. Most employers require that graduates of this course or any engineering related course should be certified as a professional engineer.
- Further studies is required if the position desired is more than that of an entry level. A master’s degree is often needed to get a higher position which the employer’s would require when choosing the right candidate.
Occupation and Progress of a Hydraulic Engineer
- Starting out, a hydraulics engineer would work under the supervision of tenured engineers. They will be promoted to become project managers or any task that would challenge their abilities. They will be tasked to develop their designs and will handle a small group that can pave the way for them to become an engineering manager.
The benefits of the job done by hydraulic engineers are limitless. They make sure that we get a steady supply of water as well as different benefits that makes our lives easier. This job is as challenging as the other fields of engineering. If you know you can contribute your analytical skills to improve our way of living, then you can consider this as your career.