What Are the Different Types of Transport Engineer Jobs?

People who graduate from college with mechanical engineering degrees and other types of specialized engineering qualifications often ending up working in transport engineer jobs. Freight companies, airlines and bus operators employ engineers, some of whom work on many different vehicles while others are assigned to one specific vehicle or craft. Transport engineer jobs include boat engineers, airplane engineers and the engineers who work on buses who are also known as mechanics.

The crew of a cruise line, a cargo tanker and even a fishing vessel typically contains at least one engineer. Engineers are responsible for monitoring the performance of the engine, hydraulic systems and other mechanisms and systems that are essential to the operation of the vessel. A boat engineer is equipped to perform basic maintenance and repairs if problems arise while the craft is at sea. Some large vessels employ several people in transport engineer jobs. One of these workers may be tasked with maintaining the ship's engines while other may be responsible for maintaining onboard helicopters water filtration or sewage systems.

Flight engineers are employed by commercial airlines and other firms that operate airborne craft such as helicopters. Prior to takeoff, the engineer must inspect the engine and conduct any necessary repairs. Helicopter engineers may have to replace rotor blades as well as working on the engine. During flights, airline engineers must complete repairs on radios and other types of easily accessible equipment that stops functioning during the flight. Unlike boat engineers, airline engineers do not typically have access to engines and other areas of the craft during transit, so much of the engineering work is conducted while airplanes are grounded.

Bus, coach and train operators employ large numbers of people in transport engineer jobs. Junior engineers, who are also known as mechanics, perform basic maintenance such as oil changes or tire replacements on buses and coaches. Engineers with college degrees or years of industry experience are able to take on more complex tasks such as engine repairs. Typically, bus and coach engineers only work on vehicles that are not currently in use while train engineers perform maintenance work and can conduct repairs while trains are stationery or in motion. Some train engineers are tasked with working on train tracks and signal boxes rather than the actual vehicles.

Many transportation firms employ entry-level engineers and these individuals typically have high school diplomas but no college degrees. Entry-level engineers often receive on the job training and perform basic maintenance. People with undergraduate or postgraduate degrees take on more complex and higher paying engineering jobs. Engineers who work or aircraft often have to have aerospace engineering degrees while colleges in some nations also offer undergraduates degrees that train people to work on trains, buses or coaches.