What Are the Different Types of Trainee Engineering Jobs?

A variety of engineers create products and design structures for different types of applications. Typically, the individuals employed in trainee engineering jobs are college graduates although many firms prefer to hire people who have also completed postgraduate degree programs. Among other things, employers hire trainees to work as civil, mechanical, nuclear and computer engineers. In many instances, people employed in trainee engineering jobs receive on-the-job training but are also tasked with conducting their own private study. Depending upon the complexity of the job, training programs may last for months or years and in some instances, the trainees must pass an examination before being offered permanent engineering roles.

Civil engineers create bridges, dams, roads and other types of infrastructure projects. Government agencies employ large numbers of graduates in trainee engineering jobs and people employed in these roles are taught how to use a knowledge of mathematics and science to design cost-effective and safe structures. To reduce public costs, some local governments use outside contractors rather than employing in-house engineers. Therefore, private civil engineering firms hire graduates and these individuals work alongside experienced engineers who show them techniques for designing roads and other types of public works structures.

A mechanical engineer designs and repairs various types of machinery and equipment. Many mechanical engineering roles are non-complex and in some instances, the people employed in these trainee engineering jobs are high school rather than college graduates. These individuals learn how to maintain buses, trains, and machines that are used by manufacturing and construction firms. In many instances, firms hire junior level mechanics who are tasked with cleaning the equipment while seasoned mechanics are transitioned into engineering roles in which they are responsible for repairing equipment and remedying operational issues.

Energy firms employ graduates in trainee engineering jobs and these individuals are responsible for finding ways to safely extract resources such as oil and gas from the Earth and to safely stow other types of energy such as nuclear fuel rods. Trainees must learn techniques for combating pressure so oil, gas and nuclear waste do not leak out of energy plants or rigs and cause environmental damage. Additionally, they learn regional laws that impose minimum safety standards on engineers and energy firms. During training, experienced engineers oversee the work performed by new recruits; trainees often have to pass a licensing examination before being able to work without supervision.

Computer engineers design software and communications systems and many firms hire information technology (IT) graduates to work in this field. They must learn how to use the firm's internal computer systems and how technical issues can be resolved. Many firms encourage trainees to develop new data systems and types of software and people who perform well during trainee sessions are often given design engineer jobs at the end of the program.