National Engineering Day, which took place on 13 November, is designed to shine a light on engineering jobs and show how the field helps build a lasting forward-thinking future. It calls on young people, teachers, and industry heads to see engineering as more than work – it’s a way to make real change.

But for those thinking about a career in the sector, what are the areas most in demand at the moment? The UK has much to offer for budding engineers and there are plenty of options available in fields that offer great job prospects and the opportunity to work on meaningful projects. Here are five of the fastest-growing areas in engineering right now:

Renewable energy engineering

The UK aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, so the need for engineers in wind, solar, and hydrogen energy is on the rise. These engineers create and look after sustainable energy systems.

Some of the in-demand jobs include:

Wind turbine design engineer: Works on designing, testing, and improving wind turbine systems to increase efficiency and durability playing a key role in the UK’s wind energy goals.

Solar project engineer: Oversees large-scale solar projects from design to upkeep ensuring efficient dependable energy systems.

Hydrogen fuel cell engineer: Creates fuel cells for hydrogen-powered vehicles and other uses pushing forward the UK’s commitment to green hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

Robotics and automation

Robotics is changing manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, and engineers are crucial to develop, program, and maintain these systems.

In-demand jobs in this field include:

Robotics systems engineer: Creates and builds robotic systems used across various industries making sure they’re safe and efficient to operate.

Automation control engineer: Designs control systems for self-operating machines in industrial environments. This boosts productivity and cuts down on human involvement.

Robotics software developer: Writes the algorithms that direct robotic movements in fields like healthcare and self-service retail systems.

Environmental and civil engineering

As cities grow more crowded and climate issues reshape urban planning, we need engineers focused on sustainable and tough infrastructure. Key jobs include:

Urban resilience engineer: Plans climate-resistant urban infrastructure using sustainable materials and energy-saving features.

Water resources engineer: Oversees water supply projects tackling flood risks, pollution, and water shortages.

Waste management engineer: Builds recycling and waste treatment answers to reduce environmental effects in both city and industrial areas.

Cybersecurity and digital infrastructure

As digital change speeds up, cybersecurity and IT infrastructure engineers are crucial to protect data and digital assets. Some high-demand roles are:

Cybersecurity engineer: Creates security measures to guard against data leaks and cyber threats across industries like finance, healthcare, and government.

Network infrastructure engineer: Keeps up and improves secure dependable networks to support the needs of modern digital organisations.

Cloud security specialist: Guards data in cloud settings, a growing need as companies keep moving assets to the cloud.

Biotechnology and medical engineering

The pandemic has shown how crucial medical and biomedical engineers are in creating healthcare breakthroughs. Jobs in high demand include:

Biomedical engineer: Creates and checks medical tools like pacemakers and imaging machines boosting healthcare delivery and patient results.

Pharmaceutical process engineer: Makes manufacturing steps for drugs keeping them safe and following rules.

Medical device quality assurance engineer: Makes sure medical devices meet rules key to patient safety and good treatment.