Potential Careers
SFU engineering science allows you to hone your technology skills while preparing for an exciting career path.
Research shows that two years after graduation, SFU engineering graduates earn more than 25 per cent/year than the average B.C. university graduate (Source: BC Stats). But choosing your career also involves understanding the types of problems you want to solve, where your strengths lie and the types of work environments you enjoy.
All SFU engineering science graduates develop a set of core skills in these areas:
- Electronics engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Electronic Hardware Design
- Control Systems Design
- Mathematics
- Computer programming
- Teamwork, business and project management
In addition, senior-level SFU courses help you gain skills that apply to certain career paths. Below are some industry careers and the SFU courses that can help prepare you for these pathways.
Biomedical engineers
Want to build technologies that save lives? Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes, such as developing new assistive devices, diagnostic tools or medical instruments. These engineers close the gap between engineering and medicine by combining the design and problem-solving skills of engineering with biomedical knowledge and human physiology to advance healthcare treatment, including diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy.
Sample SFU courses:
Computer engineers
Computer engineers research, design and build computer and telecommunications hardware and related equipment, such as computer processors. Computer engineers may specialize in a number of areas, including analog and digital signal processing, fibre optics, integrated circuits, lasers, microprocessors, microwaves and radio astronomy. Many computer engineers are required to work with software and electrical systems, although the focus of these engineers is related to computer and telecommunications hardware or to network system and data communication.
See more at Work BC.
Sample SFU courses:
Electronics engineers
Electronics engineers perform design for electrical power and communications systems, and instrumentation and control systems. They also apply engineering science to make consumer electronics and a wide range of other items, such as medical equipment, video and space technology, environmental monitoring systems, robotics, etc. Utility companies – electric, gas, telephone – and high-tech companies such as Samsung and Google are employers that will likely experience an increased need for these types of engineers.
See more at Work BC.
Sample SFU courses:
Robotics Specialist
A robotics specialist is a behind-the-scenes designer, who is responsible for creating robots and robotic systems that are able to perform duties that humans are either unable or prefer not to complete. Through their creations, a robotics engineer helps to make jobs safer, easier, and more efficient, particularly in the manufacturing industry. See more at Work BC.
Sample SFU courses:
Software Engineers and Developers
Software engineers and developers research, design, integrate, evaluate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses and telecommunications software. Small companies require software engineers to have a broad skill-base and be proficient in many computer languages. Software engineers must understand the environment in which the software will be used. They must keep in close communication with the end-users as the software product evolves and through its testing phases.
Sample SFU courses:
Systems Engineers
A systems engineer combines skills in software design, mathematical analaysis, robotics, mechanical systems and electronics systems to create new technologies that solve problems. Systems engineers are responsible for planning and developing an organization’s systems infrastructure. They improve and transform manual processes into automated tools and systems by writing high-quality, functional code and assembling automated hardware. They find ways to solve technical challenges through research, proof of concept and adoption of new practices and innovations.
Sample SFU courses:
Communications Systems Engineers
Communications systems engineers design and analyze communications related to satellites, cellular phones, radio and broadcast media, or other communications. They often collaborate with antenna, radio frequency, structures, power, ground segment and other network subsystems to design and test competitive communication architectures. Looking ahead, they often develop technical recommendations to improve system efficiencies and to address future technical needs.
Sample SFU courses:
Information Scientists
Information scientists manage the collection, supply and distribution of information within an organization to make data approachable for users. They typically work across the breadth of a company and spend much of their time communicating with colleagues or researching/archiving documents. They often use special computer applications, online databases and the internet.
Sample SFU courses:
Engineering Physicists
A physicist proves that something is possible; an engineer takes that proof and tries to create a real-world product. Engineering physicists do both. Engineering physicists solve challenging problems and develop practical applications that can be multidisciplinary. For example, they may apply new knowledge about lasers, optics, robotics, imaging systems, thermodynamics or quantum physics to develop new engineering principles in fields ranging from electronics to aerospace to the biomedical industry. Engineering physicists often work in research and development or in competitive high-tech industries and their work is constantly evolving.