Cyber Engineering Careers

The scope of engineering is vast and so are the options for the digitally inclined in terms of career.  Choosing a direction upon entry to an undergraduate degree or deciding which postgraduate course to take is never easy. That is especially true for cyber geeks who are faced with a huge plethora of options. This is an overview of just a few of the choices available.

Computer Hardware Engineer

The person considering this career must be interested in how things work. Computer hardware engineers create intricate componentry, like microchips, custom integrated circuits and CPUs, so an attention for detail is essential. Especially as these components become smaller and smaller. Opportunities for advancement in the field include project management, information systems analyst, system designer, chief information officer and independent consultancy. This field also offers crossover into other IT fields such as security, data assurance, analysis, and design and software development.

Computer Hardware Management

In addition to the above skills this professional requires good communication skills. Management may lead a team of engineers and will probably also liaise with designers, software developers and market researchers. He or she may also be tasked with needs assessment, cost analysis, security requirements and minimum system performance requirements.

The basic education requirements for either of these jobs will usually be Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science or Electrical degree, both of which are four year undergraduate degrees. Specializations in the field include network systems, parallel computing systems, architecture, microprocessors, algorithms and machine vision systems. Graduate degrees are available for all of these specializations for computer hardware engineers wishing to aspire to positions such as chief architect.

Cyber Security

Sometimes referred to as a 'white hat' cyber security people are tasked with developing and implementing plans and procedures to protect data and ensure network security. A white hat will review and analyze systems, recommend measures and counter measures and analyze new systems and follow up with. Often this involves working with other branches of law enforcement including the police or even Interpol.

Education requirements for cyber security are at least a bachelor degree in network engineering, science, networking/telecommunications and/or electrical engineering. Specific certifications will also be required for specific jobs. Some certification providers are Microsoft, Novell, Cisco, CISSP and Comptia. Certification alongside a degree should significantly improve the prospects of a person in cyber security. Positions available in IT security include consultant, security analyst, security IT specialist, director, administrator, architect and engineer. Security architects and chief security officers are top level, highly paid security and investigative positions.

Computer Software Engineer

Software engineers usually work as part of the development team. A core team may have engineering, marketing, factory and design people who work together until the product is completed. Today just about everything is run, or backed, by software and if there's software involved then there's a software engineer behind it. From video games to missile systems to iPhone apps, nearly every modern product or idea is supported by software. As such is this is one of the fastest growing industries around the globe. Employment of computer software engineers is expected to swell by an impressive 295,200 jobs, or more than 32 percent, over the next 7 years in the United States alone.

Because the outlook for these jobs is so good job candidates will need at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, and a master's degree is often needed for more complex jobs. That said coders and engineers are in hot demand if they show a proficiency in the programming languages, such as C++, Java and C#, as well as other highly specialized language programs that vary widely by industry.

For those students who are thinking about a cyber career, engineering is growing, fascinating and well paid.