Manufacturing Machinery World April 2022

THE NEXT GENERATION
THE EVOLUTION OF ENGINEERING:
JOBS THAT DIDN’T EXIST 10 YEARS AGO
Engineering is constantly evolving and the
technology we create is becoming more
innovative in the modern age. Advances in
technology continue to expand possibilities
and inspire future engineers. This includes
the increasing number of young women
undertaking higher education qualifications
in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM).
As our technologies advance, new and
exciting careers in engineering are born.
From the innovation of advanced software to
artificial intelligence and virtual reality, there
are now lots of new engineering roles that
didn’t exist 10 years ago. Here, we will
explore some of these fresh positions in more
detail.
Advanced software engineer
A software engineer is responsible for the
development and programming of software.
Software can come in a number of forms,
whether that means internet browsers or
operating systems. Throughout the 20th and
21st centuries, the nature of this engineering
software has drastically evolved. Experts
have mastered the process of building objectorientated
programming, and advanced
software engineers can collect large amounts
of data to curate new and innovative
software.
Oasys, a company leading the way in the
future of technology, have created a
pedestrian simulation software: MassMotion.
This creates a 3D simulation of physical
space and its pedestrians, thereby allowing a
range of businesses to virtually render their
spaces. In addition to this, the crowdmodelling
software can be used for fire safety
preparations and proximity modelling for
COVID-19 regulations. To build software so
capable is a sign that we’re living in the
technological age, and this job certainly
didn’t exist in this form 10 years ago.
Artificial intelligence engineer
Artificial intelligence (AI) allows
technology to replicate the human
capabilities of thinking and learning. The
CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, argues that
the development of AI will be as impactful as
the discovery of fire. Developments can come
in many forms, from the creation of the
metaverse to the rise of a mechanical
workforce. In fact, robots may go on to lead
the industrial sector, and experts have
estimated that there will be 50,000 machinedriven
warehouses by 2025.
To create successful AI technology, an
artificial intelligence engineer experiments
with algorithms, solves troubleshooting
problems, and identifies the relationships
between data. A role dependent on curating
the advancement of technology, AI engineers
represent the evolution of engineering. An
example of this is an automotive engineer.
These engineers are in charge of designing
and building automobiles. As the world races
to create futuristic solutions to everyday
actions, corporations have invented the
driverless car. Automotive engineers utilise a
mixture of sensors, cameras, and AI. This
gives automobiles the ability to operate
autonomously. A futuristic concept straight
from the pages of a sci-fi novel, automotive
engineers specialising in driverless cars are a
relatively fresh addition to the workforce.
Virtual reality engineer
An exciting advancement in engineering,
virtual reality (VR) is an opportunity to see
something out of the ordinary. VR is a threedimensional
and fully immersive digital
experience. To create this technological feat,
virtual reality engineers have developed
sensory technology. The history of VR can be
traced back to 1957 with the invention of
head-mounted stereoscopic technologies.
VR has come a long way since then. This
can be seen with the invention of the Oculus
Quest and other popular gaming equipment.
As well as this, Mark Zuckerberg is
launching plans to create a new and exciting
metaverse. This is another virtual reality
which allows users to communicate with
each other and interact with their
surroundings. In theory, this could allow us
to go to work and attend school without even
leaving the house. To make this possible,
engineers utilise virtual reality alongside
augmented reality and even cryptocurrency.
A combination of futuristic tech and new
skills, this job couldn’t have existed 10 years
ago.
Engineering will continue to evolve past
our wildest expectations. After experiencing
a three-dimensional reality completely outof-this-world,
we can’t begin to comprehend
the limitless possibilities. This will also lead
to new jobs, and the younger generation can
train to specialise in advanced software,
artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.
There is no telling what achievements the
future of engineering has in store.
Sources
https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2021/02/09/more-young-people-are-taking-stem-subjects-than-everbefore/
https://www.janbasktraining.com/blog/ai-engineer-job-description/
https://www.vikingcodeschool.com/software-engineering-basics/a-brief-history-of-software-engineering
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/09/24/the-7-biggest-artificial-intelligence-ai-trends-in-
2022/?sh=69f6ce872015
https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/5-warehouse-automation-trends-for-2021-and-beyond/
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/33515/artificial-intelligence-engineer
https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/my-career-options/job-profiles/automotive-engineer
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/18/cars/tesla-full-self-driving-brooklyn/index.html
https://daglar-cizmeci.com/how-does-virtual-reality-work/
https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/explained-the-history-of-metaverse-12015212.htm
14 Manufacturing Machinery World, April 2022