Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong once said Singapore was built on the back of engineers, and with Singapore’s many career industries requiring those with engineering skills, this sentiment continues to run true.
Here are some of the industries that are looking for those with engineering backgrounds, and the emerging roles in that sector.
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The precision engineering sector
Emerging Role: Optics Engineer
Accuracy, high speed, production and control. If these words strike a chord in your heart, a career as an optics engineer might just be for you.
These engineers enable mechanical, mechatronic, and electrical firms in the precision engineering sector to develop competitive products for global markets; utilising light properties and other materials to produce, control, and manipulate light for use in high-tech devices.
As Singapore plans to solidify its position as a global leader in precision engineering, investing over $3.3 billion into advanced manufacturing and engineering research and development (R&D) – optics engineers will play a crucial role in growing the government’s target areas of additive manufacturing, lasers and optics.
The transport engineering sector
Emerging role: Systems Design Engineer
As Singapore pursues its goal to be an interconnected transport hub, with plans to have eight in 10 households housed within 10 minutes of a train station, more complex and sophisticated transportation systems will be a necessity.
Consequently, those with a keen eye for design and systems implementation will be highly sought after.
Systems design engineers’ expertise in the creation of new systems and products will be vital in ensuring the modernisation and expansion of Singapore’s rail network.
From working with the marketing team, to understanding schematics with manufacturing, they determine what needs to be built, and how it should be built.
The oil, gas and petrochemicals sector
Emerging role: Sustainable Engineer
In late 2024, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said the group remains “very positive on demand for oil in both the short and long term.”
As a result, Singapore’s position as an oil refinement centre will be strengthened further.
However, this growth comes with a cost – the petrochemical sector is estimated to contribute to 45% of total primary emissions in Singapore, posing a challenge to Singapore’s 2050 goal of achieving net zero emissions.
Should you feel a fire in your heart to fight against these emissions, your “ikigai” might lie in a career as a sustainable engineer.
Sustainable engineers play a key role in ensuring that the processes and systems used in the oil & gas industry meet sustainability specifications and certifications, protecting the availability of resources for future generations.
The construction engineering sector
Emerging role: Civil Engineer
According to Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA), demand for construction is expected to be stable and mostly driven by the public sector, with Built-to-Order (BTO) flats, MRT networks, and water treatment plants in the works.
Given this, civil engineers are in demand. These engineers design, plan and supervise the construction of infrastructure projects.
Their expertise in determining the suitability of sites and plants, construction methods, materials and quality standards, as well as the design of structures that can bear dynamic and static loads, is crucial in ensuring that infrastructure projects are safe, delivered on time, and cost efficient.
Exciting opportunities in the engineering sector
The engineering industry is poised for exciting growth in the short and long term.
With its proximity and unmatched connectivity to the leading growth markets of the world, and a commitment to developing engineering talent with the right kind of expertise, Singapore aims to become a hub that develops engineering solutions for the most pressing challenges in the world.
Its excellent connectivity and strong manpower base enables companies here to engineer and manage complex projects round-the-clock in major markets around the world.
In addition, Singapore also has the most extensive network of free trade agreements in Asia, giving Singapore-based companies better access to emerging markets. It may just be the right time to make the switch!
This article is contributed by Adecco.
