The wide industry of engineering involves many different areas but most people consider engineering to be mysterious and only for the brainiest of the bunch.

Most people don’t quite understand the intricate differences in all of the types of engineers. Even more often, people don’t even know that engineering technology even exists.

While engineering technology is always evolving and does require a certain level of intelligence, you might be surprised to learn about some of the work that engineering technologists do.

This article lists five things that many people are unaware of in engineering technology.

1. Engineers and Engineer Technologists Work Together

The difference between an engineer and an engineer technologist is simply how they apply the knowledge that they have. 

While engineers are responsible for researching and developing the idea behind a product, engineering technologists put that idea into practice by testing it in real world application.

This is how engineers and technologists work together in a synergistic manner to develop and create a new project.

2. Most Engineering Technology Jobs Require a Portfolio

While engineering technologists are not artists per se, their skills are best showcased through a project portfolio. 

Many employers will ask for a technologist to provide a portfolio of work they have completed in the past as part of the job interview.

This job title is so hands on that a potential employer can’t really know how well suited you are for the job if you can’t provide your past “works of art”.

3. It Still Requires Math but More Emphasis on Practical Math

Many engineers spend much of their school years doing intense math and scientific exploration. Engineering technologists don’t have to complete the same mathematics courses.

This doesn’t get them off the hook completely, however, as they still need to know how math and science apply in a practical sense to their projects. 

While an engineer will be taking courses such as calculus and physics, a technologist will only learn the concepts of these courses and how to apply them to a system.

Much of their education in engineering applies to the more hands on approach.

4. Engineering Technology Has Been Around for Centuries

While the technology that we use to engineer different mechanisms and buildings, there has always been engineering technology since the days of the pyramids.

Egyptians used a series of timber logs to roll the giant hewn rocks into their place. Later came the invention of clocks, gears and the like in the middle ages. 

Later still, the industrial revolution brought on more intricate machines such as the steam engine and printing press.

The development of these inventions were no doubt a collaboration of engineers and engineer technologists.

5. There are Dozens of Possible Career Paths in Engineering Technology

The engineering industry is such a widely applied name but each subsector of engineering includes very differing topics. An electrical engineer would have a completely different knowledge base than a mechanical engineer.

The same is true of engineer technologists. Once you’ve acquired the basic knowledge and skill of engineering technology as a whole, you can subspecialize in many different areas.

These include manufacturing engineering technician, mechanical design drafter, CMM programmer, and laboratory technician. 

This degree can take you into many different job titles. It all depends on what you enjoy working with and the opportunities that are presented to you.

Conclusion

It’s best to think of engineers as the more subdued older brother and engineer technologist as the curious younger brother who wants to play with toys and get their hands dirty.

Think a career in engineering technology might be for you?

Hopefully this article has helped you gain a better understanding of what that career would involve.