Are you looking to take positive action for our environment and fight against climate change? Do you also enjoy building solutions for existing problems and finding ways to improve systems? If so, then a career in sustainable engineering could be right for you.
All things considered, this is an important time for sustainable engineering. There is a year-over-year increase in the S&P 500 companies that release sustainability reports, solidifying sustainability as a key goal and value across all industries. Sustainable development is also a vital component of the circular economy concept, an increasingly popular strategy by businesses and governments to replace the traditional “end-of-life” concept for products with alternative means of reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering materials.
The circumstances and challenges we face make sustainable engineering an in-demand career with high salary, as well as potential for international work and travel. Here’s what you need to know about what sustainable engineers do and how you can prepare for a career in this field.
What Is Sustainable Engineering?
“Engineering plays a vital role in addressing basic human needs by improving our quality of life and creating opportunities for sustainable growth on a local, national, regional and global level.”
In its 2021 report, Engineering for sustainable development: Delivering on Sustainable Development Goals, UNESCO defined engineering as being “about the knowledge and practice of solving problems” and that “the foremost problem facing the world today is sustaining human development and preserving the planet.”
Sustainable engineering is a practice that recognizes the complex social, environmental, political and economic systems that inform our built environment, and so requires a broader and more integrative approach in its practice of designing products and processes.
That practice needs to account for material and energy efficiencies to minimize their environmental impact, reduce energy consumption and waste, provide equitable support to all communities and to find ways to restore the natural environment. At the same time, effective sustainable engineering also seeks to reduce costs and improve a company’s bottom line and future proof its value chain.
As a whole, sustainable engineering aims to address local issues relating to waste disposal, public health, recycling, water use and air pollution as well as larger, global issues such as climate change and green energy development.
What Does a Sustainability Engineer Do?
“When engineers are given the opportunity to develop sustainable solutions to global challenges, the results are outstanding, and yet too often engineers are excluded from the vital conversations where decisions are made.”
Sustainability engineers design and develop products, buildings and systems to meet sustainability standards or certifications. Depending on the industry — such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining or civil engineering — their responsibilities can vary. Key tasks include managing resources efficiently, ensuring energy efficiency, complying with regulations and considering long-term impacts.
General tasks of a sustainability engineer can include:
- Collaborating with professionals from different fields
- Comprehensively understanding complex issues to solve problems holistically
- Strategizing with stakeholders to create plans that meet sustainability goals
- Identifying and mitigating sustainability risks
- Ensuring designs meet required objectives, laws and standards
- Keeping current with the latest environmental assessments and building practices
While sustainability engineers work specifically on delivering sustainable and low-energy design projects, you don’t have to label yourself as a “sustainability engineer” to bring sustainable practices into your work. Engineers across any practice — from chemical to electrical, mechanical, industrial and civil — can benefit from employing sustainable design practices and emphasizing sustainability goals.
What Is the Average Salary for This Position?
As with most positions, the exact salary for a sustainability engineer will vary based on job requirements, level of experience, geographic location and industry. As of May 2024, Salary.com lists a salary range of $84,068 to $97,354.
What Skills Are Needed to Start a Career as a Sustainability Engineer?
The skill sets for a sustainability engineer position will vary depending on the kind of engineering the role requires. Some projects will be more technical and require specialized math and design skills. Other projects may require more holistic skills, such as the ability to work with communities and across different sectors and disciplines.
The list below offers a general idea of some of the skills you may need:
- Knowledge of engineering principles and sustainable technologies
- The ability to conduct life cycle analysis and assess environmental impact
- Proficiency in AutoCAD and other major engineering software
- Experience in data analysis, delivering reports and project management
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across diverse teams
- Strong understanding of federal and state environmental regulations
- Knowledge of sustainability frameworks and industry best practices
Addressing the complex problems underlying sustainable development requires the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue unknown solutions for undefined problems. When looking for educational opportunities, consider programs that emphasize problem-based learning, student-centered and blended learning models and interdisciplinary curricula.
What Qualifications Are Needed?
Exact qualifications for a job in sustainable engineering will vary by position, especially across different industries. In general, qualifications will consist of:
- Degrees from Accredited College or University Programs
Most entry-level jobs will require that you earn at least a bachelor’s degree in sustainable engineering, environmental engineering or other relevant engineering discipline. Though an advanced degree may not be required for all positions, many companies and organizations may prefer that you earn a master’s degree, especially for senior or leadership roles.
Transdisciplinary environmental programs such as the Master of Science in Engineering, Sustainability and Health (MESH) can provide a wider lens into other disciplines, build collaboration skills and provide insights necessary to create better solutions.
- Specific Industry Certifications
Earning industry or sustainability certification can provide you with specialized knowledge and proof of skills that are important for different positions. Some of the most popular and relevant certifications include:
Who Hires Sustainability Engineers?
Sustainability engineers can find employment across a wide variety of fields. They may work for government agencies, consulting firms or private companies to ensure compliance and promote sustainability. In their look at how engineering innovations can aid the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, UNESCO specifically identified the areas of:
- Human health
- Clean water
- Hydrology
- Climate change
- Disaster risk reduction
- Sustainable and resilient energy systems
- Big data and artificial intelligence
- Smart cities
A search of different job aggregator sites in May 2024 found job listings for sustainability engineering positions at:
- The Boeing Company
- Ecolab
- Amazon
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Molson Coors Brewing Company
- IDEMIA
- American Bureau of Shipping
- Samsung Austin Semiconductor
- BP Midstream Partners LP
- Aspen Aerogels
- Merck
.
How Do I Become a Sustainability Engineer?
If you’re interested in a career as sustainability engineer, consider taking the following steps:
- Earn your bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field, such as sustainable or environmental engineering. Throughout your studies, look for ways to integrate sustainable values — including humanitarian, social justice and equitable economic development — into your study and practice.
- Develop your engineering skills as a research assistant, intern or project engineer. Try to accumulate anywhere from 6-12 months of field experience to build knowledge of the sustainability sector you wish to pursue.
- Build a strong network of peers, mentors and other professionals through your study and work. Also, consider joining global engineering organizations such as:
What MESH Offers Sustainability Engineers
“[The] challenges facing engineering, including those encapsulated in the [17 UN Sustainable Development Goals], are becoming ever more complex and often require multi-disciplinary, cross-country and inter-cultural solutions… The realization of the SDGs depends on innovation in engineering education.”
If you wish to better understand the way in which sustainability and engineering relate to the underlying social, political, environmental, economic and health contexts in which it is practiced, you might wish to study within a transdisciplinary program. It is far too easy to end up “green washing” for a company when you are not fully informed about your potential impact as an engineer. A transdisciplinary program can provide framing for you about how your work can have a real, long-lasting impact for all people and the planet we call home.
The University of San Diego’s Master of Science in Engineering, Sustainability and Health program was created for those who are looking to innovate beyond sustainability and want to foster the regeneration and revitalization of our ecosystems. Engineers alone cannot implement all the changes necessary to enact better solutions. A truly just and sustainable solution takes into account the full lifecycle of a project and needs to be inclusive of the knowledge and expertise of other disciplines and their intersection, as well as the local community.
If you want to be able to better communicate and cooperate with other concerned disciplines in designing better solutions for the environment, contact us today.