Travelling as part of your job can open new horizons – by choosing to work abroad, you are showing that you’re not afraid to throw yourself into the unknown and try earning money in a completely unknown environment.
As an embedded Software Engineer for a Laboratory Machinery Company, I travelled to various Labs across the world. One week I was in Berlin, the following I was in Philadelphia and then Tokyo and beyond.
I loved it but it helps if you enjoy your own company as much as you enjoy your work.
Don’t necessarily go for a job purely for the travel as you may end up hating the job. Go for a job that you are going to enjoy and enquire about travel during the interview process or apply internally when you have experience.
Petrochemical Companies
Not only are Petrochemical Companies largely protected from economic downturns, The Oil and Gas industry are you best bets for Travel due to the variety of specialised roles.
- Field Service Engineer
- Jetting Technician
- HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
- Mechanical Engineer
- Instrumentation Engineer
Large international Petrochemical and Engineering firms, for example, often have travel programs for employees. However, experience is often a prerequisite to apply for an internal job with travel so be prepared to play the long game but make sure your CV list any travel before applying.
Be aware that depending on the job, you may travel to many different places, and see nothing except the reason you were sent there for, with no time to explore or take in the local culture. You can also end up in very demanding locations that may not be on a normal person’s list of destinations.
When you get an interview, ask who handles the travel arrangements and what the company policy is on it.
HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning)
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a body that covers the essential Service (systems architecture) that allow buildings to operate. It includes the electrotechnical, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing industries.
Employers will often want a degree in a branch of engineering, such as building environment engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering.
Materials Engineer
Materials engineers are responsible for product design, ranging from biomedical devices and computer chips to aircraft wings and mouldings. As part of a management team, materials engineers will have to visit different locations to evaluate the operations of their designed products, and report on the success or failure of their use.
A bachelor’s degree is often a minimum requirement for a Materials Engineer and obtaining internships or cooperative programs in school can be a huge help.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental engineers can expect plenty of travel, as part of their position involves project design for facilities that may include water reclamation, air pollution control, or the conversion of waste to energy.
They will also need to monitor the progress of their projects, so frequent site visits will be necessary.
Aspiring engineers should obtain a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, or a related engineering field.
Mechanical Engineer
The job duties for a mechanical engineer may vary depending on what they design, which could include thermal sensors, engines, and other kinds of machines.
If one of their products malfunctions, worksite visits will be necessary to perform diagnostics.
Bachelor’s degrees are required for those looking to become a mechanical engineer, and studies should be focused in either engineering or engineering technology.
Civil Engineer
Engineers in this capacity design a number of projects in the public and private sectors, including projects like tunnels, airports, water and sewage systems, and roads.
Frequent visits to job sites are necessary for engineers to supervise the design, and solve any problems that occur during the construction phase. They may even travel to other countries for international contracts.
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is needed to work as a civil engineer, and those looking for supervisory and senior positions will want to pursue graduate degrees and check their state’s license requirements.
Chemical Engineer
The job duties of a chemical engineer vary widely; they conduct research, and they also troubleshoot problems with manufacturing processes, along with safety procedure development for the use of dangerous chemicals.
Chemical engineers might find themselves traveling domestically as well as abroad to various plants and worksites.
Those interested in a career as a chemical engineer should earn a bachelor’s degree in the same field, and while in school, internships and cooperative engineering programs will improve a resume.
Electrical and Electronics Engineer
Development, testing, and supervision of the manufacture of motors, radars, and power generators are just some of the job duties involved with electrical and electronics engineers.
To oversee a complicated project or troubleshoot problems, electrical or electronics engineers will have to visit sites all over.
A bachelor’s degree is required for a career in this engineering field, and obtaining a Professional Engineer license may increase the chances of securing employment.
Cruise Ship and Cargo Ship Engineers
Marine engineers design, build, test and repair boats, ships, underwater craft, offshore platforms and drilling equipment.
Cruise ships and cargo ships always need engineers. These jobs pay well and allow you travel without having to spend on accommodation. This could be a great option for recent graduate or young professionals that haven’t started a family yet.
Oil Rig Drill Engineers
As a Drilling Engineer on an Oil Rig, you’ll plan, develop and supervise the operations necessary for drilling oil and gas wells. You’ll be involved from the initial well design to testing, completion and abandonment, and will ultimately have a responsibility for costing.
The salary isn’t as much as you’d maybe expect – up to £45,000, but the possibility of travel is high.
In this role you can work on land, on offshore platforms or on mobile drilling units, employed either by the operating oil company, a specialist drilling contractor or a service company.
You’ll work with other professionals, such as geologists and geoscientists, to monitor drilling progress, oversee safety management and ensure the protection of the environment.
Software Engineer Freelancing
Interested in traveling as an engineer? There are many ways to make money on the road using your engineering skillsets.
Rather than going out to teach English for a year, why not grow your career through travel? This allows you to experience the best of both worlds.
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