STEM Careers Coalition: Facilities Engineer
Facilities engineers are the masterminds who oversee all the essential aspects of maintaining a facility, whether for planning new projects or improving existing facilities. They ensure optimal facility operations by designing, constructing, and managing all infrastructure components.
WHO ARE THEY?
Facilities Engineer are involved with designing, building, and maintaining
facilities that bring production to market. They are professionals responsible for
planning all aspects of a new project or improving an existing facility, including
but not limited to labor costs, procedures and standards, schedules, and
reviewing construction or production bids.
Facilities Engineers are problem solvers and innovators finding solutions to building projects that, in the past,
would have been impossible. They work in offices and operate sites with a wide
range of other professionals. They may have to travel all over the world to visit
work sites but can also manage projects remotely with teleconferencing tools.
Facilities Engineers work for many different companies, such as oil and gas
engineering companies, refineries, construction companies, water management
companies, and government organizations. Facilities Engineers ensure the best
operations of the facility project they are working to complete.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Facilities Engineers design, construct, and manage the essential infrastructure
components, including power, cooling, security, and fire systems.2
They perform analysis, application engineering, and system or process development.
They design systems, components, or processes meeting specific needs for
broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to facilities equipment,
systems, and structures.
Facilities Engineers lead professional teams as they
work to complete a project. They communicate effectively and can support
their positions with data as they prepare statements of work, engineering
specifications, and estimates. They manage budgets and handle contract bids
for project components. Facilities Engineers maintain safety and regulation
standards of federal, state, and local entities.
HOW DO I BECOME ONE?
A Facilities Engineer requires a Bachelor of Science in engineering. Experience
in the field can provide the path to senior positions.8
The Association for
Facilities Engineering offers the following certification: CPE—Certified Plant
Engineer, CPMM—Certified Professional Maintenance Manager, and CPS—
Certified Professional Supervisor.9
Employers are looking for five years of
experience in a facilities-related field, a strong work ethic, and a willingness
to travel to field/project locations. Facilities Engineers should have excellent
communication and organizational skills, as well as attention to detail. Facilities
Engineers need to be self-motivated. They need to react quickly to changing
priorities and deadlines, as well as direct and manage engineering and design
members of the team.

Engineering Topics
Structures
Engineer (Civil)
Middle School, High School
6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade

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