What Is a Technology Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A technology engineer is responsible for designing equipment that is intended to meet a client’s needs. As a technology engineer, you develop computer hardware and design software and other specialized equipment within a given industry or field. You also create technical documentation and provide training in the use of the products you design. In this role, you work with researchers, software developers, and technologists to realize your company’s goals. Where a technology engineer designs solutions, a technologist turns them into a physical product.

The first step toward becoming a technology engineer is to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Students interested in this career should complement their studies with courses pertaining to computer science and also that focus on the industry in which they want to work. For example, if you want to become an environmental technology engineer, you should take programs in environmental science. After earning your degree, take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. You can then focus on gaining a few years of field experience and take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Pass these exams to become licensed as a professional engineer.

As a technology engineer, you work primarily in an office setting in which you can do research, create designs, and write technical documentation for your company. Sometimes, you have to travel to visit a job site and provide technical support or training to staff regarding the use of one of your products, to monitor the work site for equipment problems, or to educate the work crew about a particular process. Technology engineers can get jobs in a variety of industries, including public health, transportation, and defense.