Subsea Engineering: The Basics
Are you interested in subsea engineering? This exciting career choice is one that few people really know about, mainly because it is very specialized. Subsea engineers, sometimes called marine engineers or seabed-to-surface engineers, deal mostly with underwater projects or projects done on offshore platforms. Working as a subsea engineer means designing, maintaining, and using underwater vehicles, equipment, and structures. While many careers in the industry revolve around the oil and gas industry, there are jobs in other areas.
What other career options are out there? As a subsea engineer, there are a number of other projects you can work on. Many pursue a job doing research projects for cable-laying companies or work with marine biologists. Others may supervise dive crews. Many energy companies continue to work to supply islands and other offshore areas with a steady, dependable source of energy. This often means burying electrical cables under the seabed. A subsea engineer may be called in to study the seabed, the soil, and the marine life to determine the best location for laying these cables.
Subsea engineers may also find themselves employed by oceanography study groups and marine scientists. These engineers will often be tasked with designing, modifying, or maintaining undersea equipment. They may need to build a new underwater vehicle for scientists to use in their studies, for example, or modify an underwater camera. Often, these projects require creativity since they are not standard problems. An understanding of some marine biology and geology may also be necessary. Some subsea engineers in these fields also need to understand the special software that is used and the diving techniques employed by the scientists and study groups.
There are some positions that have subsea engineers working more as managers or project leads. For example, some companies may wish to have a subsea engineer act as a supervisor on a project, managing other engineers who do the actual work. These positions require engineers to have a grasp of budgeting, workforce management, and resource management. Other subsea engineers may act more as consultants and analysts. They may evaluate procedures, equipment, and projects or do a risk evaluation of a project.
Not all subsea engineering specialists will need to know the same things. Obviously, those who are dealing with cable laying will need to know the basics of electrical wiring and how energy is conducted, while those working on offshore drilling platforms will need to know how oil drills work. Some of this special knowledge can be learned in university programs that focus on subsea engineering. However, a number of subsea engineers will learn on the job after earning an engineering degree with a focus on subsea engineering. Apprenticeships are often available for those looking to go into this industry as well.