Employers
Technicians work for a variety of companies that use advanced manufacturing processes to create products, but many are employed in the aerospace, biotechnology, consumer products, electric vehicles, energy, information technology, medical devices, pharmaceutical, robotics, and 3–D printing industries. Examples of companies that incorporate advanced manufacturing into their production processes include Archer Daniels Midland Company (food processing, commodities), ABBVIE (biopharmaceuticals); DenTech Industrial (industrial automation), Tesla (electric vehicles), and Boeing (aviation, aerospace). Technicians also work for federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation. Some work as teachers or apprenticeship instructors, while others operate their own consulting firms.
Starting Out
Job leads can be obtained by using the resources of one’s college career services office, via contacts made at in-person and online networking events, by working with recruiters, and by visiting the career Web sites of potential employers. Many technicians land their first jobs after making a good impression during internships, co-ops, and apprenticeships, so be sure to work hard during these experiences and build a reputation as a positive person and hard worker. Opportunities with federal agencies can be accessed at https://www.usajobs.gov.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Appliance Service Technicians
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Automobile Collision Repairers
- Automobile Sales Workers
- Automobile Service Technicians
- Automotive Dealership Owners
- Automotive Dealership Sales Managers
- Automotive Designers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Automotive Technology Teachers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Business Managers
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Diesel Mechanics
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Drafters
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drug Developers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Hardware Engineers
- Heat Treaters
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Internet of Things Developers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Microfabrication Engineers
- Microfabrication Technicians
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Molders
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Managers
- Sales Representatives
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Solar Engineers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Test Drivers
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wood Science and Technology Workers