Those wishing to enter the field of nanotechnology should obtain as much experience as possible in high school and college by participating in internships, co-ops, or volunteer or part-time positions at nanoengineering firms and laboratories or other companies that develop or use nanosystems.
To be a successful nanosystems engineer, you should have strong communication and interpersonal skills; be attentive to detail; be able to think analytically in order to solve problems and work with abstract ideas; and be willing to continue to learn throughout your career. Other important traits include science and engineering skills; creativity and imagination; and the ability to work both independently and as a member of a group.
Nanosystems engineers must know how to use (or be willing to learn):
- analytical or scientific software (e.g., Dassault Systemes Abaqus, General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System GAMESS, Simcenter Nastran)
- computer-aided design software (e.g., Autodesk AutoCAD, LinkCAD, Dassault Systemes CATIA, PTC Creo Parametric)
- development environment software (e.g., National Instruments LabVIEW)
- graphics or photo imaging software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop)
- spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel)
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Automation Engineers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Biomedical Engineers
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drug Developers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Forensic Engineers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Hardware Engineers
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microbiologists
- Microfabrication Engineers
- Microfabrication Technicians
- Mining Engineers
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Optical Engineers
- Packaging Engineers
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Technicians
- 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
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Software Engineers
- Solar Engineers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Stationary Engineers
- Traffic Engineers
- Transportation Engineers
- Wind Energy Engineers