After several years working under professional supervision, engineers can begin to move up to higher levels. Workers often formulate a choice of direction during their first years on the job. In the operations division, petroleum engineers can work their way up from the field to district, division, and then operations manager. Some engineers work through various engineering positions from field engineer to staff, then division, and finally chief engineer on a project. Some engineers may advance into top executive management. In any position, however, continued enrollment in educational courses is usually required to keep abreast of technological progress and changes. After about four years of work experience, engineers usually apply for a P.E. license so they can be certified to work on a larger number of projects.
Others get their master's or doctoral degree so they can advance to more prestigious research engineering, university-level teaching, or consulting positions. Also, petroleum engineers may transfer to many other occupations, such as economics, environmental management, and groundwater hydrology. Some entrepreneurial-minded workers become independent operators/consultants and owners of their own oil companies. Others become college professors.
- 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
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Coal Miners
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Divers and Diving Technicians
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electricians
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Brokers
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Energy Transmission and Distribution Workers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Forensic Engineers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Fuel Cell Technicians
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Production Managers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hardware Engineers
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Landmen
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Meter Readers, Utilities
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Mining Engineers
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Nuclear Reactor Operators and Technicians
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Operating Engineers
- Optical Engineers
- Packaging Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Technicians
- Power Plant Workers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Roustabouts
- Software Engineers
- Solar Energy Sales Representatives
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Stationary Engineers
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Traffic Engineers
- Transportation Engineers
- Truck Drivers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Wind Energy Project Managers