Installation engineer

Installation engineers oversee and manage the installing of structures, which take often many years to design and construct. They ensure safety, avoid risks and they aim to the optimalisation of costs. Installation engineers also create constructive designs of systems and perform installation system testing. They determine the material needed for the construction of these systems and the costs, and use CAD software to design these systems.    

The following job titles also refer to installation engineer:

design engineer
field installation engineer
structural installation engineer
structural engineer
commissioning engineer
building engineer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as installation engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Installation engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to installation engineer.

process engineer
heating, ventilation, air conditioning engineer
contract engineer
hydropower engineer
research engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of installation engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of installation engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of installation engineer.

Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
Construction product regulation: Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.
Project management: Understand project management and the activities which comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
Cost management: The process of planning, monitoring and adjusting the expenses and revenues of a business in order to achieve cost efficiency and capability.
Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
Construction methods: The various techniques and methods for erecting buildings and other constructions.
Construction industry: The products, brands and suppliers active in the construction field.

These skills are necessary for the role of installation engineer.

Perform risk analysis: Identify and assess factors that may jeopardise the success of a project or threaten the organisation’s functioning. Implement procedures to avoid or minimise their impact.
Oversee construction project: Make sure that the construction project is carried out in compliance with the building permit, the execution plans, the performance and design specifications, and the relevant regulations.
Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Work in a construction team: Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Ensure compliance with construction project deadline: Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.
Follow health and safety procedures in construction: Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of installation engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Continuous improvement philosophies: Underlying ideas of quality management systems. Implementation process of lean manufacturing, Kanban, Kaizen, Total Quality Management (TQM) and other continuous improvement systems.
Communication: Exchanging and conveying information, ideas, concepts, thoughts, and feelings through the use of a shared system of words, signs, and semiotic rules via a medium.
Ventilation systems: The types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Domestic heating systems: The modern and traditional heating systems alimented by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles.
Cad software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration parts: The different parts constituing heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems such as the different valves, fans, compressors, condensers, filters and other components.
Components of air conditioning systems: Know the different components that constitute air conditioning systems such as condensers, compressors, evaporators and sensors. Identify and repair/replace malfunctioning components.
Industrial heating systems: Heating systems fuelled by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power, and other reneable energy sources and their energy saving principles, applicable specifically to industrial buildings and facilities.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of installation engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Use a computer: Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Design process: Identify the workflow and resource requirements for a particular process, using a variety of tools such as process simulation software, flowcharting and scale models.
Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Report test findings: Report test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, using metrics, tables, and visual methods to clarify where needed.
Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
Assess project resource needs: Test ideas and purposes of the program against available financial and human resources to work out if the idea is realistic. Take an active role in creating the work situations you step into. Ensure that your available skills match with the needs of the end user/participant. The design of the programme must clearly define the role you will provide and the support you expect in return from stakeholders.
Use cad software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
React to events in time-critical environments: Monitor the situation around you and anticipate. Be ready to take quick and appropriate action in case of unexpected events.
Use safety equipment in construction: Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
Provide improvement strategies: Identify root causes of problems and submit proposals for effective and long-term solutions.

2149 – Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Installation engineer – ESCO