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How Do I Become a Hydraulic Engineer?

M. Kayo
M. Kayo

To become a hydraulic engineer you first need training and education. Hydraulic engineers design and build things that are associated with water, its effects, and behaviors. A degree from a college or university is required for those who want to become a hydraulic engineer. Likewise, a hydraulic engineer needs to gain working experience and to develop the expertise to build structures and systems that handle water. Job duties require a number of skills and abilities.

The educational requirements for those wanting to become a hydraulic engineer are a bachelor's degree in civil or chemical engineering. If you want to move past the entry-level position, you will likely need to get a master's degree. In addition, some hydraulic engineers need certification as a professional engineer. Mathematics, physics, and design are part of the college coursework. Hydraulic engineers must also be trained to read and interpret blueprints, drawings, maps, aerial photography, and topographical and geologic data necessary for the design and development of water projects like harbors, dams, pipelines, or irrigation projects.

Hydraulic engineers may be employed in the development of hydroelectric dams.
Hydraulic engineers may be employed in the development of hydroelectric dams.

After formal education and training is complete, anyone wanting to become a hydraulic engineer must develop skills that come from real-world, on-the-job experience. Most engineering companies assign a mentor or tenured engineer to work alongside entry-level employees and to teach them the necessary skills. These skills include analysis of survey reports and other documents used to determine construction location, material costs, type of equipment necessary, and how much labor is needed to successfully complete a particular project. Additional skills required for this position include the ability to estimate water flow rates, compute load and grade requirements, determine material stress factors, and test soil to determine strength of materials.

Hydraulic engineers design and build things that are associated with water, its effects, and behaviors.
Hydraulic engineers design and build things that are associated with water, its effects, and behaviors.

Job duties for hydraulic engineers include drafting, designing specifications for technical parts. On-site project inspections to assure conformance to local government, safety, and sanitation standards may also be part of this job. Most hydraulic engineers work their way up through the ranks of a company and are promoted to work as project managers. As project managers, hydraulic engineers will gain the valuable experience of working with and directing a small group of other engineers, hydrologists, and scientists, eventually working up to the position of hydraulic engineering manager.

Discussion Comments

anon979814

This is a terribly written article. Firstly, as an hydraulic engineer we work with hydraulic oil more than anything else, Secondly you don't require a civil or chemical engineering degree -- you require a mechanical degree, as in mechanics, where you learn thermodynamics, fluid mechanics such as pipe flow, pipe friction and pressure losses across systems.

The most important part you have gotten wrong is the level required to become good. I have a degree in mechanical engineering, but I know of guys way better at hydraulics than I am, purely because of the hands on knowledge they have. My boss, as well as some of the highest names in regards to hydraulics, only have the degree, with no masters and certainly none of them studied civil or chemical engineering.

I feel this article is misleading to the youth of today. I came on looking how to further my own qualifications and knowledge into hydraulics and this page has only muddied the water.

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    • Hydraulic engineers may be employed in the development of hydroelectric dams.
      By: William Warby
      Hydraulic engineers may be employed in the development of hydroelectric dams.
    • Hydraulic engineers design and build things that are associated with water, its effects, and behaviors.
      By: Marzky Ragsac Jr.
      Hydraulic engineers design and build things that are associated with water, its effects, and behaviors.
    • Job duties of hydraulic engineers include drafting, designing specifications for technical parts, and conducting on-site project inspections.
      By: imtmphoto
      Job duties of hydraulic engineers include drafting, designing specifications for technical parts, and conducting on-site project inspections.
    • Hydraulic engineers need to master tasks that include analyzing survey reports and other documents used to determine construction location.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Hydraulic engineers need to master tasks that include analyzing survey reports and other documents used to determine construction location.
    • Hydraulic engineers may be tasked with overseeing parts of a civil project.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Hydraulic engineers may be tasked with overseeing parts of a civil project.
    • Hydraulic engineering often plays a key role in designing and building tunnels, bridges and highways.
      By: viappy
      Hydraulic engineering often plays a key role in designing and building tunnels, bridges and highways.