Aeronautical Engineer
I spend most of my day running computer simulations of an engine. I also get together with engineers working on different pieces of the engine to make sure the parts being designed by one group will work with the parts being designed by another group. Some days I spend a large part of the day in meetings or phone calls (either with engineers in my company or with partners around the world). This means sometimes I have to be at work at 6:30 AM to have a conference call with India or Japan ! I like my job because I get to interact with people from many different groups and learn new things each day.

--Rocket Scientist

Structural Engineer
Most days, I work in my company's office. I review data that I collected while investigating a building's problems. I meet with other members of the project team to discuss the information. Then we discuss repair options to fix the problems. In order to design the repairs, I often have to do research, both in a library (at our company's library or at a public library) and on the internet. I collect information such as the characteristics of materials (roofing, bricks, etc) and how they can be used on a building. With this information, I can write specifications, which are the "instructions" for constructing the repairs. I often have to talk to the building owner and/or the construction workers to see how my designs will actually be constructed. I also draw details - like architectural drawings - using AutoCAD (computer-aided drafting) to illustrate what I write in the specifications.
When the repair is actually being constructed on the building, I get to go to the site and see how the work is progressing. This is the fun part of the project - I get to climb scaffolding, talk to the construction workers, modify details if my original designs don't work. The best pay-off for my job is seeing the job done and seeing a building fixed and ready to use!

--Leak Lady

Civil Engineer
Every day is different for the civil engineer. One day might include visiting a project site, meeting with the contractors and client, and another day might involve meeting with a local planning board and giving an oral presentation. I spend some time designing water mains, sewer lines, and drainage systems (on the computer), writing reports, communicating with project teams, and mathematical calculations. I enjoy the variety in civil engineering and helping to deliver clean water and resources to the community and protecting the environment!

--Waterwoman

Environmental Engineer
I spend a lot of my day in meetings with my staff or citizens or businesses discussing our air pollution control or recycling programs. We want to make sure the programs are helping to encourage recycling or ensure that air pollution sources are reducing their pollution. I also spend a lot of the day answering emails from people who work in our agency, who I work with on national or regional projects related to air pollution or recycling, or helping my staff with managing their programs. The time usually flies by so I try to take time out to take a walk outside.

--airnancy

R&D Engineer
I am an engineer for a company that makes medical systems. R&D stands for research and development. So part of my day is spent doing research- trying to think up ways to make our systems work better. And part of my day is spent doing development- writing computer programs to make our ideas actually work on the system. I spend a lot of time on my computer, writing computer programs and reading/writing email. Most days I have at least one meeting where our team gets together to talk about what we're working on.

--Hearts

Audio Product Developer
I spend a lot of my day coming up with ideas for new audio products. I work with other engineers and designers to decide what the product should do and what it should look like. I also decide how we should sell the product. Sometimes, I get to spend a good part of the day trying out products by listening to music and watching movies!

--Sound Wave

Structural Engineer
Most of my time at work is spent calculating how much concrete and steel needs to go into a building to make it safe, and how all of that steel and concrete fits together. After I've figured out those things I make a set of drawings so that the contractor can read how to build it. During the design phase I will spend a lot of time talking to architects to discuss how the building is going to look. After construction starts I talk to the contractors frequently to answer questions and I get to make several trips out to the construction site to see how things are going.

--I-beam

Click on "See Other Girls' Questions" below to find out what other types of scientists do each day!