Engineering roles and responsibilities in the defense industry today

Role of Defense Industry Engineers Today

The General Role of Engineers for Defense

Types of Work Performed by Engineers in the Defense Industry

Key Attributes and Skills Required

Ethical Issues for Defense Industry Engineers

The Role of Defense Industry Engineers Today

This report outlines the various roles of engineers working in the defense industry today. Some laypersons would likely be able to explain in general terms the role of engineers in industries such as construction because they are able to see the results of this work for themselves. There is likely less known about the role of engineers working in the defense industry, though, because of the secrecy that surrounds this work and its importance to national defense. Although engineers have been relied on to provide the requisite defenses for cities, states and nations throughout history, this role has changed in fundamental ways over the centuries, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. In order to develop a more informed view of the role of engineers working in the defense industry today, this paper provides a review of the relevant peer-reviewed, scholarly and governmental literature, followed by a summary of the research and important findings in the conclusion.

Review and Discussion

The General Role of Engineers for Defense

Engineers have been actively engaged in a country's defense for millennia, but it only fairly recently that their role has been defined by standardized job descriptions and performance standards (Silver & Brennan, 1998). The role played by engineers in the defense industry became more complex with a broader scope during the second half of the 20th century as a result. In this regard, Rae and Volti add that, "The military is of course hardly an alien intruder into engineering. What makes the postwar era unique is the great increase in both the scope and the technological complexity of warfare" (142-143). In this increasingly complex environment, the types of work performed by defense industry engineers have also become more complex and these issues are discussed further below.

Key Attributes and Skills Required

Besides the following key attributes and skills, the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-11 Edition) stipulates that a bachelor's degree is usually required for entry-level engineering positions. The Handbook also emphasizes that, "Engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and to communicate well, both orally and in writing" (Engineers 2010:4). In addition, good communication skills are regarded as important key attributes for engineers who frequently work with professionals from other disciplines (Engineers 2010).

Although every employment situation for defense industry engineers will be unique in some way, some common key attributes and skills required by Engineers Australia (2010) for professional engineers include the following:

1. Knowledge of science and engineering fundamentals;

2. in-depth technical competence in at least one engineering discipline;

3. Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation, and solution;

4. Understanding of social, cultural, global, and environmental responsibilities and the need to employ principles of sustainable development;

5. Ability to utilise a systems approach to complex problems and to design and operational performance;

6. Proficiency in engineering design;

7. Ability to conduct an engineering project;

8. Understanding of the business environment;

9. Ability to communicate effectively, with the engineering team and with the community at large;

10. Ability to manage information and documentation;

11. Capacity for creativity and innovation;

12. Ability to function effectively as an individual and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, as a team leader or manager as well as an effective team member;

13. Capacity for lifelong learning and professional development; and,

14. Professional Attitudes (Professional engineer summary statement 2010).

Ethical Issues for Defense Industry Engineers

Besides subscribing to the professional code of conduct for engineers, one of the key requirements for professional engineers employed in the Australian defense industry today is to possess an, "Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities, and commitment to them" (Professional engineer summary statement, 2010).

Conclusion

The research showed that engineers have long been actively engaged in defense-related efforts, but it was not until the second half of the 20th century that professional qualifications and standards were developed for the profession. The research also showed that defense industry engineers are responsible for designing and testing not only the weapons of war, but for research into ancillary technologies that support the military forces of a country and ensure its security.