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How to get an engineering job in Europe: countries, professions, documents
Moving and starting a career, especially in a new country, can be exciting and a bit overwhelming. If you're thinking of working as an engineer in Europe, there's a lot to consider: visa rules, job hunting websites, and understanding different European cultures. We've put together this article to help you out.
Europe stands as a coveted destination for expatriates, drawn to its rich cultural tapestry, historical allure, and elevated quality of life. Today, an increasing number of individuals are setting their sights on the Old Continent for employment, driven either by economic challenges in their home countries or the promise of higher salaries. Whether embarking on this journey right out of school, armed with a diploma, or seeking new horizons with years of professional experience, making the move to Europe marks a pivotal moment in one's life.
Decide where you want to live and work in Europe
Before embarking on the job hunt, the crucial first step is deciding where you want to live and work. If you haven't earned your diploma yet, consider exploring locations where you'd like to both study and eventually build your career.
Education and employment are closely intertwined, as obtaining a degree in a specific country often facilitates easier access to its job market. For instance, if you pursue studies in France, finding employment in the same country is likely to be more straightforward compared to navigating job markets in unfamiliar territories like Sweden or Finland, where you lack contacts, cultural familiarity, and language proficiency.
Decision deadline?
It's essential to assess your desired work location early on, but it's not an absolute prerequisite. With a diploma or work experience in hand, you can still venture into new horizons. Regardless of your situation, various factors come into play some personal and subjective, such as your affinity for a particular country's culture, language preferences, or climatic inclinations. On the objective front, factors like a country's quality of life and salary levels for your profession are crucial considerations.
Switzerland takes the lead as the highest-paying country for engineers worldwide, with salaries exceeding 100,000 euros annually. Following closely is Luxembourg, offering an equally impressive figure surpassing 90,000 euros. Denmark and Belgium secure the next spots with average salaries comfortably exceeding 80,000 euros.
While subjective considerations on the matter of where you want to land in Europe to work as engineer require personal reflection, we recommend reading our articles that can further aid in the decision-making process. Further we will review each of the top countires in detail from a perspective of working there as an engineer.
Best cities to live and work in Europe
Best places to live in Europe
Countries with the highest salaries
Learn the required languages and get a degree (BE and BTech)
Once you've decided the destination, the next steps involve obtaining an engineering degree if you don't already have one and learning the necessary languages.
Is English enough?
First and foremost is English, a prerequisite for most positions in the majority of countries. However, it's not the sole language requirement. While many roles can be accessed with proficient English, several positions demand fluency in the local language. Therefore, it's crucial to take the initiative and start learning the language of your future destination if you aim to work there.
Many engineers come to work in Luxembourg from the USA, Canada, and Mexico. One of the main reasons they choose to immigrate is because they can use English at work. As we wrote in our separate article on working for US citizens in Luxembourg, more than 2,000 Americans live in Luxembourg, so there is a big community there.
Highest paying and accsessible country
Languages spoken in LuxembourgWhat degree is required to be an engineer?
To embark on an engineering career, one typically begins with a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, and chemistry during high school, often participating in science-related extracurricular activities.
This is followed by enrolling in one of the streams of the bachelor's degree program, where the first year covers general engineering concepts before specializing:
Bachelor of Engineering (BE)
Traditionally more theory-based, often emphasizes a deeper understanding of engineering theoretical knowledge
Bachelor of Technology (BTech)
Inclined towards practical and technical aspects of engineering and allows to enter the industry directly after graduation
Practical experience is gained through internships or co-op programs. After graduation, some may opt for advanced degrees like a Master's or Ph.D. for further specialization or research opportunities. In certain fields, becoming a licensed engineer requires passing exams like the FE and PE, and it's important to continuously update skills and knowledge.
What specialisations are available for engineers?
Engineering is like the backbone of our modern society, a field brimming with creativity and problem-solving. Here are some key types of engineering professions popular in Europe and around the wrold.
Civil engineering
Imagine being the mastermind behind the next Golden Gate Bridge or Burj Khalifa. Civil engineers design and oversee the construction of buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. They turn the dreams of architects into tangible structures, ensuring they are safe, functional, and sustainable.
Mechanical engineering
Ever wondered who designs the cars we drive or the air conditioners that cool our homes? Mechanics apply principles of physics and materials science to design, analyze, manufacture, and maintain mechanical systems.
Electrical engineering
In a world powered by electricity, these engineers deal with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. Think of them every time you charge your phone or switch on your TV.
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineers develop and design chemical manufacturing processes. They transform raw materials into useful products like medicines, plastics, and cosmetics, essentially turning the stuff of the earth into gold (metaphorically).
Software engineering
They are the wizards behind the curtain of our screens. They design, develop, test, and maintain software systems – from the apps on your phone to complex computer systems. They make sure you can swipe right, send that important email, and defeat the final boss in your favorite video game.
Biomedical engineering
These professionals combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare. From artificial organs to advanced prosthetic limbs.
Environmental engineering
Use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.
Aerospace engineering
The sky is not the limit for them – it's just the beginning! Aerospace engineers design and build aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. They are the reason we can fly to different countries and explore outer space.
Show all
Research job opportunities
Once you've fulfilled all the necessary requirements, diplomas, proficiency in English and the local languages of your desired country, it's time to embark on your job search.
The internet serves as the optimal platform for researching the job market. Numerous European job portals host thousands of job listings across the continent. On these portals, you can filter job offers based on your preferred sector, location, educational level, or required work experience.
Where to look for engineering jobs?
Several portals cater to a European audience, while others focus on individual countries. Start by exploring opportunities on the European Union's job portal, then expand your search to platforms offering pan-European listings such as eurojobs.com, eurojobsites.com, experteer.com, indeed.com, or page.com. Finally, delve into the local job portals of the specific country you're interested in!
Coming to work as engineer from India?
Indian nationals are known to be very good in software and IT fields, so there are a lot of jobs in Europe for Indian engineers. If you’re an Indian engineer and you are interested in Luxembourg, you can check out our special article about How to obtain a visa to Luxembourg for Indian nationals.
Obtain necessary work and entry documents for Europe
Once you've secured a job and have the contract in hand, you can initiate the paperwork to obtain a visa or residence permit. While a few countries may allow you to start this process before securing employment, such opportunities are rare and typically come with restrictions.
Work contract first
In most cases, having a signed employment contract is a prerequisite for obtaining a visa.
If you are a European national, you need not worry about these issues, as you have the right to live and work in any European country. However, if you are not, you'll need to navigate multiple procedures to acquire the necessary documents.
Read our dedicated article on visa
Work visa in LuxembourgTop-10 countries to work as engineer in Europe
Imagine being part of the legacy that brought the world the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland, the high-speed railways of France, or the renewable energy innovations in Germany. This continent, steeped in a rich engineering heritage, presents a mosaic of opportunities. We will take a look at the best countires for engineer jobs in 2024 and their specifics.
Switzerland
At the pinnacle of our list is Switzerland, offering engineers an astronomical average salary of 113,106 euros. Switzerland boasts a thriving economy, driven in part by its innovative and advanced engineering industry. The nation stands out for its contributions to sectors such as machinery, watchmaking, and precision instruments. Major engineering opportunities in Switzerland are concentrated in cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. Common industrial roles include scientific, chemical, and mechanical engineering.
One notable advantage in Switzerland is its multilingual environment
German
French
Italian
This linguistic diversity broadens your potential opportunities; proficiency in any of these languages enhances your prospects.
Study engineering in Switzerland
For aspiring engineers, Switzerland proves to be a compelling choice for education. Government-funded academic institutions with low tuition fees make it an attractive option for students. Some institutions even provide bonuses to foreign and international students, potentially expanding your job prospects upon graduation.
Luxembourg
In the second spot on our list is Luxembourg, globally renowned for its high salaries, with engineers earning an average of 95,691 euros annually. While this small country is primarily recognized for its flourishing financial sector, engineering also finds a place within its workforce.
Country of steel
Luxembourg has a historical background in the steel industry, and though its heyday has passed, there are still industries within the country that operate in this domain, consistently hiring engineers.
Constructor specialists wanted!
Another significant field is construction, evidenced by the numerous cranes and construction sites along the roads. Luxembourg is undergoing extensive infrastructure projects aimed at adapting transportation to demographic growth. Additionally, various districts in Luxembourg City and the southern part of the country are engaged in large-scale revitalization projects to enhance specific areas.
Software engineers
Notably, Luxembourg boasts one of the highest levels of startup investment in Europe. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is hailed as the venture capital of the EU, with many leading venture capital firms having a presence there. Within this context, Luxembourg's technological landscape thrives, creating a consistent demand for engineers in tandem with the flourishing startup ecosystem.
Working as software engineer in Luxembourg
Work visa in Luxembourg
What languages are spoken in Luxembourg
Denmark
Denmark, renowned for its focus on innovation, offers a thriving job market that can prove abundant and lucrative for engineering professionals. Copenhagen, in particular, hosts several tech giants like Zendesk, Unity, Sitecore, Tradeshift, and Trustpilot, all of which originated in this vibrant city. Moreover, it serves as the headquarters for TechBBQ, the largest startup and innovation summit in the Nordic region.
City of star...tups!
Numerous coworking spaces, acceleration programs, and government initiatives ensure that Copenhagen remains a highly favorable city for startups. Whether in Copenhagen or other industrialized cities like Aarhus and Odense, you can find opportunities in common industrial roles such as production, electrical power, and chemical engineering.
For students, attending leading engineering schools like the University of Aarhus, Aalborg University, and the University of Southern Denmark can pave the way for employment in the country post-graduation.
Belgium
Belgium claims the fourth spot on our list, offering engineers a robust average salary of 80,158 euros, an enticing proposition. Belgium presents a diverse array of employment opportunities for both novice and seasoned professionals, with companies actively seeking individuals possessing technical engineering knowledge and project management skills.
The country has grappled with a shortage of workers in essential sectors, prompting efforts to address this by hiring foreign personnel. Each of Belgium's regions, Brussels, Wallonia, and Flanders, maintains lists of the most needed workers within their territories. Foreign workers relocating to Belgium can avail themselves of these lists, particularly in the engineering domain.
The list encompass various branches:
- architects,
- electrical and electromechanical engineers.
- civil engineers,
- industrial engineers,
- software engineers.
Germany
Germany, ranking in the middle of our list, offers engineers an average annual salary of around 78,359 euros. Despite close competition from the Nordic countries, Germany's expansive industrial legacy makes it one of the easiest countries for engineers to find employment.
Deficit of workforce
The demand for engineers is so high that a shortage has been noted, partially attributed to an aging workforce. In 2017 the German Economic Institute recorded a deficit of 237,500 scientists and technical professionals.
Willkommen
In the past decade, Germany has streamlined procedures to welcome foreign professionals into its workforce. The nation has even introduced a special visa for job seekers, allowing professionals to stay for six months while applying for positions aligned with their expertise. This makes Germany one of the most promising destinations for technical professionals from across the globe.
Best cities
Lucrative and promising engineering roles in Germany are often found in major cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich. Common industrial jobs in Germany include roles in the automotive industry, mechatronics, and pharmaceutical engineering.
Netherlands
The Netherlands offers engineers an average annual salary of 73,674 euros, reflecting a well-developed engineering industry that provides professional growth opportunities across various specialties.
Common industrial roles in the Netherlands encompass
Environmental engineering
Robotics and mechanics
Aerospace industry engineering
Renowned for valuing sustainability in engineering practices, the country presents robust career prospects, particularly for professionals with an ecological focus. The Netherlands boasts one of Europe's largest startup ecosystems, with Amsterdam hosting a third of all startup jobs in the country. Numerous startups addressing diverse challenges seek qualified engineers.
Cream of the cream
In addition to local startups, leading US tech companies like Uber, Netflix, and Tesla have established their European headquarters in the Netherlands, adding to the spectrum of job opportunities. Major cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague host a significant number of available positions.
Iceland
Iceland offers engineers an average annual salary of 72,965 euros, but a decision to work here requires careful consideration.
No space
For those aspiring to be aerospace engineers, Iceland may not be the ideal destination. While opportunities exist in various engineering fields, a detailed analysis is essential, as some areas pose challenges in finding employment, while others may offer more prospects.
Additionally, lifestyle considerations are crucial. If the idea of living in a small society, embracing the isolation of this island, unfazed by 20 hours of darkness in December, and unafraid of the icy climate with strong winds aligns with your preferences, then Iceland could be a viable option for you.
Austria
Austria, with an average annual salary of 72,215 euros for engineers, stands as one of Europe's nations with an excellent well-being index. The country actively seeks foreign engineers due to an internal shortage.
Austria currently identifies several occupations as scarce and is actively recruiting in various areas, including:
Electronics engineering
System analytics and software
Network engineering
Database specialties
While many job opportunities are concentrated in Vienna, other regions, such as Upper Austria, also present promising prospects, with numerous companies and a considerable number of job openings for engineers.
Ireland
Approaching the end of our list is Ireland, offering engineers an average annual salary of 72,123 euros. With a growing economy and a thriving business environment, Ireland attracts professionals worldwide seeking new perspectives and successful careers. From the capital city, Dublin, to charming coastal towns and the tech hubs scattered across the country, the Emerald Isle provides a diverse range of options for those aiming to advance their careers while enjoying a balanced life.
Homebase of giants
Ireland serves as a hub for many multinational companies, establishing itself as one of Europe's Silicon Valleys. Dublin, the primary economic and business center, houses numerous multinational corporations, startups, and globally renowned tech firms. Giants like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have their European headquarters in Dublin, offering abundant job opportunities, especially in various engineering fields.
Cork, another significant city, has witnessed substantial growth in the business and tech sectors in recent years. Similar to Dublin, Cork hosts many multinational companies and startups in areas such as technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. Companies like Apple, Dell, Pfizer, and Johnson Controls have a presence in Cork, providing a broad spectrum of employment opportunities for engineers.
Finland
At the end of our list is Finland, offering engineers an average annual salary of 70,262 euros. If you can brave the cold, this country has much to offer: high living standards, a safe and well-functioning society, and nature just a step away from home. The UN World Happiness Report has named Finland the 'happiest country in the world' for four consecutive years.
Work-life balance
Working in Finland comes with numerous advantages. Thriving and innovative industries provide ample opportunities for career advancement and skill development. Finns recognize that life extends beyond work, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between work and private life.
Tech-engineering
The technology sector, crucial to Finland, is highly developed. Finnish companies have played a significant role in sectors like mobile technology, electronics, cybersecurity, software, and gaming for decades, continually seeking talented professionals and often recruiting internationally.
Future of technology
Finland is credited with introducing the world to 5G, SMS, and the Linux operating system. The country's IT companies offer rewarding job opportunities for international engineers eager to progress in their careers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I apply for jobs before moving to Europe?
Absolutely. Many companies conduct remote interviews, and online platforms facilitate job applications from anywhere. You can secure a job offer before moving, streamlining the relocation process.
Do all European countries have the same visa requirements for engineers?
No, visa requirements differ between countries. Each country has its regulations for work permits and visas. Research and understand the specific requirements of the country you're interested in.
Are engineering jobs in Europe open to non-European Union citizens?
Yes, many European countries actively seek skilled professionals from outside the EU. Non-EU citizens can secure engineering jobs, but they must navigate specific visa and work permit processes.
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Source: www.erieri.com, www.indeed.com, www.justarrived.lu, theunlikelydeveloper.com, www.schengenvisainfo.com, blog.structuralia.com, www.expat.com, www.ambito.com, www.nomadasexperience.com, finland.fi
We took photos from these sources: ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash, data from Economic Research Institute, Pixabay
Authors: Luz
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