What Do Nanosystems Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Nanosystems Engineers design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering. They also write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.

Other tasks include:

• Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
• Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production.
• Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations.
• Provide scientific or technical guidance or expertise to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, or others, using knowledge of chemical, analytical, or biological processes as applied to micro and nanoscale systems.
• Conduct research related to a range of nanotechnology topics, such as packaging, heat transfer, fluorescence detection, nanoparticle dispersion, hybrid systems, liquid systems, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, optoelectronics, or nanolithography.
• Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.

We asked Nanosystems Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Nanosystems Engineers supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production. They provide scientific or technical guidance or expertise to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, or others, using knowledge of chemical, analytical, or biological processes as applied to micro and nanoscale systems.

A typical day for a Nanosystems Engineer will also include:

• Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems.
• Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
• Conduct research related to a range of nanotechnology topics, such as packaging, heat transfer, fluorescence detection, nanoparticle dispersion, hybrid systems, liquid systems, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, optoelectronics, or nanolithography.
• Coordinate or supervise the work of suppliers or vendors in the designing, building, or testing of nanosystem devices, such as lenses or probes.
• Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.

We asked some Nanosystems Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Nanosystems Engineers also design nanosystems with components such as nanocatalysts or nanofiltration devices to clean specific pollutants from hazardous waste sites. They may also design nano-enabled products with reduced toxicity, increased durability, or improved energy efficiency.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Nanosystems Engineers Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations. They might also Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.

In addition, they Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems.

To some Nanosystems Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Create designs or prototypes for nanosystem applications, such as biomedical delivery systems or atomic force microscopes.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Nanosystems Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

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