How to Become a Nanotechnology Engineer

Learn more about the emerging field of nanotechnology engineering, and discover what it takes to break into this career!

Do you enjoy all aspects of science? If so, nanotechnology engineering may be the program for you! Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary topic with endless career possibilities. You’ll combine your knowledge of chemistry, physics, design, biology, and engineering to leave your mark on the world. So, if you value innovation, creativity, research, and design, then nanotechnology engineering could be your calling.

But what exactly is a nanotechnology engineer? What would I do in this career? How do I become a nanotechnology engineer? Discover everything you need to know about nanotechnology engineers and more!

What is a nanotechnology engineer?

A nanotechnology engineer, also sometimes referred to as a nanoengineer, is someone who creates new materials and machines from atoms and molecules. You’ll be able to control things too small to see with your naked eye. But what exactly could you create with these atoms and molecules? Discovering which properties each molecules have, such as strength, weight, ability to control light, and chemical reactivity, will be the foundation you use to create these new materials and machines. Essentially, you’ll be an inventor, innovator, and designer in the scientific world as you create or improve materials and technology.

Check out the University of Waterloo’s brief video explaining the basics of nanotechnology engineering:

What do nanotechnology engineers do?

Now that you know nanotechnology engineers are creators, what exactly do they do? Nanotechnology is used is almost all modern industries, such as healthcare, electronics, automotive, construction, clothing, cosmetics, environment, sustainability, spaceships, and more.

If you’re interested in healthcare, nanotechnology engineers have played a role in developing the vaccines against Covid-19 and are involved in treating other diseases such as cancer. If you’re interested in electronics, you may work on creating smaller, more efficient parts as a nanotech engineer, helping to reduce electronic waste. Or, if the environment and sustainability are your passions, you may create tools for detecting all kinds of pollutants. Ultimately, the world is full of possibilities, and you’ll be able to combine any of your interests with your degree in nanotechnology engineering.

How to become a nanotechnology engineer in three easy steps

Does being a nanotechnology engineer sound exciting to you? Find out how you can become one quicker than you think:

Step one: Education

To become a nanotechnology engineer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in an engineering program with a specialization or focus on nanotechnology engineering, or a direct degree in nanotechnology engineering. Since nanotechnology engineering is a relatively new and emerging field of study, there are few programs in Canada that specialize in this area. A couple examples are:

• University of Alberta’s engineering programs with a specialized option in nanoengineering
• University of Toronto’s nanoengineering minor option
• Canada’s first accredited undergraduate Nanotechnology Engineering program at the University of Waterloo

You may also choose to increase your career prospects by pursuing a graduate degree in nanotechnology engineering. Not every employer will require you to have a graduate degree, but some may, and you can use it as a leveraging tool for your salary. Like the bachelor’s option, there aren’t many nanotechnology engineering graduate degrees. However, the University of Waterloo also offers a Collaborative Nanotechnology Graduate Program where you can choose from one of six degrees: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Electrical and Computing Engineering, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Physics, and Systems Design Engineering — all with a focus on nanotechnology.

Step two: Experience

The next step to becoming a nanotechnology engineer is to gain relevant experience. Some employers may require that you have some type of experience, and the best way to get that is to do a co-op placement in your undergrad, participate in research studies, or pursue an entry-level position in a related field. Once you get your foot in the door, finding the right job for you will come easier! Make sure you network while in your undergrad and entry-level roles. The connections you make here could benefit you in the future as you embark on your career.

Step three: Obtain a professional engineering license

To become a practicing engineer, you must have a license to do so in Canada. The specific requirements to get an engineering license in Canada will vary depending on the province or territory, but generally, you’ll need to complete five criteria:

• Have an engineering degree from a Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board-accredited undergraduate program or possess equivalent qualifications
• Fulfil the work experience requirement depending on the province or territory
• Pass the Professional Practice Examination, which tests your knowledge of the laws that effect the engineering profession, expected professional and ethical standards, and other topics such as patents, trademarks, and copyrights
• Demonstrate good character
• Be able to work in either English or French (depending on the province or territory)

What’s the difference between a nanotechnology engineer and a nanotechnologist?

While both titles sound similar and are often be used interchangeably, they are slightly different. A nanotechnology engineer focuses on the product development and engineering component of nanoscience, whereas a nanotechnologist focuses more on a general scientific view of the nanoscale. So, if you’re more interested in engineering and creating products, then a career as a nanotechnology engineer is better suited for you. However, if you’d like to focus more on the general field of study of nanoscience — developing theories of nanoscience, planning and conducting experiments, and collecting data — then being a nanotechnologist could be meant for you.

Career prospects for a nanotechnology engineer

So, knowing that the sky’s the limit for industries that nanotechnology engineers have broken into, check out some examples of career titles that you could have:

• Nanotechnology engineer
• Research and development executive
• Lead product manager
• Entrepreneur
• Biomedical engineer
• Analyst
• Materials and process engineer
• Project manager
• Chemical process engineer

With any one of these careers, you could work anywhere in Canada in an industry that you’re passionate about. You may be wondering, “what do nanotechnology engineers make?” Well, as this career is still emerging and developing, the data is sparse. Here’s a rough estimate of nanotechnology engineers’ salaries that will likely change as the industry develops. Nanotechnology engineers in Canada make on average $65,000 - $81,000 a year.

There you have it — everything you need to know about becoming a nanotechnology engineer in Canada! If you want to be an innovator, work in an up-and-coming industry, and you enjoy all aspects of science, then this is the career for you!