Being a Smart Grid Engineer takes a while to achieve, but once you're there, it is a job that pays extremely well and has a lot of benefits. Since this is a relatively new field, there is a ton of room for growth, and there will be a demand for many qualified individuals to fill the workforce.

The career outlook for a smart grid engineer is good. They make on average $52-$62 thousand a year.

Smart Grid Engineers monitor the electric power infrastructure and delivery system. When issues arise, the Engineers are the ones who take care of it. There are many complex problems that can come up in a power system, and they need the expertise of Engineers to fix them.

There is a lot of knowledge required to become a Smart Grid Engineer. You can become eligible through a vast amount of job experience and reaching Journeyman status, or by gaining a Master's degree in Engineering or a similar subject. If you can get an apprenticeship at an electric power company, and learn about the system as you work your way through school, you will place yourself in a good position for promotion to Engineer status.

Before you become an Engineer, you will also need to have 2-5 years working with power grids. Being able to show that you know about the technical aspects of power grids and smart grids will show that you have the hands-on knowledge that is required in engineering jobs.

Good candidates for Smart Grid Engineer jobs will have a knack for working with technical and mechanical items. You will need to pick up on things quickly in order to keep up with the constantly evolving power industry. Many of the problems that arise in smart grids are sue to modernization and new programs, so you have to know how to deal with these problems as soon as they arise.

Being able to work on your own or with other people is another important trait. You need to be motivated, and be able to work without supervision. You also need to be able to communicate with others well and relay information easily to anyone.

If you feel you would do well working with technology and trouble-shooting smart grids, look into a job as an Engineer. There will soon be many openings in this field, and if you start working toward it now, you will be in a position to fill one of those spots when they become available.

Smart Grid Engineer Resources

* Power Electronics in Smart Electrical Energy Networks (Power Systems)
* Computer-Aided Lean Management for the Energy Industry
* Clean Technology 2008: Bio Energy, Renewables, Green Building, Smart Grid, Storage, and Water
* 2007 Global BPL - Utilities Moving Towards Broadbanded Smart Grids

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