Network engineer
A network engineer organizes all processes in the areas of planning, construction and operation of electricity, water and gas networks.
Job description and fields of activity
In the last few decades, the framework conditions for utility companies in Germany have changed drastically. The liberalization of the energy market is advancing and the competitive pressure on companies is increasing. Sectors such as electricity, water and gas, which were previously only considered individually, must now be treated holistically. As a result, the job description of the network engineer gradually developed. Network engineers are more flexible due to their cross-divisional working method and can thus better meet today's requirements on the energy market. A network engineer has specialist knowledge of several sectors and can combine technical knowledge from different specialist areas. So he can work more efficiently and effectively. In a division-integrated company, a network engineer primarily performs operational tasks. He is responsible for the planning, development, construction and operation of electricity, water and gas networks and assumes management and specialist skills . His tasks include metering, network management and the design and support of a comprehensive distribution network. A network engineer, however, is not only an expert in cross-divisional questions of supply technology , he is also trained for special tasks in the electricity, water or gas supply. This includes, for example, high-voltage networks , substations , gas pressure regulating systems or water extraction and storage systems.
education and study
Since 2002, further education courses for network engineers for electricity / gas / water have been offered at some universities of applied sciences and institutes. However, this advanced training course is aimed at engineers who are already working and who have already completed a technical-scientific degree. From the winter semester 2009/2010, the FH Aachen will offer a "dual course of civil engineering specializing in network engineering" for the first time in cooperation with the pipeline construction association (rbv) and the vocational support organization of the building industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. The dual course of study consists of a university of applied sciences course (Bachelor of Engineering) in combination with commercial and technical training as a pipeline constructor . After four years, the course is completed with the academic degree “ Bachelor of Engineering - Focus on Network Engineering”. The Department of Energy · Buildings · Environment at the Münster University of Applied Sciences offers a cross-disciplinary master's degree in "Network Engineering, Utilities", which is aimed at students with relevant professional experience in the power supply industry. The students also bring knowledge of the technical facilities and operational processes in the electricity and / or gas and / or water sectors into the course. The Münster University of Applied Sciences also offers Bachelor graduates who have or want to gain a foothold in one of the network divisions the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge.