Control engineers are architects of automation. Enabling everything from smart home thermostats to complex flight controls for commercial aviation, they bring life to machines and keep the wheels of modern technologies turning smoothly. As one of the fastest growing careers today, here’s a look at what control engineers do, where they work, and the outlook for the field. 

Compared to the private sector, the U.S. government is not historically known for being innovative, nimble, and adaptable to change. Legacy systems, entrenched bureaucracy, and an often-overwhelming amount of work can stifle government’s ability to evolve with the speed of technology, particularly in an environment where stability is highly valued. Despite these challenges, the government tech industry stands poised to lead in the next wave of the technological revolution.

The NASA Psyche Mission marked a major milestone in advancing how spacecrafts communicate back to Earth. Laser beam technology is improving deep space communications and by extension improving much-needed data collection.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm. It can create art, write books, and help discover new medicines. There are even generative AI tools that can help code computer programs, opening opportunities within the tech industry for people who don’t have a tech background. This emerging trend may lead some to question the relevance of pursuing a computer science degree. However, the foundational skills and holistic education gained by earning a computer science degree remain indispensable, and computer scientists remain some of the most in-demand professionals on the job market.