You’re Hired! 5 More Hot Jobs In Infrastructure

A few months ago, when the financial markets were still in freefall, we looked at ten infrastructure-related jobs with bright prospects. As we noted at the time, the global infrastructure sector is poised to see $35 trillion in spending over the next two decades. That’s a lot of paychecks. Moreover, the jobs in question tend to be the sort that can’t be outsourced to, say, a sweatshop in Saipan. Most infrastructure work is domestic by nature, after all. And these jobs also tend to be tied to real-world technical skills–unlike many that were lost when America’s bubble economy deflated last year.

So if you’re thinking about a back-up career path to your current gig as a lawyer or stockbroker or reality tv celebrity, you might want to give these options some thought:

1. Certified Robotic Arc Welding Technician - $40,000 to $50,000

What they do: Arc welding is a common technique of fusing metals, and robotic arc welding–as the name suggests–is this process as preformed by robots. Automation ensures a higher quality of the weld –up to 50% better - and increases productivity by up to 3 times. Who maintains these armies of welding robots? A robotic arc welding technician, of course. As Jeff Noruk, president of industry firm Servo Robot puts it, “Robots are like babies. They need care every single day.”

Why it’s hot: As a recent New York Times article points out (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/business/24jobs.html), welders are much in demand these days. That demand is especially acute for certified robotic arc welding technicians: Noruk estimates that while there are several hundred thousand arc welding robots, there are only 30 certified arc welding technicians in the country, with most welding robots presently being supervised by general electricians or engineers. “There’s no governmental regulation that says that says that these machines can only be monitored by technicians certified for the equipment,” says Noruk. “But at least for critical welding purposes like pressure vessels, they should be.”

How to get the job: Enroll in a technical college training program. The Milwaukee Area Technical College, for instance, has a 2 year diploma certification course. Some welding experience is preferred but not compulsory.

2. Air-Traffic Controller - $56,000 - $99,000

What they do: Broadly, they manage air-traffic into and out of airports, and fall into one of three categories: Tower controllers, who give pilots instructions to take-off and land safely based on weather data and information from Air-route traffic control centres; en route center controllers who keep pilots aware of air traffic clearances and flight conditions during the flight; and flight service station controllers, who help pilots pre-flight, in-flight and in emergencies. On an average year, controllers in America handle an average of 64 million takeoffs and landings.

Why it’s hot: Air traffic controllers are a notoriously disgruntled lot, and plenty of them would dispute the fact that anyone would *ever* want to do what they do. Seemingly since the beginning of time, the union has been at war with the FAA. The latest round of hostilities concerns the pay freezes, cuts for new hires, and six-day work weeks imposed on controllers in 2006. “For the last three years, controllers have suffered under a draconian and tyrannical employer,” gripes Alexandra Caldwell, spokeswoman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.

But if you can see past the rather uninviting work atmosphere, the hiring prospects in the field are bright as can be. An outsize number of current air traffic controllers were hired in the early 80s, after Reagan played hardball with union and fired 11,000 striking workers. Now that bulge in workforce is closing in on the mandatory retirement age of 56. In the next ten years, in fact, the FAA is planning to hire 17,000 new controllers. As one consequence of this urgent need for new bodies, the FAA has dropped a lot of old hiring standards. For instance, applicants no longer need a college degree. And these days controllers can get fully certified in two years instead of five.

How to get the job: If you want to go to school for it, look for colleges with Controller Training Initiative programs, such as Embry Riddle. But going to a program like this isn’t mandatory, Caldwell says. “Everyone, whether hired through a college program, taken from the military or off the street goes through the same training academy in Oklahoma City. After passing this program they are then placed in facilities.”

3. Utilities Engineer – $50,000+

What they do: Utility engineers are electrical engineers who maintain transmission lines.

Why it’s hot: “There’s a demand for electrical engineers in general,” says Randi Casey, Director of Talent Acquisition, PSE&G. “That’s especially true in this niche field.” There are more than 500,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the U.S., and trillions of dollars are likely to be spent in coming years upgrading the grid to 21st century standards.

“The transmission and distribution system in the U.S. is aging,” says James Denn, Public Information Officer for the New York State Public Service Commission. “It needs to be improved and rehabilitated and billions of dollars are going to be spent.” Denn added that big New York utilities including Con Ed New York and National Grid were also vying for stimulus funding from the DOE for smart grid projects. And modifying existing electricity grids to add communications technology (i.e. to make them “smart”) naturally requires more electrical engineers.

An example: PSE&G currently has plans to upgrade a transmission line built in the 1920s, running from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and is looking to hire engineers for the job.

How to get the job: A Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, keeping your program of study focused on working for utilities.

4. Nuclear Development Manager - $125,000

What they do: In a basic sense, they work on compiling and submitting applications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build new nuclear power plants or to expand currently operating facilities.

Why it’s hot: There are currently 104 nuclear plants in America, and that number will likely be expanding substantially in years ahead, potentially driven by high oil prices, carbon emission limits, and expanding electrical demand. There’s currently a lack of experienced professionals for this niche job.

How to get the job: Be an experienced engineer with a bachelor’s degree in any engineering discipline–though the best route in is through commercial nuclear operations.

5. Metalworker: Roll–Thread Operator  - $40,000+

What they do: The wind industry used 2.4 million customized bolts in 2008. And with approximately two thousand bolts in each turbine, as the wind industry will expand, so will the demand for these machined parts. Roll thread operators are the folks who make each of the bolts.

Why it’s hot: Growth in the wind industry could create 150,000 manufacturing jobs nationwide.

“The industry is going to require a lot more quality technicians,” says Robert Drake, roll-thread operator for Cardinal Fastener, the largest company in the hot forge bolt industry in America, whose clients include some of the biggest wind turbine producers in the world.

The growing wind industry also picks up people like Drake who were dropped by the failing automotive industry. Drake, who has been a metal worker for 30 years, notes that the similarities in the metal work in both industries help workers smoothly transition from one to another. “In both, there is very critical quality control, tight tolerances,” he says. “And, a bolt’s a bolt.”

How to get the job: “Anybody with a mechanical production type background – anyone that has worked in the manufacturing facility can apply to be roll-thread operator,” says Drake. For those starting from scratch, he recommends applying at a shop that conducts work-training programs. “It’s mostly on-the-job training,” says Drake.

Pics: Robot welder, controller, transmission lines, nuke plant (Orlando Sentinel), turbine bolts