Engineer

The world is full of modern marvels. Ships that float, for instance. Planes that fly. Buildings that stand. Cats that know how to use — and flush — toilets.

With the exception of potty-trained felines (only God can take credit for that one), man owes most of his greatest accomplishments to Engineers, who are the driving forces behind everything from computers and skyscrapers to toasters and oil tankers.

When you’re an Engineer, you’re part mastermind, part miracle worker. That is: You dream up impossible things, then use math and science to make them possible. Whether it’s more nutritious orange juice or a faster motorcycle, you’re a Soldier of science whose marching orders are always the “what” and whose mission is always the “how.”

Although you might practice any of several disciplines, tasks usually are similar across all branches of engineering. No matter what kind of Engineer you are, therefore, you’ll typically spend your days drafting designs and making calculations in order to solve problems related to construction and/or manufacturing.

Other professionals, such as Architects and Product Developers, will typically come up with the ideas and aesthetics for whatever you’re designing, be it a highway or a hybrid car; you, meanwhile, will find out how to make it safe, sturdy and functional by choosing the right materials, dimensions and systems.

Because you’ll need to dream up potential problems and preemptively fix them, your job requires a good imagination on top of mad math skills. It does not, however, require a YouTube following, so potty-trained cats need not apply.