One of the fastest growing industries in the country, the healthcare industry is a fast-paced and challenging work environment that directly impacts the population. While clinical practitioner roles are in high demand, there is also job growth in non-clinical roles that span across other industry areas.

There are several key sectors within the health and medicine industry:

Medical Equipment Manufacturing
Also known as the medtech or medical device industry, this sector designs and manufactures a wide range of medical products that diagnose, monitor and treat diseases and conditions that affect people. Products range from tools such as tongue depressors to complex, expensive systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI systems and pacemakers).

Other primary sectors include:

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

Produces drugs and other products that help people and animals live healthier lives, recover from injuries and fight illnesses. Pharma and biotech companies produce prescription drugs, devices and tests to diagnose disease, and over-the-counter consumer products.

Clinical Healthcare

Professionals who work with patients in a wide variety of roles such as physicians, dentists, pharmacists, physical therapists, physician assistants and more. Each of these roles requires completion of specific health professional programs.

SAMPLE JOB TITLES

  • Associate District Representative
  • Automation Engineer
  • Clinical Account Specialist
  • Health Systems Engineer
  • Management Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Site Production Manager
  • Software Developer
  • Technical Solutions Engineer

SAMPLE HIRING ORGANIZATIONS

  • Abbott
  • Amgen
  • Baxter
  • Biosense Webster
  • Duke Health System
  • Eli Lilly
  • Epic Solutions
  • Evonik
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • McKesson
  • Medtronic
  • Merck and Co.
  • NaphCare
  • Pfizer
  • Pharmavite
  • PRA Health Sciences
  • Scapa Healthcare
  • Steris Corporation
  • Stryker Corporation

$68K

Average starting salary

*based on 69 responses from 2020-2024 AU Engineering Graduates on the First Destination Survey

RECRUITING TIMELINE

Depending on the type of employer and the role, the recruitment timelines vary. Governmental organizations, large companies, and manufacturers recruit most heavily in the fall for positions starting in the spring or summer. Opportunities still exist beyond the fall but are often more niche opportunities with smaller companies. Additionally, companies will hire throughout the year depending on the needs and demands of their projects or government contracts.

Seek opportunities to connect with employers at fall events such as the fall Engineering Career Fair, as well as at employer table talks, employer-in-residence, Ask Alumni Anything chats and student organization meetings. Search for posted opportunities on Handshake and other sources referenced below.

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Student Organizations

  • Alpha Epsilon Delta Health Professions Honor Society
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • Biomedical Engineering Society
  • Global Medical Training

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & INDUSTRY RESOURCES

  • Biomedical Engineering Society
  • IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
  • Medical Device Manufacturers Association
  • Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  • AU Engineering Research Labs (AUBE, CARE, Mistriotis, Lipke, WeBR)

Internships + Co-ops

With sample hiring organizations and companies recruiting through

  • Engineering Career Fairs & Industry Days
  • Handshake job platform
  • USAjobs.gov

Meet with an Engineering Career Coach for more information about accessing opportunities + strategizing your search for co-ops, internships, research, and more.

ALUMNI IN THE INDUSTRY

  • Bo Bradford, '15 Mechanical | Senior Business Director - Gulf Coast Neuro SPEC | Eli Lilly and Company
  • Brad Cates, '95 Chemical | Director of Strategic Alliance Management | Evonik
  • Brian Sullivan, MD, '07 Chemical | Otolaryngologist - Head & Neck Surgeon | Premier Medical
  • Camille DiCarlo, '22 & '24 Industrial & Systems | Management Engineer | Duke University Health Systems
  • Greg Nichols, '89 Biosystems | Executive Vice President | East Alabama Medical
  • Hunter Rogers, PhD, '12 & '14 Chemical | Principal | Cleveland Clinic Ventures
  • Jacob Beauchamp, '18 Industrial & Systems | Senior Director, Data Services | National Kidney Foundation
  • Jani Sarratt Bowen, '13 & '15 Industrial & Systems | Clinical Director of Process Engineering | HCA Healthcare
  • Jasmyne Brown, '17 Industrial & Systems | Director of Operational Excellence | Emory Healthcare
  • Kristen Metzler, '07 Industrial & Systems | Vice President of Partnerships | Main Street Health
  • Mark Norton, '13 Mechanical | Founder & CEO | AdeleHealth Inc
  • Parul Singh, '16 Computer Science | Senior Software Engineer | Abbott
  • Rachel Helm, '17 Biosystems | Regional Therapy Advancement Manager | Johnson & Johnson MedTech
  • Walt Woltosz, '69 and '77 Aerospace | Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors | Simulations Plus, Inc
LinkedIN logo

You can access alumni such as these to learn about career paths, skills for the industry, and build your network through LinkedIn. Create an account and build your profile, then search for Auburn alumni by major, company, location, or other criteria on the Auburn University LinkedIn page. Chat with an Engineering Career Coach on strategies for networking and reaching out to connect.