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Nanosystems Engineer

Engineering

Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.

ScienceElectrical Engineering

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Provide scientific or technical guidance or expertise to scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, or others, using knowledge of chemical, analytical, or biological processes as applied to micro and nanoscale systems.
  2. 2Supervise technologists or technicians engaged in nanotechnology research or production.
  3. 3Conduct research related to a range of nanotechnology topics, such as packaging, heat transfer, fluorescence detection, nanoparticle dispersion, hybrid systems, liquid systems, nanocomposites, nanofabrication, optoelectronics, or nanolithography.
  4. 4Synthesize, process, or characterize nanomaterials, using advanced tools or techniques.
  5. 5Prepare reports, deliver presentations, or participate in program review activities to communicate engineering results or recommendations.
  6. 6Design or conduct tests of new nanotechnology products, processes, or systems.
  7. 7Create designs or prototypes for nanosystem applications, such as biomedical delivery systems or atomic force microscopes.
  8. 8Write proposals to secure external funding or to partner with other companies.
  9. 9Generate high-resolution images or measure force-distance curves, using techniques such as atomic force microscopy.
  10. 10Provide technical guidance or support to customers on topics such as nanosystem start-up, maintenance, or use.
  11. 11Develop processes or identify equipment needed for pilot or commercial nanoscale scale production.
  12. 12Engineer production processes for specific nanotechnology applications, such as electroplating, nanofabrication, or epoxy.
  13. 13Identify new applications for existing nanotechnologies.
  14. 14Apply nanotechnology to improve the performance or reduce the environmental impact of energy products, such as fuel cells or solar cells.
  15. 15Design or engineer nanomaterials, nanodevices, nano-enabled products, or nanosystems, using three-dimensional computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  16. 16Design nano-enabled products with reduced toxicity, increased durability, or improved energy efficiency.
  17. 17Coordinate or supervise the work of suppliers or vendors in the designing, building, or testing of nanosystem devices, such as lenses or probes.
  18. 18Design nano-based manufacturing processes to minimize water, chemical, or energy use, as well as to reduce waste production.
  19. 19Design nanosystems with components such as nanocatalysts or nanofiltration devices to clean specific pollutants from hazardous waste sites.
  20. 20Prepare nanotechnology-related invention disclosures or patent applications.
  21. 21Reengineer nanomaterials to improve biodegradability.
  22. 22Integrate nanotechnology with antimicrobial properties into products, such as household or medical appliances, to reduce the development of bacteria or other microbes.
  23. 23Develop catalysis or other green chemistry methods to synthesize nanomaterials, such as nanotubes, nanocrystals, nanorods, or nanowires.
  24. 24Design nanoparticle catalysts to detect or remove chemical or other pollutants from water, soil, or air.
  25. 25Develop green building nanocoatings, such as self-cleaning, anti-stain, depolluting, anti-fogging, anti-icing, antimicrobial, moisture-resistant, or ultraviolet protectant coatings.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Research Engineer
  • Durability Engineer
  • Nanosystems Engineer
  • Nanosystems Engineers
  • Nanotechnology Engineer
  • Nanoelectronics Engineer
  • Nanofabrication Engineer
  • Nanotechnology Specialist
  • Process Development Engineer
  • Nanomaterials Research Scientist

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationDoctoral degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

PhysicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
InventionDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
ChemistryDraws directly on Chemistry — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Engineering and Technology92%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Physics92%

    Physics

  • Chemistry86%

    Chemistry

  • Mathematics83%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Computers and Electronics76%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • English Language70%

    English

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
  • Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherRarely
  • Time spent standingA little
  • Time walking or movingA little
  • Hands-on work with tools or objectsA little

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Analyze meteorological data.
  • Design electrical interconnections.
  • Design wind turbine components.
  • Estimate energy production by analyzing wind data.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

18%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Renewable Energy Engineer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Matriculation

One or two years, heavily subsidised with allowance. Competitive, quota-based entry.

12–24 months

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

TVET

Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.

1–3 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Nanosystems Engineers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org