My H is an industrial engineer (BS in ORIE + MBA) and is leading his company’s charge on the change over to using more sustainable materials. He’s done everything from M&A, to overseeing new tech, to driving new business models. He’s in a high level operations role but started way back in the day as a quality engineer.
My D’s mentor at work has a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and masters in sustainability engineering. She is helping the company’s efforts to reuse all their byproducts, minimizing waste, and recycling everything they can. She’s a younger grad and started in the company’s engineering leadership development program. The company paid for part of her master’s degree which she did part time while working.
We have another friend who works in the manufacturing of wind turbines. His industry has taken a big hit recently but they are hoping to ride out the next few years and focus on other markets.
My advice to your son is to be very flexible and keep an open mind about future employment. Almost all companies are concerned with sustainability and being environmentally responsible. The new grads that we know interested in sustainability who are struggling to find work, have pigeon holed themselves too narrowly. I’d let go of even discussing a “dream company” especially so early in the process.