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What's the one skill you learn in engineering that's so awesome it guarantees you won't get fired by a robot and helps you become the boss faster than everyone else?

What are the earning expectations for entry-level engineers?

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Joseph’s Answer

There's lots of valuable skills in engineering, but I think a particularly important one is Logical Thinking.

Technical fields like engineering and the sciences teach you to think critical and manage problems in a logical way, breaking complex ideas down into more manageable subcomponents, and creatively building solutions by connecting. Although computers and robots are very logical, AI approaches like Large Language Models (LLMs) are notably poor at this sort of structured reasoning at the moment, so it's unlikely robots or AI will be replacing engineering roles. Even if systems do progress towards human capability, engineers are still needed to guide the digital tools and take decisions - it's a field where robotics and AI is best thought of as tool to enhance human capability rather than fire you.

In terms of becoming the boss - technical skills are important to progress early in an engineering career, but if you're looking to become a manager-style boss or C-suite role, that likely means moving away from technical work into people management and project management - which I would say is unfortunately more about people skills, drive and vision to lead rather than any technical skills you learn as part of engineering. The basic logical thinking skills still apply, so I'm standing by that as my overall answer; and of course having at least some understanding of the technical matters helps, but it's more the leadership and management skills that matter most to become the 'boss'.
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Eve’s Answer

Your problem solving skills and the ability to adapt to the changing situations on hand makes you an invaluable part of any team. Strong decision and critical thinking is what will set you apart from the rest. Machine learning and AI is continuously evolving but at the end of the day getting the trust and confidence of your team and strengthening connections is what will make you different from them.

Engineers are highly skilled personnel therefore salary can be a little higher form the regular employees.
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Siva’s Answer

Hello Braylen,
Being a CTO of a tech startup and an engineer for the past 25 years, here is the honest truth: technical skills alone will not protect you from AI. AI will continue to absorb large parts of computation, pattern recognition, and even problem-solving.

The skill that does compound over time is this: Human-centered thinking + communication + influence.

AI can generate designs. But it cannot:
* Care deeply about why a problem matters
* Understand human needs
* Inspire people to move toward a shared vision
* Take responsibility when trade-offs affect real lives

The engineers who grow fastest are the ones who design with empathy, not just efficiency.

HERE ARE SOME SKILLS YOU CAN PRACTICE:
1. Design with empathy : Always ask, Who is this for? What pain are they feeling? What happens if this fails?. Engineering decisions affect people and  human judgment still matters.
2. Articulate problems clearly: Being able to explain a complex problem and solution in simple language is rare — and incredibly valuable.
3. Communicate trade-offs: Great engineers don’t say “this is the answer.” They say: Here are the options, risks, and here is why I recommend this.
4. Dream big: AI optimizes existing paths but we imagine new ones.
5. Influence without authority: Early in your career, you won’t have a title. Your impact comes from clarity, credibility, and communication, not position.

SIMPLE ACTION PLAN YOU CAN START NOW:
1. Practice explaining technical ideas to non-technical people.
2. When solving problems, write down who it helps and why.
3. Ask for feedback on clarity, not just correctness.
4. Follow and observe engineers who influence others and study how they communicate.

Good Luck!
Siva.
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Marcus’s Answer

Braylen,

Focus on becoming really good at what you do. Always be on time and meet deadlines while being kind and understanding.
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Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer

As an engineer, your unique skills make you invaluable and hard to replace by robots. Your ability to solve tough problems creatively, communicate well, focus on details, review code carefully, and build trusting relationships sets you apart. While machines can handle data and find errors, they can't deal with uncertainty, understand human needs, notice design flaws, foresee risks, or connect ideas from different fields. Making smart decisions, thinking strategically, adapting, and understanding what drives people are strengths only humans have.

Starting salaries for engineers in the U.S. usually range from $70,000 to $90,000 per year, depending on your field, location, and company. By combining technical skills with these human qualities, you not only secure your job from automation but also speed up your journey to higher-paying roles and leadership positions.
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