6 answers
Lorenzo
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
382 views
What is the hardest part of being an Engineer.?
Hello, I am a 7th grade student at Crane Middle School, I was wondering what is the hardest about being Engineer. I was also wondering what a normal day would look like and if different types of engineers would need more or less education.
Ever since I was little I always loved to make things out of empty can and old cardboard. I have always been interested in engineering and construction, I also love to learn how machines work like lawn mowers and weed wackers.
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6 answers
Steve Chan
Software Engineer
7
Answers
Singapore
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Scary things:
- CEO passes difficult problems to directors -> directors passes difficult problems to managers -> manager passes difficult problems to you-> you have no one to pass to but to solve it.
- When you are working on the problem, there'll be times where you do not know everything. Challenge #2, make friends. do you know those who know how to solve the problems? if not, go find some.
- On top of all that social & soft-skills, you should be constantly upgrading yourself with latest technology etc. or even re-learning some stuffs just to get your job done with the highest quality.
Comforting things:
- you may feel like "god" once you get something done, especially when its a hard one.
- you feel stronger, more resilient, and more organized as a person to work under pressure and DELIVER
- you income goes up, your personal life gets change, you pride goes up : tada, good life.
- CEO passes difficult problems to directors -> directors passes difficult problems to managers -> manager passes difficult problems to you-> you have no one to pass to but to solve it.
- When you are working on the problem, there'll be times where you do not know everything. Challenge #2, make friends. do you know those who know how to solve the problems? if not, go find some.
- On top of all that social & soft-skills, you should be constantly upgrading yourself with latest technology etc. or even re-learning some stuffs just to get your job done with the highest quality.
Comforting things:
- you may feel like "god" once you get something done, especially when its a hard one.
- you feel stronger, more resilient, and more organized as a person to work under pressure and DELIVER
- you income goes up, your personal life gets change, you pride goes up : tada, good life.
Justin Struthers
Engineer
7
Answers
Laguna Hills
Updated
Justin’s Answer
The hardest part of being an engineer is finding a middle ground for argreements with other engineers.
Also, working with others who don't have an engineers mind set. Engineerds are genreally very efficient. Many other people are not.
Sure I am oversimplifying it but once you are in the career world, you will see what I mean.
But at the same time, it is as hard as you make it. meaning your attitude and perspective can alter YOUR feeling.
Also, working with others who don't have an engineers mind set. Engineerds are genreally very efficient. Many other people are not.
Sure I am oversimplifying it but once you are in the career world, you will see what I mean.
But at the same time, it is as hard as you make it. meaning your attitude and perspective can alter YOUR feeling.
William Vvuko
Retired engineer
234
Answers
Moyo, Northern Region
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi Lorenzo,
Thank you very much for this query. It's true that engineering is a rather involving field of study. Talent/natural gifts vary from one individual to another. It's not possible for one individual to be good at everything. The practical advice is for one to spend more time & effort in areas where one is weak without compromising performance in areas where one is already doing well.
My guess is that you are inclined towards mechanical engineering based on your expressed interests.
Mechanical engineering offers you opportunities in many areas: design, manufacturing/production, projects, maintenance, utilities, consultancies, research & development. Teaching roles are also available in universities and colleges. Training in leadership and management allows you to occupy roles at all levels of organizations.
A bachelor's degree course in engineering generally runs for four (4) years - slight variations may exist based on your country of residence.
Your daily routines are generally influenced by the role you occupy and your level in the organization. My experience is largely in maintenance engineering acquired in the manufacturing sector.
The maintenance effort aims to ensure a safe, reliable and economical operation. To optimize this effort, a maintenance management system is essential (usually electronic). The system allows you to plan, schedule & execute jobs that are due for the maintenance window at hand- mainly inspection jobs (manual & electronic). When breakdowns occur, emergency job cards are raised by the process crue so maintenance personnel on shift can resolve them. Escalation procedures are in place to bring more senior maintenance personnel on site in the event that a particular problem persists.
Feedback from operators, technicians & specialists is reviewed by the departmental maintenance leadership in a daily meeting. This feeds into the departmental production meeting and eventually the plant daily meeting.
Maintenance feedback is logged into the computerized maintenance management system and reports are generated. The maintenance function runs with a wide range of key performance indicators (KPIs): productivity (machine efficiency, mean time between failures, mean time to repair), cost (maintenance costs, yield loses influenced by equipment condition), quality of product influenced by equipment condition, delivery (schedule completion rate, corrective work arising from inspections, backlog, planned maintenance ratio), safety (incidents & their investigations, compliance with safety requirements), morale (attendance, late coming, 5S scores).
Review of database is done to identify dominant failure modes to trigger the use of systemic and advanced problem solving tools.
Review of inspection schedules (tasks) for effectiveness also takes place - effective inspections should result in the identification of defects.
Maintenance crue is also involved in engineering projects at all stages.
Engineers train technicians and technicians train operators (autonomous maintenance) to ensure the maintenance team is sufficiently competent.
There are other business processes that the maintenance crue is involved in: inventory management of spares & consumables, design reviews, line capability studies, best practice audits etc.
Thank you very much for this query. It's true that engineering is a rather involving field of study. Talent/natural gifts vary from one individual to another. It's not possible for one individual to be good at everything. The practical advice is for one to spend more time & effort in areas where one is weak without compromising performance in areas where one is already doing well.
My guess is that you are inclined towards mechanical engineering based on your expressed interests.
Mechanical engineering offers you opportunities in many areas: design, manufacturing/production, projects, maintenance, utilities, consultancies, research & development. Teaching roles are also available in universities and colleges. Training in leadership and management allows you to occupy roles at all levels of organizations.
A bachelor's degree course in engineering generally runs for four (4) years - slight variations may exist based on your country of residence.
Your daily routines are generally influenced by the role you occupy and your level in the organization. My experience is largely in maintenance engineering acquired in the manufacturing sector.
The maintenance effort aims to ensure a safe, reliable and economical operation. To optimize this effort, a maintenance management system is essential (usually electronic). The system allows you to plan, schedule & execute jobs that are due for the maintenance window at hand- mainly inspection jobs (manual & electronic). When breakdowns occur, emergency job cards are raised by the process crue so maintenance personnel on shift can resolve them. Escalation procedures are in place to bring more senior maintenance personnel on site in the event that a particular problem persists.
Feedback from operators, technicians & specialists is reviewed by the departmental maintenance leadership in a daily meeting. This feeds into the departmental production meeting and eventually the plant daily meeting.
Maintenance feedback is logged into the computerized maintenance management system and reports are generated. The maintenance function runs with a wide range of key performance indicators (KPIs): productivity (machine efficiency, mean time between failures, mean time to repair), cost (maintenance costs, yield loses influenced by equipment condition), quality of product influenced by equipment condition, delivery (schedule completion rate, corrective work arising from inspections, backlog, planned maintenance ratio), safety (incidents & their investigations, compliance with safety requirements), morale (attendance, late coming, 5S scores).
Review of database is done to identify dominant failure modes to trigger the use of systemic and advanced problem solving tools.
Review of inspection schedules (tasks) for effectiveness also takes place - effective inspections should result in the identification of defects.
Maintenance crue is also involved in engineering projects at all stages.
Engineers train technicians and technicians train operators (autonomous maintenance) to ensure the maintenance team is sufficiently competent.
There are other business processes that the maintenance crue is involved in: inventory management of spares & consumables, design reviews, line capability studies, best practice audits etc.
AZIZUR RAHMAN
Technical Representative in hp and Mathematics Teacher for 7th–10th grade students.
25
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
AZIZUR’s Answer
Hey Lorenzo!
You have a great brain, already thinking about engineering, especially since you love building stuff and figuring out how machines work! That's a perfect mindset for an engineer.
Let's dive into your questions:
Hardest part about being an engineer: Honestly, one of the trickiest things can be dealing with setbacks and problems that don't have easy answers. Imagine spending weeks designing something, and then it doesn't work quite right! Engineers often face complex challenges, budget limits, and tight schedules, so they need to be super persistent and creative to find solutions. It's not always about getting it right the first time, but about learning and improving with each try!
What a normal day looks like: A typical day for an engineer can vary a ton depending on their field, but it often involves a mix of things :
Designing and brainstorming: Coming up with new ideas and sketching out plans.
Testing and analyzing: Checking if their designs work and figuring out why they might not.
Teamwork: Collaborating with other engineers, designers, and project managers.
Documentation: Writing reports, creating technical drawings, and preparing presentations.
Problem-solving: Troubleshooting issues that pop up during development or even after a product is launched. So, it's not just sitting at a desk all day; there's a lot of dynamic work involved!
Education for different types of engineers: Generally, most engineering fields require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. This usually takes about four years after high school. However, some specialized roles or advanced research positions might require a master's or even a Ph.D.. For example, a civil engineer designing bridges might primarily need a bachelor's, while someone researching new AI technologies for robots might pursue a Ph.D. to dive really deep into their field. The cool thing is, there's a path for everyone!
It sounds like you've got a fantastic head start with your love for building and understanding machines. Keep that curiosity going, it's your superpower! If you ever want to chat about specific types of engineering, let me know!
You have a great brain, already thinking about engineering, especially since you love building stuff and figuring out how machines work! That's a perfect mindset for an engineer.
Let's dive into your questions:
Hardest part about being an engineer: Honestly, one of the trickiest things can be dealing with setbacks and problems that don't have easy answers. Imagine spending weeks designing something, and then it doesn't work quite right! Engineers often face complex challenges, budget limits, and tight schedules, so they need to be super persistent and creative to find solutions. It's not always about getting it right the first time, but about learning and improving with each try!
What a normal day looks like: A typical day for an engineer can vary a ton depending on their field, but it often involves a mix of things :
Designing and brainstorming: Coming up with new ideas and sketching out plans.
Testing and analyzing: Checking if their designs work and figuring out why they might not.
Teamwork: Collaborating with other engineers, designers, and project managers.
Documentation: Writing reports, creating technical drawings, and preparing presentations.
Problem-solving: Troubleshooting issues that pop up during development or even after a product is launched. So, it's not just sitting at a desk all day; there's a lot of dynamic work involved!
Education for different types of engineers: Generally, most engineering fields require at least a bachelor's degree in engineering. This usually takes about four years after high school. However, some specialized roles or advanced research positions might require a master's or even a Ph.D.. For example, a civil engineer designing bridges might primarily need a bachelor's, while someone researching new AI technologies for robots might pursue a Ph.D. to dive really deep into their field. The cool thing is, there's a path for everyone!
It sounds like you've got a fantastic head start with your love for building and understanding machines. Keep that curiosity going, it's your superpower! If you ever want to chat about specific types of engineering, let me know!
Josep Antonio Perez
Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
16
Answers
Reno, Nevada
Updated
Josep Antonio ’s Answer
Hi Lorenzo,
A typical day involves, completing any communication with company team members usually by email or in person about relevant projects. Usually a single engineer will be in working on multiple projects. Depending on how important each project is, you will know how much time to spend on each. After you plan out your day either a day prior, or at the beginning of the day you begin to start completing tasks for your projects. Sometimes these tasks involve tests in the field or on the factory floor. Some time of the day may also involve creating documents and reading manuals.
Being an engineer involves a high level of responsibility, and dedication to performance, and quality. The most difficult part of working in engineering in my opinion is getting your first job in the industry. This is why internships or co-op opportunities are so important to give you the experience and exposure to real engineering environments while you are in school.
Depending on what field you work in, or what product you are designing usually dictates the amount of education required. For example someone who is designing an air conditioning nozzle in an airplane may need less credentials than some one designing the turbine engine components. Years of engineering experience can also compensate for education level. All the machinery you described was designed by probably a mechanical engineer. Mechanical, or civil engineering may have some interesting careers that you can research more. However there is other disciplines you can explore such as electrical, and computer science.
A typical day involves, completing any communication with company team members usually by email or in person about relevant projects. Usually a single engineer will be in working on multiple projects. Depending on how important each project is, you will know how much time to spend on each. After you plan out your day either a day prior, or at the beginning of the day you begin to start completing tasks for your projects. Sometimes these tasks involve tests in the field or on the factory floor. Some time of the day may also involve creating documents and reading manuals.
Being an engineer involves a high level of responsibility, and dedication to performance, and quality. The most difficult part of working in engineering in my opinion is getting your first job in the industry. This is why internships or co-op opportunities are so important to give you the experience and exposure to real engineering environments while you are in school.
Depending on what field you work in, or what product you are designing usually dictates the amount of education required. For example someone who is designing an air conditioning nozzle in an airplane may need less credentials than some one designing the turbine engine components. Years of engineering experience can also compensate for education level. All the machinery you described was designed by probably a mechanical engineer. Mechanical, or civil engineering may have some interesting careers that you can research more. However there is other disciplines you can explore such as electrical, and computer science.
David Allen
Consultant
124
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
The hardest part of being an engineer is often the responsibility of being a "professional problem solver". Unlike building with cardboard, real-world engineering means your designs must work perfectly within strict budgets, safety rules, and physical limits. It can be scary because if an engineer makes a mistake on a bridge or a car, it can affect many people's safety. Another big challenge is that technology changes so fast that you never stop being a student; you have to keep relearning and researching new ways to solve problems throughout your entire career.
A normal day for an engineer is a mix of office work and hands-on time, starting with organizing tasks and reviewing design plans on a computer. You might spend your morning doing math to see if a machine part will hold up, then spend the afternoon in a meeting with other experts or visiting a construction site to supervise the work. Regarding school, almost all engineering jobs require at least a four-year bachelor's degree. While the basic education is similar for everyone, some specialists like biomedical or nuclear engineers often need more advanced master's or doctoral degrees to do research or lead big projects.
A normal day for an engineer is a mix of office work and hands-on time, starting with organizing tasks and reviewing design plans on a computer. You might spend your morning doing math to see if a machine part will hold up, then spend the afternoon in a meeting with other experts or visiting a construction site to supervise the work. Regarding school, almost all engineering jobs require at least a four-year bachelor's degree. While the basic education is similar for everyone, some specialists like biomedical or nuclear engineers often need more advanced master's or doctoral degrees to do research or lead big projects.