1 answer
Zion
Student
Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa
5
Questions
Asked
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Mechanical Automotive Engineer,?
Advice
-What advice would you give someone like me to aim for in this role?
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1 answer
Justin Struthers
Engineer
11
Answers
Laguna Hills
Updated
Justin’s Answer
Zion, one piece of advice I’d strongly recommend is spending some time working alongside experienced mechanics and technicians, even if it’s just part-time or during internships. Engineering school will teach you how to design a component and make the calculations work, but mechanics will teach you what makes that design practical in the real world.
Pay attention to things like component placement, accessibility, serviceability, assembly, and how much time a repair actually takes. Something can be a great design on paper but frustrating to maintain because a bolt is inaccessible or another component has to be removed first. That hands-on experience will give you a level of design finesse that’s difficult to learn in a classroom.
The best automotive engineers, in my opinion, understand both sides: **how to engineer it and how someone is actually going to build, maintain, and repair it.
Pay attention to things like component placement, accessibility, serviceability, assembly, and how much time a repair actually takes. Something can be a great design on paper but frustrating to maintain because a bolt is inaccessible or another component has to be removed first. That hands-on experience will give you a level of design finesse that’s difficult to learn in a classroom.
The best automotive engineers, in my opinion, understand both sides: **how to engineer it and how someone is actually going to build, maintain, and repair it.
Justin, thank you!
Zion