7 answers
June
Student
Zanesville, Ohio
1
Question
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Enginneering?
Why did you choose to go into engineering?
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7 answers
Tony Riccobono
Technical Program Manager
12
Answers
Huntington Beach, California
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Before I provide my answer, let me just advise you to make your choices for your own reasons, not anyone else's! Other people's reasons can provide useful insights as long as you understand that your experiences may not match theirs.
Some of my reasons included (not all of these were "good" reasons - refer to the next paragraph!):
1) Personality. I am fairly analytical, I like knowing and understanding details, and engineering seemed to be a good fit for that kind of personality.
2) I have always been interested in how things like radios, cars, or computers work, I like the idea of finding ways to solve technical challenges, and these were things that I expected an engineer would get to do.
3) I was always very good at math in high school and I knew that engineering required a lot of math.
4) I was under the impression that engineers didn't have to do a lot of writing, which is an activity I wanted to avoid. And I wanted to minimize how many humanities classes I had to take.
5) I had the impression that engineers were paid well, and I wasn't interested in other high-paying professions like doctor or lawyer.
I know now that my understanding of what engineers do and how engineering jobs operate was incomplete, but I am still very happy with this career choice. I came to know that engineering was much more than just "figure it out, design it and build it." I understand that "paid well" is a relative concept and that compensation in ANY field can be highly variable. Engineers DO have to do a fair amount of writing, and communication is one of the most important skills that an engineer can have - and as it turns out, I became rather good at it and started to like it. I actually enjoyed the few humanities classes that I took and I have now developed a much deeper appreciation for humanities subjects, particularly history. And while I aced high school math, college-level math ended up being much harder than I thought it would be - but with some hard work I was able to overcome that challenge.
Some of my reasons included (not all of these were "good" reasons - refer to the next paragraph!):
1) Personality. I am fairly analytical, I like knowing and understanding details, and engineering seemed to be a good fit for that kind of personality.
2) I have always been interested in how things like radios, cars, or computers work, I like the idea of finding ways to solve technical challenges, and these were things that I expected an engineer would get to do.
3) I was always very good at math in high school and I knew that engineering required a lot of math.
4) I was under the impression that engineers didn't have to do a lot of writing, which is an activity I wanted to avoid. And I wanted to minimize how many humanities classes I had to take.
5) I had the impression that engineers were paid well, and I wasn't interested in other high-paying professions like doctor or lawyer.
I know now that my understanding of what engineers do and how engineering jobs operate was incomplete, but I am still very happy with this career choice. I came to know that engineering was much more than just "figure it out, design it and build it." I understand that "paid well" is a relative concept and that compensation in ANY field can be highly variable. Engineers DO have to do a fair amount of writing, and communication is one of the most important skills that an engineer can have - and as it turns out, I became rather good at it and started to like it. I actually enjoyed the few humanities classes that I took and I have now developed a much deeper appreciation for humanities subjects, particularly history. And while I aced high school math, college-level math ended up being much harder than I thought it would be - but with some hard work I was able to overcome that challenge.
Mark Fry
Cloud Backend Software Developer
3
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Mark’s Answer
I remember my thought process when I was in high school. It was fairly simple. I chose the direction I wanted to go based on the subjects that I liked or didn't like in high school. I mostly enjoyed math and science courses and didn't love english or history as much. I also knew that I didn't want to be a doctor so that narrowed things down to engineering in general. I was born and raised in Louisiana which has a large petroleum and refining industry, so there was the consideration of petroleum engineering. Chemical engineering was also considered. Ultimately, I chose mechanical engineering because I felt it was the most broad and could be applied to the most potential jobs when it came to getting a job after college.
Looking back I would highly suggest reaching out to folks who have various roles in engineering through this platform or otherwise and explore what they are doing with that degree so you can learn what you may want to do and what degree would help you get there. Also, there is no definite and final answer, as you will see below, I made a pretty big pivot in careers later in my career. It is possible to change your mind sooner or later : ).
There certainly are many ways to go with mechanical engineering and here is where I've ended up with it to give one example of what's possible:
With my degrees in mechanical engineering (BS and MS) I ended up getting my first job with Boeing in Everett, WA at their largest manufacturing facility for many of their commercial jets. I worked for Boeing for 5 years, mostly as a structural analyst. A structural analyst analyzes structures to ensure that they are capable of sustaining their designed load cases. They use computer models to aid in their analysis. They make suggestions to designers for lightening the weight of the structures for optimal performance while maintaining safety. I worked on the following programs 747-8, KC-46A Tanker, Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew Vehicle. Two of these have been to space.
After Boeing, I went on to work for a small startup rocket company near Austin, TX called Firefly Aerospace for 5 years. There we designed and built a 90ft tall 6ft diameter rocket called Alpha from carbon fiber composite materials. This rocket made it to space on its second flight in September of 2022.
After 10 years of experience in aerospace I decided I wanted to try something different and pivoted to Software Development. I had used programming and coding in almost all my previous roles in mechanical engineering, so that knowledge and experience was transferable to what I'm doing now. And as other responses have mentioned, both fields are about solving technical problems. I now work as a Backend Software Developer for IBM Cloud and am enjoying the new challenges.
Looking back I would highly suggest reaching out to folks who have various roles in engineering through this platform or otherwise and explore what they are doing with that degree so you can learn what you may want to do and what degree would help you get there. Also, there is no definite and final answer, as you will see below, I made a pretty big pivot in careers later in my career. It is possible to change your mind sooner or later : ).
There certainly are many ways to go with mechanical engineering and here is where I've ended up with it to give one example of what's possible:
With my degrees in mechanical engineering (BS and MS) I ended up getting my first job with Boeing in Everett, WA at their largest manufacturing facility for many of their commercial jets. I worked for Boeing for 5 years, mostly as a structural analyst. A structural analyst analyzes structures to ensure that they are capable of sustaining their designed load cases. They use computer models to aid in their analysis. They make suggestions to designers for lightening the weight of the structures for optimal performance while maintaining safety. I worked on the following programs 747-8, KC-46A Tanker, Space Launch System, and Commercial Crew Vehicle. Two of these have been to space.
After Boeing, I went on to work for a small startup rocket company near Austin, TX called Firefly Aerospace for 5 years. There we designed and built a 90ft tall 6ft diameter rocket called Alpha from carbon fiber composite materials. This rocket made it to space on its second flight in September of 2022.
After 10 years of experience in aerospace I decided I wanted to try something different and pivoted to Software Development. I had used programming and coding in almost all my previous roles in mechanical engineering, so that knowledge and experience was transferable to what I'm doing now. And as other responses have mentioned, both fields are about solving technical problems. I now work as a Backend Software Developer for IBM Cloud and am enjoying the new challenges.
Cory Yeager
30
Answers
Updated
Cory’s Answer
Building systems to solve persona or people’s problems. That’s every job I have ever had and I was able to maximize my influence to solve problems by becoming an engineer. Doesn’t matter whether they are fiscal, physical or social engineering is a part of almost any good solution.
Samantha Barkley
Industrial Engineer
8
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
I am an industrial engineer and I was drawn to it because it is all about making work better for those doing the work. In general, I think engineering is always about making something better and solving problems. Engineers are able to break down a problem and figure out different ways to solve it, test those ideas and then figure out the best one, they are constantly making things work better. I think this is super fun, so engineering was a great fit!
Mike Young
Back-end cloud developer
3
Answers
Warwick, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Mike’s Answer
I was torn between computer science and engineering. I eventually picked mechanical engineering, mostly because at the time it felt like a better fit. I've since moved over to a software developer role and I find the skills are very transferable - most of the core methods, like problem solving, are the same.
I've always loved taking things apart (rarely putting them back together again) and seeing what's inside, so engineering was suggested to me, and it felt like a decent fit. I've always enjoyed maths and theoretical sciences, but they never felt like things I wanted to pursue. I also learn best when I can try something, or see it demonstrated, so in my mind engineering was the right place for that.
My final thought was that engineering is very broad and has loads of specialities later on down the line - I wasn't certain what I actually wanted to do, so the fact that general engineer could be broadly applied was very appealing to me.
I've always loved taking things apart (rarely putting them back together again) and seeing what's inside, so engineering was suggested to me, and it felt like a decent fit. I've always enjoyed maths and theoretical sciences, but they never felt like things I wanted to pursue. I also learn best when I can try something, or see it demonstrated, so in my mind engineering was the right place for that.
My final thought was that engineering is very broad and has loads of specialities later on down the line - I wasn't certain what I actually wanted to do, so the fact that general engineer could be broadly applied was very appealing to me.
Mike, I love that you mentioned taking things apart!
It seems to me that many of us who wind up engineers have that in common.
So many of us as children (and often still as adults), loved taking things apart, making things out of cardboard and whatever was around, playing with legos, linkin logs, and other building toys.
There are certainly people who become engineers without the childhood passion for disassembly/assembly, so I don't want to discourage anyone from becoming an engineer if they didn't do that, but I also am amused that so many of us have it in common.
Carolina DiCampo
Tj Avbovbo
Engineer
5
Answers
Poughkeepsie, New York
Updated
Tj’s Answer
Just like my dad always emphasized, engineers are the beacon of hope in our world. I was drawn to engineering because I felt it was my calling to make a significant difference in society and on a global scale. The thrill of tackling crucial issues using math, science, and various principles was something I truly relished. Being an engineer opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to explore diverse disciplines and industries, and make a profound impact.
Sheila Schultz
Engineering Leader
30
Answers
Brighton, Michigan
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi June,
Thanks for the great question.
In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also has many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.
Thanks for the great question.
In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also has many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.