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What is the most difficult task that was being asked of you in an engineering job? #Spring25
I am interested in entering the engineering work force as a freshmen college student. I am excited but don’t know what to expect.
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Patrick’s Answer
As a mechanical engineer when I think of difficult tasks the first thing that comes to mind is challenging and changing design requirements.
Sometimes you might be asked to engineer a solution to a problem, for example design a bracket that can support a 200 pound load, where there aren’t a ton of constraints. That’s an easy problem. You would consider what you’re attaching the bracket to and how you want to attach it and then consider the shape and material of your bracket as you design it.
A more challenging and realistic version of that problem would likely have a lot more constraints. Depending on the company you work for there may be a preference for different manufacturing methods (such as forming sheet metal, metal casting, machining, 3D printing, and many more options) due to the economy of scale (it’s cheaper to buy something if you buy a lot of it). There could also be material constraints, such as needing a food safe material when designing for the food industry or a need for the material to have a corrosion resistant finish added if it may be exposed to a corrosive environment. These requirements among others don’t necessarily make it harder to design the finished product, but sometimes you may find a solution that meets all of your needs except one. That’s where it can become challenging.
To go back to the bracket example, you might find a material that is strong enough to support your load and that there is a supplier who can cast it in the shape you want it well below your budget, but then you find out that 200 pound load requirement didn’t show the full picture. If that load is actually applied and removed once every minute then you would need to do a fatigue analysis in addition to the standard static load analysis you would have already done to show that it meets the original requirement. If your design doesn’t handle this cyclical loading well then you need to change it or potentially start from scratch.
These are just a few examples of the different types of design requirements that can combine to make a project more challenging for you to consider. Some other factors to consider as a mechanical design engineer are Design for Manufacturability (DFM, making sure that you’re design isn’t too challenging for someone to physically make and has reasonable tolerance on the dimensions you specify), Design for Assembly (making sure that your design can be assembled and installed with any other components, such as making sure you can actually reach the screw you want to tighten), scalability (if you need to make 10,000 of something you’ll want to consider a different manufacturing method than if you are only making one as different methods have different capabilities, costs, and timelines).
There can be any number of different requirements of all different kinds on a design and that’s what makes it both fun and challenging to solve the problem. It’s very satisfying to finally have the final physical thing you designed in front of you and working after you’ve worked hard to design it.
Sometimes you might be asked to engineer a solution to a problem, for example design a bracket that can support a 200 pound load, where there aren’t a ton of constraints. That’s an easy problem. You would consider what you’re attaching the bracket to and how you want to attach it and then consider the shape and material of your bracket as you design it.
A more challenging and realistic version of that problem would likely have a lot more constraints. Depending on the company you work for there may be a preference for different manufacturing methods (such as forming sheet metal, metal casting, machining, 3D printing, and many more options) due to the economy of scale (it’s cheaper to buy something if you buy a lot of it). There could also be material constraints, such as needing a food safe material when designing for the food industry or a need for the material to have a corrosion resistant finish added if it may be exposed to a corrosive environment. These requirements among others don’t necessarily make it harder to design the finished product, but sometimes you may find a solution that meets all of your needs except one. That’s where it can become challenging.
To go back to the bracket example, you might find a material that is strong enough to support your load and that there is a supplier who can cast it in the shape you want it well below your budget, but then you find out that 200 pound load requirement didn’t show the full picture. If that load is actually applied and removed once every minute then you would need to do a fatigue analysis in addition to the standard static load analysis you would have already done to show that it meets the original requirement. If your design doesn’t handle this cyclical loading well then you need to change it or potentially start from scratch.
These are just a few examples of the different types of design requirements that can combine to make a project more challenging for you to consider. Some other factors to consider as a mechanical design engineer are Design for Manufacturability (DFM, making sure that you’re design isn’t too challenging for someone to physically make and has reasonable tolerance on the dimensions you specify), Design for Assembly (making sure that your design can be assembled and installed with any other components, such as making sure you can actually reach the screw you want to tighten), scalability (if you need to make 10,000 of something you’ll want to consider a different manufacturing method than if you are only making one as different methods have different capabilities, costs, and timelines).
There can be any number of different requirements of all different kinds on a design and that’s what makes it both fun and challenging to solve the problem. It’s very satisfying to finally have the final physical thing you designed in front of you and working after you’ve worked hard to design it.
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Alondra! First off, congrats on diving into the world of engineering—you’re about to join a field where problem-solving is practically a superpower. 🦸♀️
Now, what’s the most difficult task in an engineering job? Well, let me tell you, it’s not so much about one task, but more about the mindset. Engineering is like a never-ending puzzle, and sometimes the pieces don’t fit, and you’re stuck thinking, “Why is this so hard?!” 😵💫 But once you find the right solution, it feels like you’ve cracked the code to the universe. It’s rewarding, but definitely challenging!
Here’s the thing: Whether it’s managing tight deadlines, designing complex systems, or making difficult decisions about which materials or designs to use, engineering pushes you to think critically. Some of the most difficult tasks? Probably working through a problem with multiple variables, where you can’t just plug in numbers and expect them to work. Or, sometimes, it's having to collaborate with a team and getting everyone on the same page, because let's be real: engineers can have strong opinions.
But, don’t worry—you’ve got this! Starting college as a freshman means you have time to learn, fail, and learn again. Keep that mindset of embracing challenges, and soon you’ll look back and laugh at how tough things seemed at first. Just remember: every problem is a chance to level up your skills. Engineering is all about persistence.
So, take a deep breath and dive in! Every tough task you tackle will make you an even better engineer in the end. You’ve got the drive, the passion, and now the mystery of engineering to unlock! 🎉
Now, what’s the most difficult task in an engineering job? Well, let me tell you, it’s not so much about one task, but more about the mindset. Engineering is like a never-ending puzzle, and sometimes the pieces don’t fit, and you’re stuck thinking, “Why is this so hard?!” 😵💫 But once you find the right solution, it feels like you’ve cracked the code to the universe. It’s rewarding, but definitely challenging!
Here’s the thing: Whether it’s managing tight deadlines, designing complex systems, or making difficult decisions about which materials or designs to use, engineering pushes you to think critically. Some of the most difficult tasks? Probably working through a problem with multiple variables, where you can’t just plug in numbers and expect them to work. Or, sometimes, it's having to collaborate with a team and getting everyone on the same page, because let's be real: engineers can have strong opinions.
But, don’t worry—you’ve got this! Starting college as a freshman means you have time to learn, fail, and learn again. Keep that mindset of embracing challenges, and soon you’ll look back and laugh at how tough things seemed at first. Just remember: every problem is a chance to level up your skills. Engineering is all about persistence.
So, take a deep breath and dive in! Every tough task you tackle will make you an even better engineer in the end. You’ve got the drive, the passion, and now the mystery of engineering to unlock! 🎉
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Kris’s Answer
Preparing for your first real experience as an engineering intern is exciting. Hopefully you will be challenged in many ways. Engineering is all about problem solving.
The most difficult part of engineering is not so much the task at hand, but how you go about gathering information and dealing with other people. It is very important to understand your role, and understand the assumptions that need to be made. Never nod and smile and pretend to know what you do not know. Ask a lot of questions. Find mentors. Utilize available resources to their fullest. A lack of knowledge or experience is NOT a lack of intelligence or capability.
You will encounter people that are not helpful; that want to see you fail. Prepare for those obstacles and do not them stand in your way.
find articles, videos or books about dealing with difficult people
The most difficult part of engineering is not so much the task at hand, but how you go about gathering information and dealing with other people. It is very important to understand your role, and understand the assumptions that need to be made. Never nod and smile and pretend to know what you do not know. Ask a lot of questions. Find mentors. Utilize available resources to their fullest. A lack of knowledge or experience is NOT a lack of intelligence or capability.
You will encounter people that are not helpful; that want to see you fail. Prepare for those obstacles and do not them stand in your way.
Kris recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
The hardest part is keeping everyone on point and working together especially as everyone is working different aspects of different projects with the potential that priorities will shift from one day to the next. So it's channels of communication staying open from the design engineer, the project manager, the contractor, the lead construction engineer, the material distribution company, the shipping company. Everyone has to be in constant communication and trying to keep them all on the same page can be exhausting. As much as it takes technical knowledge it also takes a personality and openness to communicate to make a project go from concept to reality.