2 answers
David
Student
Peoria, Illinois
2
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How fast does the field of Mechanical engineering advance
I want to go into mechanical engineering #mechanical-engineering
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2 answers
Taylor Zhao
Program Manager
144
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Taylor’s Answer
Hey David!
It honestly depends on what industry you are working in. Some will involve cutting edge tech that is moving really quickly (Electric Vehicle design) or really slow and take years to get out the door (airplane building, most take decades). It also depends what department you work in. Do you work in R&D with the most innovative stuff? Or do you work with maintenance which is just taking care of old tech?
I think it just depends. Any engineering discipline can be fast and cutting edge or slow. Good luck!
It honestly depends on what industry you are working in. Some will involve cutting edge tech that is moving really quickly (Electric Vehicle design) or really slow and take years to get out the door (airplane building, most take decades). It also depends what department you work in. Do you work in R&D with the most innovative stuff? Or do you work with maintenance which is just taking care of old tech?
I think it just depends. Any engineering discipline can be fast and cutting edge or slow. Good luck!
Christopher Rau
Engineering Manager
3
Answers
Battle Creek, Michigan
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
I can assure you that Mechanical Engineers are working in every conceivable industry, so the jobs are out there. If you are interested in a cutting edge career it should be easy to tailor university coursework to align. You should also try to get internships or summer jobs in related companies if possible. If you are a student you want to make yourself attractive to entry level positions. It may be unrealistic to expect to hire directly into the R&D lab at Tesla or the design bureau of Apple, but there are many other less visible companies working in cutting edge fields of medical devices, alternative energy, automation, process industries and other interesting areas.
Of course, there is plenty of cutting edge work also taking place outside of industry too. If you are interested in a graduate degree oftentimes your university can align you with companies sponsoring research projects. Earning an an advanced degree can be a great stepping stone to work in a specific industry, and also can help you build a resume by participating in industry conferences and writing journal articles. You can often check a university's graduate school website to see the types of research programs being sponsored and by whom.
There can be a lot of competition in hot fields for the best jobs, but if you are fortunate the demand for engineers can outstrip supply, which is a great position to be in. Good luck in your career aspirations!
Of course, there is plenty of cutting edge work also taking place outside of industry too. If you are interested in a graduate degree oftentimes your university can align you with companies sponsoring research projects. Earning an an advanced degree can be a great stepping stone to work in a specific industry, and also can help you build a resume by participating in industry conferences and writing journal articles. You can often check a university's graduate school website to see the types of research programs being sponsored and by whom.
There can be a lot of competition in hot fields for the best jobs, but if you are fortunate the demand for engineers can outstrip supply, which is a great position to be in. Good luck in your career aspirations!