6 answers
Enji
Student
Concord, California
1
Question
Updated
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What soft skills do engineers have? What technical skills do engineers have? Do skill types depend on the type of engineers? Can you be more than one type of engineer?
What soft skills do engineers have? What technical skills do engineers have? Do skill types depend on the type of engineers? Can you be more than one type of engineer?
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6 answers
Srikanth Namuduri
Engineer
6
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Srikanth’s Answer
Great Question! To excel in the field of engineering, one must acquire expertise in both technical and soft skills, which are developed through coursework and on-the-job experience over time. Here's a comprehensive list of essential skills that engineers need:
Soft Skills for Engineers:
1. Communication Skills: Engineers need strong communication skills to effectively ask questions, listen, extract pertinent information from emails and documents, make clear presentations, and write coherently. Since engineers regularly collaborate with colleagues, clients, and management, they must share knowledge, ideas, and designs effectively.
2. Problem-solving Skills: The engineering profession involves identifying and framing problems, as well as communicating, seeking inputs, evaluating past solutions, creatively approaching issues, and making trade-offs to determine the best remedy. Consider the problems you want to solve as an engineer to define your path.
3. Teamwork: Learning from teammates, managers, and colleagues is invaluable for developing engineering skills. Successful engineering projects require teamwork, which involves sharing responsibilities, cooperating, exchanging technical input, and engaging in reviews and brainstorming sessions.
4. Leadership Skills: Senior engineers often lead projects, initiatives, or teams, demonstrating leadership in their technical area of expertise. They help define and guide their organization toward achieving future goals.
5. Creativity: Developing and refining products and systems demands a high level of creativity, as it involves addressing various challenges with out-of-the-box thinking.
6. Attention to Detail: Precision and accuracy are crucial in engineering as they contribute to successful products and technologies. Small errors can amplify when interacting with other systems, so focusing on details – especially the significant ones – is essential.
7. Time Management: Engineers must effectively manage their time, as they often face competing tasks and projects. Proficient planning and prioritization contribute to engineering success.
Technical Skills for Engineers:
1. Mathematical and Scientific Knowledge: Math and science form the basis for engineering principles and methods. Domain-specific skills, such as circuit design for computer engineering or chemical processes for chemical engineering, are also vital.
2. Technical Software Proficiency: Engineers need to be comfortable learning and utilizing specialized software and web-based tools for design, documentation, planning, budget management, procurement, and more.
3. Project Management: Engineers often manage projects and programs, which involve budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and risk management.
4. Quality Assurance and Control: Ensuring products, systems, and processes adhere to specified requirements and standards is vital, incorporating skills such as Six Sigma.
5. Knowledge of Safety Procedures and Standards: Familiarity with safety procedures, functional safety and standards is crucial for engineers. In addition, cyber security is becoming increasingly important for online products, electronics, and even cars.
6. System Analysis: Engineers need the ability to understand, design, and implement complex systems effectively.
The specific skills required depend on the type of engineering. For example, software engineers will need proficient coding skills, while civil engineers may require knowledge of materials and structural analysis.
It is possible to be proficient in multiple engineering fields, as many engineers have multidisciplinary backgrounds and transition between industries throughout their careers. Someone can start as a mechanical engineer and transition to aerospace. Modern engineering problems often necessitate a multidisciplinary approach, so those with expertise in multiple fields have a distinct advantage.
Soft Skills for Engineers:
1. Communication Skills: Engineers need strong communication skills to effectively ask questions, listen, extract pertinent information from emails and documents, make clear presentations, and write coherently. Since engineers regularly collaborate with colleagues, clients, and management, they must share knowledge, ideas, and designs effectively.
2. Problem-solving Skills: The engineering profession involves identifying and framing problems, as well as communicating, seeking inputs, evaluating past solutions, creatively approaching issues, and making trade-offs to determine the best remedy. Consider the problems you want to solve as an engineer to define your path.
3. Teamwork: Learning from teammates, managers, and colleagues is invaluable for developing engineering skills. Successful engineering projects require teamwork, which involves sharing responsibilities, cooperating, exchanging technical input, and engaging in reviews and brainstorming sessions.
4. Leadership Skills: Senior engineers often lead projects, initiatives, or teams, demonstrating leadership in their technical area of expertise. They help define and guide their organization toward achieving future goals.
5. Creativity: Developing and refining products and systems demands a high level of creativity, as it involves addressing various challenges with out-of-the-box thinking.
6. Attention to Detail: Precision and accuracy are crucial in engineering as they contribute to successful products and technologies. Small errors can amplify when interacting with other systems, so focusing on details – especially the significant ones – is essential.
7. Time Management: Engineers must effectively manage their time, as they often face competing tasks and projects. Proficient planning and prioritization contribute to engineering success.
Technical Skills for Engineers:
1. Mathematical and Scientific Knowledge: Math and science form the basis for engineering principles and methods. Domain-specific skills, such as circuit design for computer engineering or chemical processes for chemical engineering, are also vital.
2. Technical Software Proficiency: Engineers need to be comfortable learning and utilizing specialized software and web-based tools for design, documentation, planning, budget management, procurement, and more.
3. Project Management: Engineers often manage projects and programs, which involve budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and risk management.
4. Quality Assurance and Control: Ensuring products, systems, and processes adhere to specified requirements and standards is vital, incorporating skills such as Six Sigma.
5. Knowledge of Safety Procedures and Standards: Familiarity with safety procedures, functional safety and standards is crucial for engineers. In addition, cyber security is becoming increasingly important for online products, electronics, and even cars.
6. System Analysis: Engineers need the ability to understand, design, and implement complex systems effectively.
The specific skills required depend on the type of engineering. For example, software engineers will need proficient coding skills, while civil engineers may require knowledge of materials and structural analysis.
It is possible to be proficient in multiple engineering fields, as many engineers have multidisciplinary backgrounds and transition between industries throughout their careers. Someone can start as a mechanical engineer and transition to aerospace. Modern engineering problems often necessitate a multidisciplinary approach, so those with expertise in multiple fields have a distinct advantage.
Thank you for your time!! There's a lot of interesting branches out there
Karla
Laura Grow
Food Scientist
3
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Laura’s Answer
I am not myself an engineer but have worked with many in my various roles at food companies.
The most common soft skill that I have seen among the more successful engineers is a very curious nature... always asking why and looking to learn more at every opportunity. The best engineers are not above learning from a machine operator on the plant floor, treating everyone with respect and learning from others. I agree with the first answers given above, all great things too!
Technical skills would certainly include a strong foundation in mathematics, as the basis for much of the job. There are also a large range of software programs that engineers use, so being able to quickly learn new programs is helpful. If you like physics, chemistry and understanding how one thing interacts with another, those are skills to build and pursue.
And in case you haven't considered it before, there are a lot of engineers in the food industry... they work on things liken scaling recipes from a lab scale to manufacturing scale, designing product areas, understanding heat transfer, flow, process settings, etc. There are engineers working on every type of food you probably eat, from snack bars to cereal to coffee! I have also seen that food engineers tend to make a bit higher salary than food scientists as well.
The most common soft skill that I have seen among the more successful engineers is a very curious nature... always asking why and looking to learn more at every opportunity. The best engineers are not above learning from a machine operator on the plant floor, treating everyone with respect and learning from others. I agree with the first answers given above, all great things too!
Technical skills would certainly include a strong foundation in mathematics, as the basis for much of the job. There are also a large range of software programs that engineers use, so being able to quickly learn new programs is helpful. If you like physics, chemistry and understanding how one thing interacts with another, those are skills to build and pursue.
And in case you haven't considered it before, there are a lot of engineers in the food industry... they work on things liken scaling recipes from a lab scale to manufacturing scale, designing product areas, understanding heat transfer, flow, process settings, etc. There are engineers working on every type of food you probably eat, from snack bars to cereal to coffee! I have also seen that food engineers tend to make a bit higher salary than food scientists as well.
Barlara Valenzuela
Hybrid IT Channel Sales (Storage Specialist
16
Answers
Falls Church, Virginia
Updated
Barlara’s Answer
There are many types of Engineers: Electronic, Computer, Electric, Industrial just to mention a few.
Soft skills will always be important to develop a more robust career.
Basically, having the science and implementation will take the engineer to areas of specialization that can boost their career, but having soft skills will also open doors for managerial positions.
All Engineers interested in that kind of path, should have a Graduate degree in Business Administration or Finance, or at least diplomas on Sales. That will provide soft skills that can build up leadership positions in corporate world.
Soft skills will always be important to develop a more robust career.
Basically, having the science and implementation will take the engineer to areas of specialization that can boost their career, but having soft skills will also open doors for managerial positions.
All Engineers interested in that kind of path, should have a Graduate degree in Business Administration or Finance, or at least diplomas on Sales. That will provide soft skills that can build up leadership positions in corporate world.
Richa Sharma
Senior Consultant, Salesforce
2
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Richa’s Answer
Hello! I hope you're doing well. That's an excellent question. Soft skills are just as crucial as technical skills in our lives. Being a team player, working together, finding solutions, overcoming obstacles, taking the initiative, and leading when necessary all contribute to success in daily tasks.
Technical skills vary based on the specific field you choose, such as electrical, mechanical, computer, or aerospace engineering. While it's possible to gain knowledge in multiple areas, specializing in one field can help you set and achieve goals in your chosen expertise. By engaging in practical applications, you can continuously learn and improve your skills every day. Stay encouraged and keep growing!
Technical skills vary based on the specific field you choose, such as electrical, mechanical, computer, or aerospace engineering. While it's possible to gain knowledge in multiple areas, specializing in one field can help you set and achieve goals in your chosen expertise. By engaging in practical applications, you can continuously learn and improve your skills every day. Stay encouraged and keep growing!
Sarah Cronk
Business Consultant
3
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Hi Enji,
Others have already provided some great answers. A few things I would add to what was already said:
There is a variety of engineering fields, but this is how I would break it up. There are the physical engineering disciplines such as mechanical, chemical, petroleum, electrical, etc. Essentially all the disciplines, before computers came into play. Then there are all the computer related engineering disciplines such as systems engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, etc. You should think which route you are more interested in, as it will lead to different opportunities for you after school. However, there is the ability to be educated in one discipline and then have a job in another discipline as there is a lot of overlap between the skillsets. I have a MS in Mechanical Engineering and then worked in mechanical, electrical and nuclear engineering in my career and now I work closely with petroleum and data scientists (but I do not actually do the engineering now, I advise and lead). So I think the most important thing is to pick a discipline that is of interest to you to learn and put in the hard work to achieve a degree in. There is a book titled "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein which may be of interest to you to explore this idea of how your original education can lead to many different opportunities later on in life.
Last note: I took engineering classes in college because I was interested in the topics, but I had no idea what I would end up doing. The job I am currently in, which I really enjoy, was not even on my radar as a career option until I was in my 30s.
Good luck!
Others have already provided some great answers. A few things I would add to what was already said:
There is a variety of engineering fields, but this is how I would break it up. There are the physical engineering disciplines such as mechanical, chemical, petroleum, electrical, etc. Essentially all the disciplines, before computers came into play. Then there are all the computer related engineering disciplines such as systems engineering, software engineering, computer engineering, etc. You should think which route you are more interested in, as it will lead to different opportunities for you after school. However, there is the ability to be educated in one discipline and then have a job in another discipline as there is a lot of overlap between the skillsets. I have a MS in Mechanical Engineering and then worked in mechanical, electrical and nuclear engineering in my career and now I work closely with petroleum and data scientists (but I do not actually do the engineering now, I advise and lead). So I think the most important thing is to pick a discipline that is of interest to you to learn and put in the hard work to achieve a degree in. There is a book titled "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David Epstein which may be of interest to you to explore this idea of how your original education can lead to many different opportunities later on in life.
Last note: I took engineering classes in college because I was interested in the topics, but I had no idea what I would end up doing. The job I am currently in, which I really enjoy, was not even on my radar as a career option until I was in my 30s.
Good luck!
Stephanie D'Andrea
Frontend Developer
6
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
Hey Enji - great questions! It's awesome that you're curious about soft skills, as they can sometimes be underestimated. However, they played a role in landing my first college internship. As a Frontend Engineer, here's my take:
Soft skills:
- Communication: Effectively interacting with fellow engineers, business associates, clients, and other team members is vital. Clear communication with engineers helps avoid code conflicts, ensures individual task allocation, and maintains consistent coding patterns. Explaining your progress and addressing any obstacles to non-developers is also essential for their understanding.
- Empathy: As a Frontend Engineer, collaborating with Designers is common. Empathy fosters smoother business relationships. For instance, if a design is unfeasible for coding, kindly explain the reasons to the designer. This understanding can prevent future issues and reduce frustration.
- Time management: You may need to juggle multiple tasks or projects. To prevent stress and feeling overwhelmed, prioritize your tasks effectively.
- Adaptability: As an engineer, you might face sudden project changes. This could involve discarding work at various stages of completion. Remember not to get too attached to your work. Passion is great, but requirements can change unexpectedly.
- Curiosity: A curious mind can be one of the best teachers when it comes to learning new technologies and solutions.
Technical skills (these may vary depending on the engineering role):
- JavaScript / TypeScript
- HTML
- CSS (including component libraries like Material-UI and Ant Design)
- Frameworks such as React, Vue, Angular
I hope you find this information helpful, and good luck!!
Soft skills:
- Communication: Effectively interacting with fellow engineers, business associates, clients, and other team members is vital. Clear communication with engineers helps avoid code conflicts, ensures individual task allocation, and maintains consistent coding patterns. Explaining your progress and addressing any obstacles to non-developers is also essential for their understanding.
- Empathy: As a Frontend Engineer, collaborating with Designers is common. Empathy fosters smoother business relationships. For instance, if a design is unfeasible for coding, kindly explain the reasons to the designer. This understanding can prevent future issues and reduce frustration.
- Time management: You may need to juggle multiple tasks or projects. To prevent stress and feeling overwhelmed, prioritize your tasks effectively.
- Adaptability: As an engineer, you might face sudden project changes. This could involve discarding work at various stages of completion. Remember not to get too attached to your work. Passion is great, but requirements can change unexpectedly.
- Curiosity: A curious mind can be one of the best teachers when it comes to learning new technologies and solutions.
Technical skills (these may vary depending on the engineering role):
- JavaScript / TypeScript
- HTML
- CSS (including component libraries like Material-UI and Ant Design)
- Frameworks such as React, Vue, Angular
I hope you find this information helpful, and good luck!!