7 answers
Kendell
Student
Fife, WA
1
Question
Asked
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What jobs are available for Civil and mechanical engineering ?
Hello I'm a Jr in college and im torn between mechanical and civil engineering. For right now I'm going civil and am intrested learning more about the structural side but iv heard it may not be the best to go into right now. Why I'm intrested in mechanical is that I love building things and seeing how they worm via it be engines or a cars structure as a whole I'm just curious to know what's out there and some advice that might help me making a decision thank you.
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7 answers
Sreedhar Chanda
Mechanical Engineer
28
Answers
Kentwood, Michigan
Updated
Sreedhar’s Answer
Hi Kendell,
There is no good time or bad time to enter a specific engineering field. I agree that different industries (e.g. house construction, bridge building, road construction, automotive, aerospace) have their ups and downs over the years. But, choosing a specific field to align with market is not a wise move. Just keep asking yourself which field do you like more. Only you can answer that question. With both civil and mechanical engineering careers, you will be eligible for many more jobs if you have a PE license.
Good luck!
There is no good time or bad time to enter a specific engineering field. I agree that different industries (e.g. house construction, bridge building, road construction, automotive, aerospace) have their ups and downs over the years. But, choosing a specific field to align with market is not a wise move. Just keep asking yourself which field do you like more. Only you can answer that question. With both civil and mechanical engineering careers, you will be eligible for many more jobs if you have a PE license.
Good luck!
Sheila Schultz
Engineering Leader
56
Answers
Brighton, Michigan
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Kendell,
Thanks for the great question!
I am a mechanical engineer by training, and so I will comment on what was interesting for me over my career. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles.
I currently lead a company which helps businesses operate more efficiently using software tools and artificial intelligence aids. Prior to this, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. In addition, I had many other roles in my career in the automotive industry including thermal engineer, design/release engineer, vehicle systems engineer, system safety engineer, and a variety of engineering leader roles. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
To be a mechanical engineer, you would need to go to university for 4 years. Many people enter programs which offer co-op/internships. For these, you can work a few of your school terms. This enables work experience, different career areas to experience, and an opportunity to earn money along the way. For these programs, it could take 5+ years. Mechanical engineering also has many 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!
I am a mechanical engineer by training, and so I will comment on what was interesting for me over my career. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles.
I currently lead a company which helps businesses operate more efficiently using software tools and artificial intelligence aids. Prior to this, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. In addition, I had many other roles in my career in the automotive industry including thermal engineer, design/release engineer, vehicle systems engineer, system safety engineer, and a variety of engineering leader roles. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
To be a mechanical engineer, you would need to go to university for 4 years. Many people enter programs which offer co-op/internships. For these, you can work a few of your school terms. This enables work experience, different career areas to experience, and an opportunity to earn money along the way. For these programs, it could take 5+ years. Mechanical engineering also has many 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.
Ray von Dohren
Retired sanitary engineer
13
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Ray’s Answer
What Michelle said is correct relating to help from your profs and researching a civil or mechanical engineering career. However civil and mechanical career paths diverge in your junior and senior years. If you go on to graduate school, you will major in one or the other. Professional registration for both is different. Civil and mechanical engineering specialization is specific to the separate career paths. I’m a civil engineer. My career path was water and wastewater engineering sometimes called environmental engineering or sanitary engineering. I’m a professional civil engineer in California. Out of college, I could have worked in transportation, structural engineering, utilities, city government and other categories. I could have worked for General Motors, but not designing vehicles, but rather facilities development and planning. I could have worked for Apple, but not designing computers, but planning new facilities, looking at staffing and building buildings. After two years in the field of civil engineering I became a registered civil engineer. My career included working as a city engineer. That work included design and construction of water and wastewater systems, development of recycling programs, (water, solid waste and garbage) designing streets and roads, building facilities, parks, and conference centers and designing a noise abatement program to mitigate aircraft noise from San Francisco International Airport. Lots to do in just one job. Mechanical engineering would take you in a completely different direction. What is similar is working with others. Engineers must be good communicators.
You still get to play. You still get to tinker no matter what field you choose. Engineers always want to know what makes things work. As your career progresses some of that tinkering and questioning becomes very technical, and requires all your knowledge and experience including working and collaborating with your fellow engineers, but also communicating with lay people and the public. It’s rewarding and fun.
You’ll figure it out. You are already being nosy and asking the good questions. Never stop that. Nosy in engineering is good.
You still get to play. You still get to tinker no matter what field you choose. Engineers always want to know what makes things work. As your career progresses some of that tinkering and questioning becomes very technical, and requires all your knowledge and experience including working and collaborating with your fellow engineers, but also communicating with lay people and the public. It’s rewarding and fun.
You’ll figure it out. You are already being nosy and asking the good questions. Never stop that. Nosy in engineering is good.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Kendell !
Rule of thumb: always get your degree in that which you are interested in and in a field that you want to work in.
It is said that there is little difference between civil and mechanical in that you probably could work in either with having your degree in one. Since you are already in college, and haven't yet discovered the similarities or differences of both, if you ask one of your professors, they would probably be able to compare and contrast the two for you in a concise and understandable way. You can also research this online by doing a search because there is a lot of detail about the two areas of engineering that would help you decide.
Resources abound for discovering what types of employment is out there right now. Both civil and mechanical engineering are involved in design, manufacturing, and research. If you want to know specific jobs, go to employment websites to read the employment notices. You can find out what the job duties are, salaries and education requirements are. You can also visit the Career Center at your college and discover resources there. Reading the engineering jobs at Indeed would be very helpful as well as reading job descriptions at other employment websites. From what I've seen, in general, Civil has a higher salary, but it would always depend on the place that hires you and the city or state you'd work in. You just may want to stay with Civil. You can also take any training specifically related to cars. Look into this and ask your academic counselor where you can take focused auto mechanic classes or training. Or maybe there is a mechanical engineering course relating to cars. The ultimate decision will be yours but know that there is a way to learn about your car interest and get a marketable degree in engineering.
As you approach the end of your academic road, you will know more about how your goals fit the education you have and where you are qualified to target your expertise. I don't think that you'd go wrong by staying with Civil, but it's very important to read the job requirements so you will know for sure what is actually required. Also think about exactly what you want to do with cars - design, repair, plan, construct ?
You can also visit various engineering firms in your location and ask some of the staff there about current engineering trends and requirements. It is a great degree to have for an exciting career, so look at more information and I think you'll be able to be reassured that you are doing the right thing.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you the very best !
Rule of thumb: always get your degree in that which you are interested in and in a field that you want to work in.
It is said that there is little difference between civil and mechanical in that you probably could work in either with having your degree in one. Since you are already in college, and haven't yet discovered the similarities or differences of both, if you ask one of your professors, they would probably be able to compare and contrast the two for you in a concise and understandable way. You can also research this online by doing a search because there is a lot of detail about the two areas of engineering that would help you decide.
Resources abound for discovering what types of employment is out there right now. Both civil and mechanical engineering are involved in design, manufacturing, and research. If you want to know specific jobs, go to employment websites to read the employment notices. You can find out what the job duties are, salaries and education requirements are. You can also visit the Career Center at your college and discover resources there. Reading the engineering jobs at Indeed would be very helpful as well as reading job descriptions at other employment websites. From what I've seen, in general, Civil has a higher salary, but it would always depend on the place that hires you and the city or state you'd work in. You just may want to stay with Civil. You can also take any training specifically related to cars. Look into this and ask your academic counselor where you can take focused auto mechanic classes or training. Or maybe there is a mechanical engineering course relating to cars. The ultimate decision will be yours but know that there is a way to learn about your car interest and get a marketable degree in engineering.
As you approach the end of your academic road, you will know more about how your goals fit the education you have and where you are qualified to target your expertise. I don't think that you'd go wrong by staying with Civil, but it's very important to read the job requirements so you will know for sure what is actually required. Also think about exactly what you want to do with cars - design, repair, plan, construct ?
You can also visit various engineering firms in your location and ask some of the staff there about current engineering trends and requirements. It is a great degree to have for an exciting career, so look at more information and I think you'll be able to be reassured that you are doing the right thing.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you the very best !
Sean Malekjahani
Civil Engineering
3
Answers
Lake Mary, Florida
Updated
Sean’s Answer
Hello Kendell,
That's a great question. There are multitudes of career options in both Civil and Mechanical Engineering. I can't advise in detail about Mechanical Engineering although I know you wouldn't have any difficulty finding a job position in that discipline.
I have worked as a Civil Project Engineer (land development) and Drainage Engineer as a PE, which is basically analyzing and designing storm water management systems. In the Civil Engineering field you also have the options of Structural Engineering, Water/Wastewater Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Traffic Engineering to name a few. In all these fields having a PE licensure would help you tremendously in advancing your career. It seems to me there are more job openings in structural, land development, and transportation than other fileds of Civil Engineering. My advise in selecting either Civil or Mechanical Engineering is to follow your interests so that when you get a job in either filed, you would be happy and satisfied with your career.
Best of luck to you.
That's a great question. There are multitudes of career options in both Civil and Mechanical Engineering. I can't advise in detail about Mechanical Engineering although I know you wouldn't have any difficulty finding a job position in that discipline.
I have worked as a Civil Project Engineer (land development) and Drainage Engineer as a PE, which is basically analyzing and designing storm water management systems. In the Civil Engineering field you also have the options of Structural Engineering, Water/Wastewater Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Traffic Engineering to name a few. In all these fields having a PE licensure would help you tremendously in advancing your career. It seems to me there are more job openings in structural, land development, and transportation than other fileds of Civil Engineering. My advise in selecting either Civil or Mechanical Engineering is to follow your interests so that when you get a job in either filed, you would be happy and satisfied with your career.
Best of luck to you.
Jason Wilmoth
Data Science
2
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Jason’s Answer
If you're considering a career in engineering, it's important to know where opportunities are most abundant. Civil engineering jobs are widely available across many cities, providing you with more options. On the other hand, mechanical engineering jobs tend to be concentrated in specific areas.
Now, think about what interests you. If designing moving objects like machines, robots, and power generators excites you, then mechanical engineering could be a great fit. However, if you're more intrigued by the construction of large structures such as buildings, bridges, dams, and roads, then civil engineering might be more your style.
Remember, the choice is yours. Consider your interests and the availability of jobs when making your decision.
Now, think about what interests you. If designing moving objects like machines, robots, and power generators excites you, then mechanical engineering could be a great fit. However, if you're more intrigued by the construction of large structures such as buildings, bridges, dams, and roads, then civil engineering might be more your style.
Remember, the choice is yours. Consider your interests and the availability of jobs when making your decision.
Kris Cousino
Construction management
58
Answers
Toledo, Ohio
Updated
Kris’s Answer
I am a civil engineer. I specialized in structural engineering. Friends of mine that majored in mechanical engineering mostly went to work for the auto industry. Civil engineers and Mechanical engineers will work together from time to time. I have built buildings and tanks in plants that required valves and pumps, hvac systems, variable speed controllers. I have also worked on movable bridges that involve both electrical and mechanical components. A basic knowledge of all branches of engineering are necessary to be successful. Most importantly, find a job that helps prepare you for the professional engineers exam. A PE license is important for any engineering career.
What is it that you most want to construct? In what environment do you most want to work? If you have interest in both civil and mechanical, there is probably a way to build for yourself a hybrid career. Talk to your career counselor about your interests.
What is it that you most want to construct? In what environment do you most want to work? If you have interest in both civil and mechanical, there is probably a way to build for yourself a hybrid career. Talk to your career counselor about your interests.