Be an Engineer

Be an Engineer:

Engineering can provide a lifelong enjoyment and result in great personal achievements. It is not the easiest path as it requires you to challenge yourself, however once you develop the foundation you need your creativity can flourish! In addition to interesting problem solving and creative solutions engineering can make the world a better place and pay well. Choosing the right type of engineering which taps into your areas of passion and finds a place in future markets is important. Let’s hear from some people who have found their calling in engineering below.

Why Engineering?

Below we have collected personal testimony from engineers of many fields and ages to ask what do they love about engineering. Some of these individuals are world leaders in a particular field.

Why Engineering?
James Jensen – optical and control engineer tells us about engineering and his awesome job with drones.

Why Engineering?
Joanne Larson – chemical and materials engineer at Seagate tells us about innovating and “interesting stuff happening around you!”

Why Engineering?
Shirley Ann Jackson – Nuclear physicist and engineer, presidential advisor, tells us about doing great things.

Why Engineering?
Lionel Barthold talks about working in the electric power industry and changing the world for the better, and the power of mathematics.

Why Engineering?
Mechanical, Power and Civil Engineers tell us about what they love about their job.

Why Engineering?
Physicist and engineer James Comly talks about a foundation in science and the future.

Types of Engineering

There are many types of engineers and the path that is best for you depends on your personality, values and your dreams.

Travel: Some people like work in one place on a steady task for an extended period of time, becoming a national authority on a subject. Other engineers like to change fields/locations every few years to keep things fresh. Some fields of engineering allow you to work in exciting places like Alaska or Central Asia, other fields are concentrated in traditional large development labs in New York, Texas, New Mexico and Germany for example.

Change the World: There are engineers who have personal values that inspire them to work in green technology, or improve public health.

Fun Hobbies Engineering is not just a job, but a life style. You use the ‘engineering approach’ to solve problems at work, but you also can apply this to the rest of your life. Many engineers have great hobbies from flying helicopters to sailing to restoring classic cars. Luckily the engineering field has reasonable to good pay allowing one to afford interesting hobbies.

At the Edison Tech Center we encourage you to get into a few key areas of engineering that involve electricity and mechanical applications:

Electrical Engineering – Understand the mysterious world of electricity, magnetism, radio and more. From microchips to continental electrical grids electrical engineers harness the power of the electron to work for them.
Subgroups:
Power, optical, electronic, computer

Control and Systems Engineering – Integration of mechanical, chemical, software, materials and electrical engineering. Make systems that control and operate amazing technologies.
Subgroups:
Agricultural, applied, biological, building services, energy, industrial, mechatronics, nanoengineering, nuclear, petroleum

Mechanical Engineering – Make things better, safer, faster, stronger, smaller using mechanical engineering. From nanotechnology to space stations, there is no thing a mechanical engineer can’t improve.
Subgroups:
Nuclear, automotive, aeronautical, acoustical, manufacturing, thermal

Engineering Societies

Most engineers belong to societies, or organizations that link the community together. Sharing of knowledge is an important task to keep one up to date on what is happening around the world. Engineers share values and experiences through friendships created at the organizations. These organizations often have classes and conferences which your future employer may encourage you to go to.

Major organizations:
IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (the largest engineering society in the world)
ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers
IFAC – International Federation of Automatic Control
SWE – Society of Women Engineers
SPE – Society of Petroleum Engineers
AEE – Association of Energy Engineers
ASCE – American Society of Civil Engineers

WHAT NEXT?

Not decided on what kind of engineering to pursue? No problem. Many engineers start in one area, and switch to another during school or at an employer. The important thing is having a base education and interest in all things technical. In some cases employers will pay for certifications and changes to help you fit in a different part of the company.

Dr. Oliver Winn’s (executive manager, pioneer in electrical engineering at GE and a supporter of the Edison Tech Center) message for young engineers is: when it comes to hard math and courses, you can get through it, do your best. Also, it is very important that engineers learn how to write and speak well. Increasing your social/verbal skills as well as technical skills will make you a more well rounded person and will result in you doing better at work and at home.

We encourage you to learn more about technologies and their history to help you figure out what areas you like the best, see our RESOURCES PAGE and discover the world of engineering.

For use of Edison Tech Center images and videos see our licensing agreement.