Engineering Trouble with choosing how to shape my engineering career

[aj_gl00]

I am currently working towards my second year at my first entry-level job. I graduated with a B.S. in MechEng, and did not really specialize in anything in particular. I decided on the Mechanical Engineering route since this seemed to be one of the broadest engineering branches and would keep my options fairly open. I have an REU and one internship under my belt as far as my experience prior to graduating in '23. My current job is as an associate/junior level production engineer at a polymer manufacturing company.

I have two problems. The first issue is that I don't know if I will find a job that will help me get into an industry that I will like to work in with my current experience and education level. The second issue is that if I want to go back to school for a Master's, I don't know what I want to specialize in. (I will be focusing on this second issue specifically).

I have no clue where to start when it comes to finding out what I want to specialize in or get my master's in. I am someone who has a difficult time making decisions, and making a choice will have me double or triple-guessing myself and think back and ask myself "did I make the right choice?"

The three areas of interest that I have that I would like to focus a career on are:

1. Aerospace engineering (aerodynamics, propulsion, fluids/thermal science, flight operations)
2. Materials Science (Nanotechnology, magnetic and optical properties, MEMS)
3. Electrical/Electronics (Photonics, sensors, satellites)

It would be nice to find which one of these paths would have the highest versatility, career flexibility, and opportunities, as well as which one has the most overlap. Also, it is important that I only would like to go for a MS/MEng because I do like R&D, but I don't think I like anything enough where I will be extremely passionate about it to go study at the doctorate's level. Any advice on how to pick between these fields?

 

[Dale]

If you cannot decide on the topics then let the job market decide for you. Search listings and see which topic has more well paying job opportunities.

 

[Choppy]

When facing a decision like this, it's easy to get caught up in the believe that it's an optimization problem, that in the grand scheme of things, there's only one best choice.
In my experience, that's not true.

You do your diligence, to make sure that you're choosing between good options of course. But without the ability to predict the future, you can't know for sure which career path will have the absolute best trajectory, or have you work on the most enjoyable problems, or bring you the most success however you define it. So you do your research, try to learn as much as you can about your options and about yourself, and you narrow it down to several choices that at least seem on par with each other.

In a practical sense, you might select some universities that have programs in those fields and attend an open house. Speak with current MSc students, professors, etc. and get a feel for the program options. You could also try to attend conferences in those fields and learn about what problems are hot, what skills are in demand, and what general career outlooks are.

Then, it's better to make a choice and channel your efforts into making that choice work out, whatever it is.

 

[Dale]

When facing a decision like this, it's easy to get caught up in the believe that it's an optimization problem, that in the grand scheme of things, there's only one best choice.
In my experience, that's not true.

Even in actual optimization problems, there are usually a range of solutions (often a pretty big range) that are completely equivalent to the optimal solution by any measurable cost function.

Then, it's better to make a choice and channel your efforts into making that choice work out, whatever it is.

Well said, and so true!

 

[gleem]

What was the reason you took your present job? Why do you want to change your job. I think that your choices #2 and #3 will involve a more complex transition which may affect your decision.

 

[CrysPhys]

I am someone who has a difficult time making decisions, and making a choice will have me double or triple-guessing myself and think back and ask myself "did I make the right choice?"

There is no one right choice. You strive to make a reasonable choice under a set of particular conditions. These conditions will change during your career, sometimes gradually, sometimes precipitously (your profile doesn't list your country; but in the US, many careers have been upended in recent months by the stroke of a pen on Presidential Executive Orders). So it's important to be flexible and resilient and able to pivot as conditions warrant.

It would be nice to find which one of these paths would have the highest versatility, career flexibility, and opportunities, as well as which one has the most overlap.

<<Emphasis added.>> Please clarify: overlap between what and what?

The three areas of interest that I have that I would like to focus a career on are:

1. Aerospace engineering (aerodynamics, propulsion, fluids/thermal science, flight operations)
2. Materials Science (Nanotechnology, magnetic and optical properties, MEMS)
3. Electrical/Electronics (Photonics, sensors, satellites)

Please clarify. Are you aiming to switch fields, or are you looking for opportunities for a mechanical engineer in these various fields. E.g., in electronic and photonic device industries, there are roles for mechanical engineers, such as in the design of manufacturing equipment or in the design of device packaging. But if you are interested in device design, you will need a background in physics, EE, or optics. If you are interested in developing novel materials or novel materials processing techniques, you will need a background in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or EE. What interdisciplinary background (coursework or experience) do you have?

I personally believe that it's better to have strong credentials in a core field (such as mechanical engineering) with experience in another field (such as EE or materials), rather than credentials in an ad hoc field (such as nanotechnology). That way, when the bottom falls out of a trendy field, you have something to fall back on.

 

[aj_gl00]

There is no one right choice. You strive to make a reasonable choice under a set of particular conditions. These conditions will change during your career, sometimes gradually, sometimes precipitously (your profile doesn't list your country; but in the US, many careers have been upended in recent months by the stroke of a pen on Presidential Executive Orders). So it's important to be flexible and resilient and able to pivot as conditions warrant.

<<Emphasis added.>> Please clarify: overlap between what and what?

Thank you for your response. By overlap, I meant if there is any connection between these three separate fields with each other. For instance, I know that materials engineering and aerospace have some sort of "overlap" in that you can work on developing and processing materials that will help with improving the strength-to-weight ratio for an aircraft. Another example would be that an overlap exists between electronics and optics with the field of photonics and its various applications.

Please clarify. Are you aiming to switch fields, or are you looking for opportunities for a mechanical engineer in these various fields. E.g., in electronic and photonic device industries, there are roles for mechanical engineers, such as in the design of manufacturing equipment or in the design of device packaging. But if you are interested in device design, you will need a background in physics, EE, or optics. If you are interested in developing novel materials or novel materials processing techniques, you will need a background in physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering, or EE. What interdisciplinary background (coursework or experience) do you have?

I am open to switching my field if it is absolutely necessary to do so. For the aerospace field, I know that there is lots of opportunity for someone with a mechanical engineering background and don't necessarily have to switch fields entirely. However, for the other two options I listed I do see that going into another field, such as physics, EE, or MatSci, would essentially be required. I do have some coursework in materials, although it's more on the metals and polymers side than electronic/magnetic/optical materials. My undergraduate research was dealing with lithography methods and nanoparticles.

I personally believe that it's better to have strong credentials in a core field (such as mechanical engineering) with experience in another field (such as EE or materials), rather than credentials in an ad hoc field (such as nanotechnology). That way, when the bottom falls out of a trendy field, you have something to fall back on.

This is very true. I just hope to make a switch to a core field that will still allow me to have as many opportunities as possible if one field becomes oversaturated or falls off.

 

[gmax137]

Keeping your options open is a fine idea, up until it paralyzes you.

Subject matter is a component of job satisfaction, but so are other things: The people you work with, the company culture, opportunities for advancement, support for continuing education, location, etc.

 

[aj_gl00]

Keeping your options open is a fine idea, up until it paralyzes you.

Subject matter is a component of job satisfaction, but so are other things: The people you work with, the company culture, opportunities for advancement, support for continuing education, location, etc.

This is very true. Thanks for the advice!

 

[CrysPhys]

Thank you for your response. By overlap, I meant if there is any connection between these three separate fields with each other. For instance, I know that materials engineering and aerospace have some sort of "overlap" in that you can work on developing and processing materials that will help with improving the strength-to-weight ratio for an aircraft. Another example would be that an overlap exists between electronics and optics with the field of photonics and its various applications.


I am open to switching my field if it is absolutely necessary to do so. For the aerospace field, I know that there is lots of opportunity for someone with a mechanical engineering background and don't necessarily have to switch fields entirely. However, for the other two options I listed I do see that going into another field, such as physics, EE, or MatSci, would essentially be required. I do have some coursework in materials, although it's more on the metals and polymers side than electronic/magnetic/optical materials. My undergraduate research was dealing with lithography methods and nanoparticles.


This is very true. I just hope to make a switch to a core field that will still allow me to have as many opportunities as possible if one field becomes oversaturated or falls off.

Well, viewed in light of your phrasing, of the three choices you've given, materials science (in the US, typically consolidated materials science and engineering) has the broadest scope. It is a discipline that can be utilized in any application that uses physical objects, since physical objects are fabricated from materials.

But I still think you're viewing your situation from the wrong perspective. There are also roles for mechanical engineers in all three choices. Is there something about your current job that has soured you on mechanical engineering? You appear to be shying away from pursuing graduate work in mechanical engineering, which also has a very broad scope. Why? You should address that first, before pursuing graduate work in another major. If you recently uncovered a passion for a different major, that would be a different story. But that doesn't appear to be the case here: seems more like you're running away from something, rather than running towards something.