What are the personality traits of mechanical/technology engineers?

[YetanotherMouseFan]

luvmy2 sams - I think our DH's must be brothers! DH is a chemical processes design engineer, and the spreadsheet king of the Southeast! We have spreadsheets for everything - from vacations to what car to buy and every one a work of art! He's great with math, and figuring out processes, has the neatest penmanship I've ever seen, but he cannot figure out the remote for the satellite dish! Go figure!

DD is an Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer working on a MS. She took Drafting in HS and fell in love with it. She says she likes "the preciseness of things" in Engineering.
Which is strange, coming from somebody who couldn't keep her room tidy to safe her life, but built her own computer from scratch! Such a dichotomy of organized/disorganized. Can you tell her mom is proud?

 

[sharbear]

I LOVE Materials Science! I think that it's the most interesting engineering subject by far. I wish that I'd been able to take more materials courses or even gotten a masters in this subject. There weren't a ton of materials-related jobs out there when I graduated, but if there were I would have pursued it. I don't blame your son a bit for being interested in this field!!

Chrissyk, that's good to know. He leaning towards Material Science. From what we hear, Material Science takes the same classes at ChemE's the first two years. So he can start with ChemE and go into Material Science, it's nice not to have to specialize so soon. From what we hear there are plenty of jobs in Material Science, also more girls go into Chemical or MS, always a plus!

 

[Tracey1974]

Hubby, FIL and Grandad in law are all engineers, we just had a son- what do you think?

DH is all about the process, I am all about the end result. DH sees things as black and white, I see gray. He is scientific and analytical and very smart- but overworked!! He loves mind puzzles and things like that.

Doesn't have a goatee though!

 

[chrissyk]

Chrissyk, that's good to know. He leaning towards Material Science. From what we hear, Material Science takes the same classes at ChemE's the first two years. So he can start with ChemE and go into Material Science, it's nice not to have to specialize so soon. From what we hear there are plenty of jobs in Material Science, also more girls go into Chemical or MS, always a plus!

Hmmm...that depends on the school and also on the focus of the Materials degree. I focused on Materials as an ME, but it was more along the lines of metals (which interest me more) and ceramics (which don't interest me much at all). If you were to focus on plastics/polymers, then I do think that you'd take more ChemE courses initially.

I agree that more girls do major in ChemE and Materials, but I couldn't tell you why...maybe they like a challenge Those are 2 of the tougher engineering majors IMHO!

BTW, are any other engineers on this thread going to become teachers when they feel like they're "done" with engineering (or retired or whatever)? I left my engineering career to do so, because I feel like high school students NEED the kind of mentoring and math/science education that former engineers can provide. Many states (and even one company now...IBM) have programs to get engineers (and other professionals) into the classroom as math/science teachers. A lot of very capable high school students aren't considering engineering careers because they just don't understand what it is that engineers do.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

OMG, dont' even get me started on the spread sheets! DH and another engineer are running the Cub Scout Pack these days--and it ain't pretty! They have spreadsheets for everything! I'm much more restrained--I just have one to track all my Junior GS' badges and awards!

And actually, I would love to go back as a HS math teacher when I'm done with the kid phase. I haven't planned far ahead for it yet--I'm pregnant with #4, oldest is 10, and we have to consider my availability for special educational needs for the kids. For example, DD10 wants to do HS and her first two years of college simlultaneously. While our school district offers some distance learning via internet, until we're a little closer, I don't know if she'll need me to ferry her to classes at a community college. Multiply this by 4 kids and you see why I'm not really thinkng about another career just yet.

 

[EthansMom]

Chrissyk, that's good to know. He leaning towards Material Science. From what we hear, Material Science takes the same classes at ChemE's the first two years. So he can start with ChemE and go into Material Science, it's nice not to have to specialize so soon. From what we hear there are plenty of jobs in Material Science, also more girls go into Chemical or MS, always a plus!

I have my degree in Materials Science and Engineering. I ended up working in the aerospace industry, predominantly working on adhesives and composite materials. I really enjoyed it. Your son should go in to see the head of the Materials Science department just after he starts college and ask about scholarships -- I was able to get $1000 just by asking since the department had lots of money and not many students.

Now, of course, I'm a SAHM. Not as much politics involved. Plus, I get to mess up my kids on my own instead of paying someone else to mess them up for me.

I may go back to school when the kids are older and become a CPA or CFP.

On the subject of engineer character traits: Well, DH is an aerospace engineer, so I can come up with a quick list.

You may be an engineer if you are easily attracted to electronic devices.

You may be an engineer if you can tune out the rest of the world while deriving difficult math problems.

You may be an engineer if you believe that there is a better way to do (insert any function here, ie. make money, trap mice, etc...) if only you could figure it out.

You may be an engineer if you are working on The Millenium Problems for fun and profit.

You may be an engineer if you own an HP calculator that uses Reverse Polish Notation.

 

[BunsenH]

...BTW, are any other engineers on this thread going to become teachers when they feel like they're "done" with engineering (or retired or whatever)? I left my engineering career to do so, because I feel like high school students NEED the kind of mentoring and math/science education that former engineers can provide. Many states (and even one company now...IBM) have programs to get engineers (and other professionals) into the classroom as math/science teachers. A lot of very capable high school students aren't considering engineering careers because they just don't understand what it is that engineers do.

I agree that engineering is not promoted in schools as a career choice (was it ever?). However, it won't be me that's teaching. I've been told, mostly by my wife, that I am a terrible teacher and I have to agree. I don't have the patience necessary for the job. I attribute that flaw to the fact that I was a good student and probably expect others to 'get it' on my schedule instead of theirs. This may or may not not be a character trait of engineers in general.

 

[chrissyk]

I agree that engineering is not promoted in schools as a career choice (was it ever?). However, it won't be me that's teaching. I've been told, mostly by my wife, that I am a terrible teacher and I have to agree. I don't have the patience necessary for the job. I attribute that flaw to the fact that I was a good student and probably expect others to 'get it' on my schedule instead of theirs. This may or may not not be a character trait of engineers in general.

Yep, I think that that IS a character trait of engineers in general I have very little patience for certain things, but for some reason I actually DO have patience for teenagers. Go figure. Every once in a while I try to put a bug in my DH's ear about also considering teaching when he feels done with engineering. He is categorically disinterested in that idea at this point, as he also feels like he wouldn't have the patience. Too bad, because he would be one interesting teacher IMHO!

And no, I don't think that engineering was ever promoted in schools You have the occasional robotics team or the math bowl kids, but math, science, and engineering are seriously marginalized in favor of other subjects IMHO. That HAS to change.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm an engineer and one thing that stands out in my memory is my first visit to Epcot. I kept catching myself looking behind the car or hanging over the side trying to see exactly how it all works rather than just enjoying the sights.

I also remember that most of my professors and coworkers were lousy at spelling. It just wasn't all that important I suspect.

One good thing is that I can read maps and I rarely get lost because I have a good sense of direction. In contrast, my DH is always turned around.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

I SO agree, and getting "pidgeonholed" early is not a good thing. It happens to a lot of engineers, unfortunately. There is also a hierarchy BETWEEN the different fields IMHO.

I'd like like to know what you mean when you say "a Hierarchy between the different types/fields of engineering". Is one type superior to another...which ones are more highly reguarded ? Just wondering since my DS 20 is a junior in college in one of a very few(2-3 )schools nationwide that offer a Plastics Engineering Degree. Just curious!

 

[chell]

Sounds like I was born to be an engineer.

 

[tkd lisa]

I'm an engineer too, and I'm loving this thread!

I do have to say I'm not a typical engineer though. One of the traits that many engineers have is poor communication skills. I can't tell you the meetings I've been in with people saying the exact same thing, but arguing until they're blue in the face!

I have always said that my primary function is "translator". I take what each side is saying, translate it for the other side, and we actually make forward progress. What a concept!!

And yes, many engineerings can't spell worth a darn.

My 12 year old DS shows strong signs of some type of engineering future. Definitely wants to take everything apart to make it better. Will work puzzles one piece at a time (not from the outside in). He had a bad habit for a while of dismantling anything electronic to get at the "Microchip" inside so he could use it in his experiments. I think he's over that now.

 

[chrissyk]

I'd like like to know what you mean when you say "a Hierarchy between the different types/fields of engineering". Is one type superior to another...which ones are more highly reguarded ? Just wondering since my DS 20 is a junior in college in one of a very few(2-3 )schools nationwide that offer a Plastics Engineering Degree. Just curious!

I'm guessing that he goes to ULowell since you're in MA, so no worries...that is program would put him high up on the food chain

 

[Regina]

DH is a Nuclear Engineer and let me answer the standard question right off the bat "no, he does not glow in the dark."

He's the one that the kids would go to for Math help, and always end up crying because "Dad is making this too hard."

He's very detail oriented. If I ask him to hang a curtain rod, he pulls out levels, sextants, gyroscopes, and seven different screwdrivers.

I cracked up about the guy roofing his own house. One of DH's coworkers did the same thing.

 

[LurkerLisa]

CON: Dh always takes his eyes off the road while he drives to "inspect' road work/design esp while we are on vacation.

My Dh is a civil also, and the above is one of things we fight about all the time. I mean, seriously, what could be more dangerous than driving though a construction zone rubbernecking at all the equipment/work/design

Lisa

 

[missypie]

DH is a Nuclear Engineer and let me answer the standard question right off the bat "no, he does not glow in the dark."

He's the one that the kids would go to for Math help, and always end up crying because "Dad is making this too hard."

He's very detail oriented. If I ask him to hang a curtain rod, he pulls out levels, sextants, gyroscopes, and seven different screwdrivers.

I cracked up about the guy roofing his own house. One of DH's coworkers did the same thing.

I love the comment about the math help. I have a friend whose dad actually WAS a rocket scientist (worked for NASA). She said he was the WORST one to help with Math because he could not comprehend why she didn't just "get it" immediately.

I was hoping this thread would surface again. I really really wish that every school teacher and administrator could read this thread. It highlights the "different brains" that some people have. Others have entirely different skills and abilities. (Heck, if everyone had a mind like mine, we'd all be eating off of beautiful dishes and reading fine books on lovely sofas...in the pitch dark with no AC, running water or anything else mechanical.) At school, you're expected to be good at everything. That just isn't real. Thank goodness we have engineers...and chefs...and accountants...and florists...and farmers...and....

 

[georgina]

BTW, are any other engineers on this thread going to become teachers when they feel like they're "done" with engineering (or retired or whatever)? I left my engineering career to do so, because I feel like high school students NEED the kind of mentoring and math/science education that former engineers can provide. Many states (and even one company now...IBM) have programs to get engineers (and other professionals) into the classroom as math/science teachers. A lot of very capable high school students aren't considering engineering careers because they just don't understand what it is that engineers do.

I have thought that teaching HS chemistry or math might be a possibility when/if I decide to go back to work. I've been a SAHM for 15 years now, with a chemical engineering degree (minor in polymer science). PA has a glut of teachers, but not of the HS math and science variety.

 

[georgina]

You may be an engineer if you own an HP calculator that uses Reverse Polish Notation.

That's me! It's great because no one else in the house knows how to use it, so they can't borrow it!

As far as a hierarchy, I know at my school the chem and elec eng. tended to look down on the mech and civil eng. The only reason I can think of was that they thought their own courses were more difficult. I'm not saying this is correct, only how some people acted.

 

[EthansMom]

That's me! It's great because no one else in the house knows how to use it, so they can't borrow it!

I'm still using my 48SX from college. Love it! Unfortunately, DH loves it also and it has a habit of growing legs and walking off (usually in DH's briefcase). Santa has already purchased a Scientific Calculator for DH's stocking this year.

I have had a few non-engineering people ask to use my calculator and when I try to explain RPN, I've gotten a "thanks anyway" response.

 

[missypie]

I'm still using my 48SX from college. Love it! Unfortunately, DH loves it also and it has a habit of growing legs and walking off (usually in DH's briefcase). Santa has already purchased a Scientific Calculator for DH's stocking this year.

I have had a few non-engineering people ask to use my calculator and when I try to explain RPN, I've gotten a "thanks anyway" response.

DH had to have a graphing calculator for school. It's totally beyond me. Any calcutor that does more than add, subtract, multiply and divide is wasted on me.