What are the top 25 Desired Real World Engineering Skills?

Stiganator

Platinum Member
Oct 14, 2001
2,492
3
81
I've been having a heck of a time finding a job (biomed hiring freezes in the area right now), so I've decided to take a bit of time to figure out what are the skills people want of an engineer. I also have some questions I would like some veteran engineers to help explain so I really get/can do them.

What are the top 25 skills you would want in an engineer?


Some things that I would like cleared up.

1. Design of Experiments- I get that it is to reduce variance by simultaneously comparing things all at once, but I've never actually had to do it. Could someone offer a better example than wikipedia? i.e. like a simple four variable scenario, and then how do you actually do it, I've seen some excel sheets, but I don't know how to work them.

2. At a recent interview, the guy asked about SQL, as a computer guy I was like, Standard Query Language? He exasperatedly said, " God, don't they teach you kids anything these days" He never told me what it meant, but I'm guessing it would be specified quality level. What are the ins and outs of that? Isn't just making sure a product and a high enough % of that product reaches specification?

3. ANOVA our profs never really covered it, but analysis of variance is essentially looking at the distribution of your product specs to figure out what factors you should modify to get it closer to a delta function on the desired specifcation right?

4. Process Capability - Basically, what your lines can push out, at what speed, and what quality right?

5. Statistical Process Control- I'm assuming using your anova and other stats to fine tune your manufacturing lines.

6. Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing- 1/1million error rates, keep scrap down and such right, why is it a big deal? It seems like this should be a given in the first place, make it as efficient as possible, that is kind of the role of engineering.

Also, what programs should an engineer know? What do you use at your place of business?
ProE, AutoCAD, SolidWorks? What about for statistic stuff? Matlab?


It is kind of a broad ranging question and anything that will make me a more competent engineer would be appreciated.
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Seems that most engineers I know don't do much real engineering work. I don't know most of the things that you're talking about. I think alot of people end up being program managers. But I think for mechanical engineers, you should have a solid base of knowledge on standard manufacturing processes, material properties, practical electrical application, ability to understand a print, and technical writing. You know, most of the stuff they don't teach in school. I never learned a lick about welding and machining in school, now I look like a fool when the guys in the shop are better engineers than I am. So I guess what I'm saying, have a solid grasp on the fundamentals, and then branch out into an area that you would like to focus on.

For CAD, we use Pro/E, but Solidworks is a pretty popular program in industry. Once you know one, it gets easier to learn the others.
 

herm0016

Diamond Member
Feb 26, 2005
8,524
1,132
126
Originally posted by: Stiganator
I've been having a heck of a time finding a job (biomed hiring freezes in the area right now), so I've decided to take a bit of time to figure out what are the skills people want of an engineer. I also have some questions I would like some veteran engineers to help explain so I really get/can do them.

What are the top 25 skills you would want in an engineer?


Some things that I would like cleared up.

1. Design of Experiments- I get that it is to reduce variance by simultaneously comparing things all at once, but I've never actually had to do it. Could someone offer a better example than wikipedia? i.e. like a simple four variable scenario, and then how do you actually do it, I've seen some excel sheets, but I don't know how to work them.

2. At a recent interview, the guy asked about SQL, as a computer guy I was like, Standard Query Language? He exasperatedly said, " God, don't they teach you kids anything these days" He never told me what it meant, but I'm guessing it would be specified quality level. What are the ins and outs of that? Isn't just making sure a product and a high enough % of that product reaches specification?

3. ANOVA our profs never really covered it, but analysis of variance is essentially looking at the distribution of your product specs to figure out what factors you should modify to get it closer to a delta function on the desired specifcation right?

4. Process Capability - Basically, what your lines can push out, at what speed, and what quality right?

5. Statistical Process Control- I'm assuming using your anova and other stats to fine tune your manufacturing lines.

6. Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing- 1/1million error rates, keep scrap down and such right, why is it a big deal? It seems like this should be a given in the first place, make it as efficient as possible, that is kind of the role of engineering.

Also, what programs should an engineer know? What do you use at your place of business?
ProE, AutoCAD, SolidWorks? What about for statistic stuff? Matlab?


It is kind of a broad ranging question and anything that will make me a more competent engineer would be appreciated.

as an engineer in school i wonder about the same things. it seems like it is easier for me to get a job working in a theater than it is an engineering job. even with my skills in building electrical circuits, robots, machining and manufacturing it is hard to get a job. I could go out tomorrow and get 3 or 4 jobs by the end of next week doing rigging or lighting or stage managing work and making about 500 bucks a week. I just got my first engineering co-op for next semester and it looks like i will get about the same amount of pay, and i have been trying to get a coop for about 3 years. I do think the people skills are important. I think learning matlab is important. at least it will help you do your job faster if you can code in it to solve problems. also Unigraphics and solid works are good. autoCAD is ok, but most larger places do not use it anymore. it is hard to get experience without having some.
 

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
106
Over the last couple of months, my ability to sleep at the keyboard, and appear to be busy has been key :).

I'm an Electrical Hardware Engineer, and the company I work for cancelled all hardware development several months ago. I was the only one in my group that did not get laid off - I guess I should start looking for another job!