r/MechanicalEngineering

Has anyone else felt like his personality changed because of all the critical thinking and problem solving and hanging around similar folks?

Like something really did change, I was very extroverted in my early 20s but a decade into engineering and being hyper career focused, I’m starting to feel much more reserved and introverted, pretty much socially awkward. Weird post I know but wondering if someone else felt that way or noticed a friend go through that transition?

Idk if it is the stress or the time spent in my head thinking or always trying to spot the problem and steps to fix it or whatever this profession trains you in, but damn social skills are really lacking nowadays

I have received 2 competitive job offers for my first full time role out of college. Im not sure which to take.

One is with the Navy on GS scale starting at 68k with a 30k sign on bonus but its in Virginia, I'm currently in Pittsburgh Pa. The other one is local to me in Pittsburgh in the Nuclear industry starting at 80k with a 2k bonus if I pass the FE exam.

Im not sure which one to take. 30k bonus is tough to turn down but Id also like to stay local if possible. Is it possible to negotiate for a higher bonus at the local job? Are both industries good to get into?

If an ME has a preference of working in NYC or Boston, is there a particular specialty/focus that would yield better results in a job search?

Hi everyone,

I'm approaching my second year at my first job out of college, where I use SolidWorks every day to design physical parts, mostly simple sheet metal. As the world shifts toward AI, I'm worried about being left behind. My current role doesn't involve simulation, heat transfer, fluid dynamics, or any of the more advanced physics topics I studied.

I'm not sure how to move into a role that draws more on my engineering background, or one where I can learn these subjects on the job. Most of those positions require some prior knowledge of the fields, which creates a catch-22. I'd rather not go to grad school full time, since the cost is a lot.

Has anyone made a similar transition? I'd appreciate any advice on how to build these skills, whether through side projects, certifications, part-time programs, or internal moves.

TLDR: I'm almost two years into my first engineering job, designing mostly simple sheet metal parts in SolidWorks, and I want to move into work involving simulation, heat transfer, or fluid dynamics. Those roles want prior experience I can't get in my current job, and I can't afford full-time grad school. How can I build these skills and make the switch? Anyone have examples of what they did to bridge the gap?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently pursuing my MS in Mechanical Engineering in Colorado (coming from a Physics BS background) and I'm hoping to connect with some current engineers who specialize in FEA for structural mechanics on parts not buildings lol.

For context, my current masters thesis uses FEA and experimental testing of 3D-printed composite materials. I spend a lot of my time trying to model crack propagation using Abaqus amongst other things.

While I’m in the academic and research side of things right now, I’m really interested in hearing from professionals about what structural FEA looks like in the industry.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, or even just connect via DM if you're open to a quick chat:

• What does your everyday actually look like?
• How much of your time is spent in software/physical testing
• What does the transition from academic modeling to industry application look like?
• Any general advice for someone looking to build a long-term career in computational mechanics?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. have been applying to a lot of rotational programs but if your company is looking for anybody let me know! I would literally love any job with health insurgence after May 2027!