Why Become an Engineer?

I’ve been spotlighting future engineers to show you some of the great work student engineers are doing. At PLM Connection, surrounded by 1,800 folks who pursued careers in the engineering industry, I thought we should turn the spotlight on them to find out why they became engineers.

This video interview highlights three different stories and career paths. It shows the variety of talents and interests engineering attracts – and the variety of jobs available to those pursuing a career in technology.



Featured in the video are perspectives from a user/customer, a vendor and an analyst.

•  Scott Wertel is a professional engineer and Configuration Control Manager at Nammo Talley. (Last year I shared a detailed interview with Scott Wertel during Engineers Week.) Scott knew he wanted to be an engineer in the third grade. That’s pretty early, but you can see in the interview his passion for this profession. Scott notes the beauty of engineering is understanding how everything works from simple to complex products.
  “It really opens doors in the world.”


• Thomas Teger is vice president of Products and Strategy at Luxion. Thomas used to work for us in NX product marketing. He has worked for customers and several software vendors. He notes on the video that being exposed to industrial design applications in an internship first peaked his interest helped him connect his math skills with a career.
  “I finally understood where my math … could be used in software and you build cool cars with that.”
  He encourages the next generation (his daughteres) to consider STEM careers by putting technology “in the cradle.” 


• Stan Przybylinski is director of research at CIMdata. . His career has led him from end customer to software vendor to analyst firm. Analysts work with many large customers in analyzing and selecting software.He recommends a broad education if you want to follow a similar career path. “You definitely need communication skills…exposure to technology but also exposure to strategy so you undestand the context into which the technology fits.”

Let me know your perspective. Whether you’re in engineering already or just considering it, what peaked your interest?

– Dora

P.S. Scott just posted this rebuttal on his blog. Excerpt:

“To an engineer, the world is not something that is just interacted with and expected to work.  It is something designed, thought of, created, and developed.  Someone had to think of this before it even existed.  There is an existential connection to everything we contact.”

Gives me a whole new appreciation for hair clips and engineers!