Engineers play a vital role in shaping our world, from designing and building everything from products to infrastructure to developing new technologies that have the power to transform our planet. March 4, 2023, is World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, a global celebration of the many contributions made by engineers, technicians, and technologists to help create positive social and environmental impact. And this year’s theme is near and dear to our Bright Machines team: Engineering innovation for a more resilient world.
Engineering is a diverse field that offers many different career paths and opportunities to explore and create. This translates to lots of career choices for those considering the field. Some familiar examples include civil, environmental, biomedical, and software engineers. However, there are also lesser-known professional opportunities in engineering, such as LEGO designers, marine engineers, and rollercoaster engineers. It’s clear that engineers are at the forefront of tackling pressing and interesting issues that better our quality of life. Even so, we are facing a growing shortage of engineering professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for software engineers is expected to grow by 25% by 2031.
One way to close this gap is to encourage a new generation to choose engineering career paths. To learn more about this, I asked a few of my global Bright Machines colleagues about what influenced their decision to join the profession and what keeps them motivated. Below is the conversation I had with Susin Qin, Senior Application Engineer, Paul Huang, Electrical Design Engineer, Lana Abd Alkader, Machine Vision Engineer, Gustavo Martinez Aceves, Mechanical Engineer Lead, and Logan Whited, Electrical Engineer.
What inspired you to be an engineer?
- Susin: I like to figure out how to make things better – whether it is troubleshooting issues or coming up with new ways to drive efficiencies, as we do with our software-driven automation at Bright Machines.
- Paul: I have a strong curiosity about the unknown, including modern methods of automation. Figuring out how to fix challenging issues gives me a great sense of fulfillment.
- Logan: I have been a maker from day one. I was always the type of kid who would rather build something than do anything else. Naturally, when it came time to select a career, I knew that engineering was the only path for me.
This year’s World Engineering Day theme is Engineering innovation for a more resilient world. How are you innovating at Bright Machines to help build a better future?
- Gustavo: The work I do at Bright Machines helps improve manufacturing performance and product quality. These contribute to sustainability by reducing waste and creating benefits for our direct customers as well as their end users.
- Lana: At Bright Machines, I help build a better future by developing innovative technology that is advancing automation in manufacturing.
- Logan: At Bright Machines, we are building a world that is more resilient to supply chain shortages. With our solutions, our customers can make their products closer to home, reducing shipping times and impact on the environment.
- Susin: At Bright Machines, “rethink manufacturing” is more than just a tagline. It’s what we do every day to help our customers succeed. For my part, I continue to learn about emerging trends in advanced technology to continually improve our own solutions, which will help build a better future.
What excites you about the work you do for Bright Machines?
- Paul: I’m excited to come to work every day at Bright Machines because I get the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and gain exposure to different areas of the business. I’m also excited to see the results of my work come to life in real-world applications. Seeing this positive impact on the manufacturing industry is truly inspiring and gives me a sense of purpose.
- Gustavo: I love that at Bright Machines, I work on multiple challenges in each project, apply lessons learned with new applications and continue to grow as an individual and a leader.
- Logan: One word: Robots.
What advice would you give to the next generation about building a career in engineering?
- Lana: I love being an engineer, and the best advice I can give is to be passionate about what you do and meet challenges head-on. Be bold!
- Susin: For those that already know they want to be an engineer, I encourage you to participate in internships where you can learn and get real-world experience.
- Logan: Do what you love. If it doesn’t make you happy, then move on.
- Paul: I love being an engineer, and the best advice I can give is to keep learning. The world is developing at a very high speed, and engineering is a rapidly changing field. It’s important to stay current with industry trends and new technology, develop a growth mindset and be flexible.
- Gustavo: I would tell the next generation that if they are looking for a field where they can make an impact, engineering is a great choice. With a commitment to be a life-long learner and dedication to challenging work, there are incredible opportunities to drive change and inspire others.
To all the engineers out there – thank you for all you do for people and the planet! And if you’re ready for your next challenge, check out our current career opportunities.