Expert: Daniel Mazur - 3/26/2008

Question
hello sir, i just finished my high school. Im very much interested in doing mechatronics engineering. Could u brief me on the career options. Please let me know on the interest and criteria i need to be a mechatronic engineer.

thank you.

Your help and support is much appreciated

Answer
Hello Isaac,

please note that mechatronics is rather far away from physics career, to which I am an assigned advisor (expert) here.
I understand that mechatronics (as Wikipedia also says) is an interdisciplinary field that takes in everything that has moving parts and is supposed to be controlled electronically. In order to make it a successful career I am sure you must be fond of machines, robots etc, also of computer programming and finally of electronic digital circuit design. I knew guys, who were cybernetic gurus even during their high school, others (like me) had their strengths in programing and physics. Most generally speaking, if you like puzzle solving, like tasks requiring a lot of concentration, patience and perseverance, and you like computers, you can safely assume that "you've got it in you".

Well, in the above paragraph I wrote, what you ought to be interested in and that is also what you will - more or less - have to study and learn at a college. I imagine that the first two years will involve a lot of physics and maths so that after you graduate you *know* what you are doing. But it all comes down to the same thing: you must prove your aptitude at problem solving, abstract, systemic and analysis-synthesis thinking, because that is what engineering job requires. As a graduate you can find MANY places to get hired. Car (or any other vehicle!) industry needs it, computer part manufacturers (hard disks), manufacturers of automated "conveyor-belt" machines for factories and plants need it, you can even get to designing another Martian probe like the good old Pathfinder...

So, I'd say that if you've got it in you, you will find a good job with a good salary easily. Vote on!

Cheers,
Daniel