Mechatronics Engineer

An Electronics Engineer, a Mechanical Engineer, and a Computer Specialist walk into a bar and collide. The result? A super human known as the Mechatronics Engineer.

This job is a mixed bag of electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering concepts all rolled together to create complex machines that require multiple technologies to function. If anyone asks what you do as a Mechatronics Engineer, just tell people you build robots for a living.

Cars are an excellent example of mechatronics. Mechanical parts turn other parts, computers and sensor systems signal to those parts when they should move, and an electrical system provides the necessary energy to power features like headlights. You could call your car a giant robot on wheels. It’s mechatronics in action.

On the job as a Mechatronics Engineer, you work with a team of other specialists who compliment your own specialty—be it electrical wiring or computer programming. On the average workday, you examine parts like circuit boards, or spend your time testing computer code to see how it functions. You and your team design, create, and test cutting-edge projects ranging from nearly microscopic circuit boards to massive robotic assembly lines.

A lot of paperwork comes with the territory as well. You document every aspect of your project so others can study what you find. One day, you sketch out the different mechanical parts that make a conveyor belt run. And the next, you type up an instruction guide on how to use it. The end result is a work of science and art that advances technology one step further into unknown and thrilling territory.