CAREER FOCUS
To Be a Specialist or Generalist, That is the Question
Mechanical engineers are in high demand, but for new and even established MEs, is pursuing advanced credentials, degrees, or specializations key to staying competitive?
Written by Robin Flanigan
AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN. BATTERY DEVELOPMENT. Semiconductor manufacturing. Healthcare research. Mechanical engineers can build a career in almost any technical field these days—even as other industries feel threatened by the ways in which artificial intelligence is transforming the job market.
“Mechanical engineers in 2025 are likely in a more stable spot because we operate in the real world,” said mechanical engineer Jenny Young, CEO and founder of Brooklyn Robot Foundry. “So even if people are going to be using screens more or less out in the open, we will always have a physicality to our work.”
With more than half of 2025 left to go and MEs in high demand across online job sites, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics backs up this thinking. The average rate of growth for MEs from 2023 to 2033 is projected to be 11 percent, much faster than the 4 percent average for all occupations.
Part of that potential growth is buoyed by the drive to build up manufacturing capacity in the U.S. for microelectronics, with other big draws including energy, transportation, and the environment, according to Paul R. Chiarot, professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the State University of New York at Binghamton.
But is it better to be a generalist or pursue a niche?
From a job security standpoint, being a generalist provides a solid foundation for finding solutions to difficult problems—no matter the area of expertise, Chiarot noted. This requires strong skill sets in mathematics, physics, applied mechanics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.
Especially with an economy that’s changing at an increasingly faster clip, “it’s important to focus on the fundamentals because, over the course of a career, there will always be trends and things we can’t even possibly anticipate,” he explained. “This allows for movement through different disciplines while working with, and creating, new technologies.”
“It’s important to focus on the fundamentals because, over the course of a career, there will always be trends and things we can’t even possibly anticipate. This allows for movement through different disciplines while working with, and creating, new technologies.”
—Paul R. Chiarot, professor, chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The State University of New York at Binghamton
How does earning an advanced credential or degree—and in the process, narrowing a specialization—factor into remaining competitive?
Chiarot encourages students to pursue a P.E. license early in their careers.
A master’s degree, he said, in addition to opening opportunities, “has a pretty quick payback period and over a career stands to yield higher earnings. And it could be clarifying for students who are finishing an undergraduate degree yet unsure whether to go into industry or continue on an academic track.”
Going after a doctorate, meanwhile, “should not be taken lightly,” Chiarot cautioned. “It requires a very significant commitment to making a novel contribution and typically sets you on a path to conducting research in academia, industry, or government.”
Young recommended being in touch with what “sparks your brain.” For example, perhaps pursuing an advanced degree may not be the best fit for people like her who love to “run around and look at all the new shiny things,” she said. “But if you are a person who loves learning all the details and the nitty gritty, getting a graduate-level degree might be a great path to consider because that is where the cutting-edge science happens. That is where the truly novel things are discovered and developed.”
Either way, the work is important, Chiarot said, offering this as an example: His colleague is investigating the mechanical properties of the brain, and how an issue with the way it might fold during development can be linked with conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.
“Even though the research may be fundamental, it’s always with an eye toward an application that can really have an impact on people’s lives,” Chiarot said.
As long as you can make enough money to support yourself and whoever else you’re responsible for, a person’s line of work should never come at the expense of following a passion, noted Young.
“The beauty of the world is we have all different personality types and strengths,” she said.
Another tip: Pursue knowledge no matter how many years are under your belt.
Chiarot recommends MEs at any stage of their careers attend company workshops and conferences for exposure to new ideas, search out universities offering short courses or microcredentials focused on upgrading specific skill sets, and find free open-source materials online.
There will be no shortage of demand for MEs prepared to handle energy systems, robotics, climate resiliency, electric vehicles, and other areas that aren’t going away anytime soon—and likely will require even more competence.
“Lifelong learning is essential for multiple reasons,” he said. “It’s really about doing multiple things to stay current with the evolving nature of the field.”
Robin Flanigan is an independent writer in Rochester, N.Y.
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