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New engineers joining the workforce will need to stay abreast of the latest technologies and prioritise key skills to stay ahead. We asked international AI and industry experts what those should be – here is what they had to say.
‘Focus on data literacy’
“New engineers need to couple digital fluency with professional principles and judgement. They should focus on data literacy, ethical reasoning and the ability to interpret AI-generated insights within the context of real-world constraints.”
Lydia Walpole, senior director of performance at infrastructure engineering software multinational Bentley Systems
‘Balance the short term and long term’
“At least for now, new engineers need to balance their short-term competitiveness with their long-term success. To be competitive in the short term, it is important to become both a proficient user of AI and someone who is familiar with AI/ML (machine learning) fundamentals – learn the tools, but also learn how they work. However, to be successful in the long term and advance into senior-level roles, it is essential to master the fundamentals of your domain.”
Christopher McComb, director of the Human+AI Design Initiative and professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania
‘Always prioritise the fundamentals’
“Always prioritise the fundamentals of physics and simulation so you can confidently interpret and validate results. Then prioritise proficiency with AI agents to streamline the simulation workflow, and physics AI for rapid, task-specific product design exploration.”
Vera Yang, co-founder and president of Massachusetts simulation software company Flexcompute
‘Be ready to evolve’
“Data is the cornerstone of how we progress with AI; it is the key fundamental thing that propels us and the technology forward. In order not to be left behind, understand everything there is to understand about data – how it is created, how it is structured, how it is stored, how it is cleaned, how it is recalled and how it is best interpreted… A strong engineer would be wise to apply critical thinking, and challenge the AI and its output to make sound, contextual judgements.
“Finally, I guess an appetite for learning. The AI that we work with today is the worst AI we will experience in our lifetime. Things are only going to get crazier from here. AI tools evolve constantly. Be ready to evolve along with it.”
Berend Booms, head of enterprise asset management insights at software firm Ultimo, based in Nunspeet, the Netherlands
‘Focus on the intersection of your expertise and AI’
“The technology is moving at such a rapid pace that it is impossible to exceed at it all. Instead, engineers should focus on the intersection of their expertise/interest and AI. Engineers who combine domain expertise with strong data literacy will be hardest to replace. For example, a surveyor could up-skill as an AI-enabled drone operator who oversees the parameters of the project and validates any AI-generated outputs.”
Gillian Laging, chief operating officer and co-founder of Dublin construction technology company Scopey Onsite
‘Build strong fundamentals’
“It’s critical to build strong fundamentals in maths, physics and engineering principles, but also to become comfortable with technology. Familiarity with AI and data analytics, coding skills and the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated recommendations will be essential.
“Adaptability, problem solving and the ability to communicate prompts and insights clearly will set engineers apart, because no AI can replace human judgement, creativity and leadership. The things that are truly human, the interpersonal skills, emotion and speaking, will be more important than ever.”
Patrick Murphy, former member of the US House of Representatives and chief investment officer at Florida company Coastal Construction
‘Know when AI is wrong’
“[Prioritise] judgement, adaptability, initiative and ownership. That means knowing when AI is wrong, adjusting when tools change, trying out new workflows and sharing what works, and, finally, keeping track of what the team builds so it stays usable and gets better over time.”
Audrey Kerchner, AI consultant in Colorado Springs
‘Prioritise the human side’
“The single greatest priority for engineers will be to continuously upskill both technical and non-technical skills. AI certainly plays a role in upskilling and will be an integral part of everyday engineering tasks, but engineers should also prioritise the irreplaceable human side of engineering consulting – mentoring, self-improvement and client care.”
Robert Otani, managing principal and chief technology officer at international engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti
‘Work as if you’re with a junior colleague’
“Create an environment of validation and adversarial testing that involves edge case probes, chaos tests and tabletop exercises… Work in practice with the AI as if you’re paired with a junior colleague.”
Sando Shubladze, CEO of California data intelligence company Datamam
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.