Engineers Week Q&A with Rebecca Finneran, IMEG Mechanical Designer
Q: What motivated you to become an engineer?
A: My brother was my inspiration to become an engineer. He studied mechanical engineering in college while I was in high school. On his summer breaks, he would show me all the fascinating and difficult things he was learning and encourage me to pursue an engineering degree as well. Having someone believe in you like that is a solid enabler, but I also found satisfaction in taking on the challenge.
Q: What excites you about your chosen career?
A: Seeing the impact on the built environment as a direct result of your work will always be the cherry on top. The thrill of seeing a concept materialize into a physical structure and knowing I played a role in putting that together is immensely satisfying.
Q: How do you see engineers playing a role in shaping the world of tomorrow?
A: As engineers, we are stewards of progress today, in the world we shape for tomorrow. As opportunity for innovation emerges, it becomes our responsibility to sculpt that innovation into a form that fulfills the needs of the everyday changing world. These become monuments in our timeline and beacons on the horizon, illuminating a pathway for the explorers who come after us.
Q: How has innovation affected what you do?
A: CAD is the perhaps the biggest innovation the engineering design world has seen in the last couple decades. There is a learning curve to every new program that comes along, but the efficiency speaks for itself, if we are willing to invest in ourselves and the profession. Innovation challenges the status quo on the front end, but it simplifies productivity in the end.
Q: How do you see yourself benefiting from the use of AI?
A: It is difficult to even imagine how far AI will be implemented in design and engineering. It makes me ask not how much AI can we use, but rather, how much human input will we need? Since we can only answer for today and plan for tomorrow, I would start with more automation and optimization in our CAD processes as well as quality assurance.
Q: What advice do you have for those considering a STEM-related career?
A: Embrace curiosity and resilience. Initial setbacks are inevitable but crucial for ultimate success. Remember that most smart people you look up to right now are not natural geniuses; they are people like you who worked for it and found enjoyment in the process, which gave them the resilience to be successful.
Learn how to apply for an IMEG Engineering Scholarship and find additional resources for engineering students on the NSPE website.
