Mechatronics Engineer
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Youtube clips on Mechatronic Engineers
For training options in South Africa – scroll down
What is a Mechatronic Engineer?
Mechatronics is a new, cutting-edge engineering field. It’s a design-combination of mechanical, electrical, computer and control engineering. It’s extremely high-tech and it’s paving its way to becoming one of the most exciting career paths for would-be engineers.
Mechatronic Engineers design ‘smart’ devices and equipment.
Mechatronics is changing the way we see and do things in our daily lives: from transportation to optical telecommunications to biomedical engineering. Mechatronics is such a wide field – it can cover areas from the Mars Rover to the toy industry through to devices made for the elderly and the disabled through to specialised equipment to help humans break the land-speed record!
The list is endless as some form of Mechatronics can be found in almost every career category.
Mechatronics has been popular in Japan for a very long time. It’s now taking off in the west and many countries are accepting its potential value.
Mechatronic Engineers are in demand both here and internationally!
What does a Mechatronic Engineer do?
- plans and develops new projects
- communicates with marketing teams to determine ‘demand’ for products
- brainstorms new ideas
- draws up plans and designs
- creates models
- works within budgets
- works together with mechatronic technicians to build a prototype
- tests and troubleshoots and makes adjustment
Are you … ?
- creative?
- a person who likes design?
- confident?
- curious?
- clever?
- extremely good at mathematics?
- a person who loves science?
- a good communicator?
How do I become a Mechatronic Engineer?
At the moment, these SA universities offer an engineering Bachelors degree in Mechatronics:
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- Stellenbosch University
- UNISA
Some FET (TVET) colleges also offer Mechatronic courses.
TRAINING:
- CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
- Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
- To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education.
OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Mechatronics Technician and Geotechnician/Geotechnologist
Is becoming a Mechatronics Engineer the right career choice for me?