Are engineers glorified graphic designers?

Sounds like you weren't hanging out with engineers then. Engineer is not a protected title in the UK and most people you meet who claim to be "engineers" aren't actually engineers. Even if they have a degree many aren't technically engineers as they aren't chartered and just do what you described.

Thank you for your reply,

Can you go into more details about what chartered engineers do?

I recently did a work experience at an engineering firm, all they seem to do is use CAD for everything and even when I ask where the maths is, they showed me an excel spreadsheet with premade formulas. Honestly, WE really put me off from doing engineering but I know my experience isn't representative or universal so I just wanted to know what engineering really about.

I'm now considering physics because I want to solve interesting problems, not use CAD all day.

From your post I am assuming your work experience was at a firm that designs and manufactures products of some sort. Design engineers at firms like that are typically going to spend lots of time on CAD, because that's the main tool that is used to design products. So they're going to have it on their screen a lot of the time.

Most maths you encounter in industry is unlikely to be particularly complicated relative to university level material. Much of the time it is either not required, or couldn't be applied directly anyway as real engineered components don't tend to take the form of idealised shapes that closed form analytical equations can solve. If a detailed analysis is required, this will usually be done via some sort of numerical simulation, e.g. finite element analysis. In many companies, this type of analysis is performed by specialist engineers rather than design engineers. But Excel works very well as an engineering calculation tool, hence why it is so ubiquitous.

Doesn't CAD already do finite element analysis?

Also which sector in the industry does the "most maths" (EDIT: or job)

Thank you

I think some packages do have basic FEA capabilities, but most analysis engineers prefer to use specialist FEA packages, which allow you to perform a much more comprehensive analysis.



Analysis engineers do the most maths. But if you really want to do maths, then work in mathematical modelling rather than engineering.

If OP wants to focus on maths then something around structural engineering would be a good fit.

Alternately software development for a FEA package if they are looking for something more focused.

@Smack , @Laffer Thanks for your advice

I think I should try to find a physics-related work experience to compare(but it's quite hard to find any work experience). It's not very heartening to hear that most engineering jobs can be boring, so I might explore other careers with more focus on mathematical modelling (maybe quantitative finance?). Probably also going to do a physics degree but I have the fear that if I do eventually decide to become an engineer, it's going to be more difficult to secure a job as a physicist.

I recently did a work experience at an engineering firm, all they seem to do is use CAD for everything and even when I ask where the maths is, they showed me an excel spreadsheet with premade formulas. Honestly, WE really put me off from doing engineering but I know my experience isn't representative or universal so I just wanted to know what engineering really about.

I'm now considering physics because I want to solve interesting problems, not use CAD all day.

Sounds more like product, design & manufacturing- not engineering.

Engineering as terminology is often misused as terminology. You get leading scientists at the cutting edge of applied physics all the way to the guy who re-start your internet router will call themselves an engineer. As such it requires a little more nuance when investigating opportunities.

Do you know which jobs, company/organisation or even sector that you can find "leading scientist at the cutting edge of applied physics"?

Thanks