Engineering Career: A Traveling Experience and Its Rewards

Engineering, especially in a consulting role, can offer endless opportunities for travel, technical exchanges, and personal growth. This article explores the experiences and perspectives of two engineers, one who spends considerable time in transit and another who preferred a more traditional office setup. Both share insights on the satisfaction and challenges of their careers.

The Value and Rewards of Travel in Engineering

As a consulting engineer working on a new project for a client company, I traveled on average once a month to meet with the client's current customers. This involvement allowed me to gather valuable ideas and recommendations for the new service, enriching the development process. Subsequent trips were primarily for pre-sales discussions and implementation talks, still involving travel about once a month. Such opportunities for international exchange provided immense satisfaction, fostering connections with a diverse array of engineers and ensuring that ideas and innovations flowed freely across borders.

My travels were not restricted to customer sites alone. Exploring potential projects and discussing technical requirements with potential clients were also key components of my work. This frequent travel opened doors to various opportunities and enabled me to adapt and meet the demands of an ever-evolving industry. Engaging in pre-sales discussions and implementation talks allowed me to immerse myself in the client’s environment, understand their needs, and align my solutions to their expectations.

Travel and Its Role in My Engineering Journey

My thirty-year engineering career, primarily focused on the networking industry, has had its share of challenges but also numerous rewarding moments. During my early years, I started in hardware before transitioning to software. Despite my career in the networking industry, which required little travel, there were still instances where I visited customer sites to address specific problems. The advancements in remote work and debugging tools have significantly reduced the need for on-site visits, making my past travel endeavors more of a career highlight than a daily obligation. While some of my visits were necessary to ensure the customer felt valued, others were driven by genuine technical needs.

My travels were diverse in nature. From consultative sales to front-end deployment and integration exercises at the back end, each experience contributed to a holistic understanding of the project. Proposal development and program launches were enjoyable, even if being in an office sometimes felt like a chore. However, the satisfaction derived from the technical aspects and the opportunity to engage directly with hardware were irreplaceable.

Personal Reflections on an Engineering Career

Engineering has consistently provided me with a robust income and travel opportunities, enabling me to prepare for unforeseen emergencies, such as medical situations. This career not only met my professional needs but also aligned well with my personality and interests. While some may find the prospect of sitting in an office writing code daunting, I found it fulfilling.

However, towards the end of my career, I found myself feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Working for a highly successful company that was experiencing continuous challenges made it increasingly difficult to learn new things quickly. Growing older presented additional obstacles to keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements. Eventually, I retired, grateful for the opportunities that were provided and the financial security that allowed me to leave the high-tech world on my own terms.

Retirement serves as a sweet reminder of the balance and flexibility that I now possess. I relish the days where every day feels like a weekend, allowing me to enjoy life to the fullest without the pressures of a full-time job.

Conclusion

The experience of engineering, particularly in a consulting role, offers a unique blend of travel, technical challenges, and personal fulfillment. Both the frequent traveler and the occasional traveler share common threads of satisfaction and growth. Engineering is not just a career; it is a calling that continues to inspire and challenge those who pursue it.