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Looking for guidance on building a multidisciplinary engineering career

Shrujan S

Hi everyone,

I'm a Computer Science graduate currently trying to shape my career direction and would really value advice from experienced engineers and technology professionals.

My current focus is developing skills in industrial automation and control systems, including PLC programming, HMI/SCADA, Siemens TIA Portal and WinCC. I also have a background in software development, AI/ML and cybersecurity, and I'm interested in areas such as Industrial IoT, OT cybersecurity, industrial AI and intelligent control systems.

I'm trying to build a combination of skills rather than limit myself to a single technology. At the same time, I'm from a financially limited background, so opportunities to travel internationally, attend expensive conferences, or physically meet experienced professionals are not currently realistic for me.

That's one of the reasons I'm trying to make the most of online engineering communities and learn directly from people around the world.

I'd particularly appreciate perspectives from people who have several years of experience in engineering, technology, R&D or industry:

  • Which skills would you prioritize if you were starting your career today?
  • Is combining software/AI with industrial engineering a worthwhile direction?
  • Which technical areas complement each other well?
  • What skills are often overlooked by students and early-career engineers?
  • How can I balance hands-on engineering, software, AI, cybersecurity and research without becoming too scattered?
  • What would you recommend focusing on over the next 2–5 years to build a strong international career?
  • Are there free or affordable online communities, projects, research opportunities, conferences, courses or mentorship opportunities that you would recommend?

I'm not specifically looking for a job or asking anyone to provide financial assistance. I'm genuinely looking for guidance, knowledge and meaningful professional connections that can help me understand the industry better and make better decisions about my future.

Any advice or experience you can share would mean a lot to me. I'd also be very happy to connect and continue the discussion with anyone willing to share their perspective.

  • Shrujan S said:
    What skills are often overlooked by students and early-career engineers?

    All the things that aren't actually the software. Documentation: support documentation, user guides. Requirements: how to write good requirements, how to analyse requirements given to you, how to test against those requirements. Testing: does the product meet the requirements? Configuration control: do you know what you shipped to a customer, can you reproduce that version in the future?

    Shrujan S said:
    What would you recommend focusing on over the next 2–5 years to build a strong international career?

    Focus on whatever someone will pay you to do. It's all very well going off to look at everything, but unless someone will pay you to do it, it's just a hobby.

  • How do you define multidisciplinary?

    I would define it as having an understanding of the underlying engineering aspects - electronics, electrical, mechanical, structural, civils, etc. Even when you look at industrial control there is often a reason behind those control steps. Why is my sheets of aluminium hared to this temperature, cooled to this temperature at this rate. Understanding the reason behind things can be as valueable as understand the process controls themselves.

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