Engineering experience is about solving problems using scientific principles, the design process, systematic analysis, and breaking complex challenges into manageable pieces. Building engineering experience as a student means applying creativity and technical knowledge to make life better for people.

So, in theory, if you can find real-world experiences that enable you to practice these core skills, then you’ll be able to jump a few steps ahead as a student and offer potential employers tangible engineering experience, demonstrated skills, and proof that you have the initiative to develop professionally without constant guidance.

Before we get stuck in, this blog is part of a bigger Careers focus thread, find the rest in the series here: Careers.

But what examples are out there that you can take advantage of right now?

1. Analyse Existing Problems from Case Studies

Take real engineering challenges and conduct your own analysis with proposed solutions:

• Local projects: What infrastructure projects are currently happening in your area? Research the challenges they’re facing and propose alternative approaches or improvements. Check Engineering News-Record for current infrastructure projects and industry case studies.
• Daily problems: Is there a transport bottleneck in your city? A recurring issue in your dorm or apartment? Apply engineering thinking to develop systematic solutions.
• Document everything: Your analysis process, assumptions, research methods, and proposed solutions all demonstrate engineering thinking.

2. Tackle Formula 1 Engineering Challenges

F1 represents engineering at its most demanding – think about current challenges they face:

• Aerodynamic efficiency: Design solutions for reducing drag while maintaining downforce
• Hybrid power systems: Improve energy recovery and deployment strategies
• Tire performance: Analyse thermal management or degradation patterns
• Weight optimization: Propose lightweight alternatives for existing components

Research current regulations, understand the constraints, then design within those parameters. The FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations provide detailed specifications and constraints to work within.

3. Address Third-World Engineering Problems

Design solutions that are low-cost, power-independent (or self-generating), and require minimal maintenance skills:

• Water access: Hand pumps, filtration systems, or rainwater collection
• Sanitation: Composting toilets, waste processing systems
• Energy: Solar cookers, wind pumps, or micro-hydroelectric systems
• Communication: Low-power radio networks or mesh communication systems
• Agriculture: Irrigation systems, crop storage, or processing equipment

Engineers Without Borders offers excellent resources and case studies for humanitarian engineering projects that can inspire your own solutions.

These projects demonstrate your ability to work within severe constraints while maximizing social impact – exactly the kind of engineering experience that stands out to employers.

4. Follow in the Footsteps of Historic Engineers

Trace the development process of legendary engineers, studying their notebooks, failures, and breakthrough moments:

• Alexander Graham Bell: Communication technology and acoustic engineering
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel: Transportation infrastructure and bold design thinking
• Hedy Lamarr: Frequency hopping and early wireless communication
• Katherine Johnson: Computational methods and aerospace engineering
• Nikola Tesla: Electrical systems and innovative problem-solving approaches

Recreate their experiments with modern tools, analyse what made their approaches successful, and consider how you might have solved similar problems. The IEEE History Center contains extensive archives of engineering pioneers and their methodologies.

5. Identify Unsolved Problems

This is where the real innovation happens – can you identify a problem no one has adequately solved?

• Think blue sky: Could be an app, physical device, service, or entirely new methodology
• Focus on impact: What would save time, effort, or money in people’s daily lives?
• Consider scalability: How would your solution work for 100 people? 100,000? 100 million?
• Research thoroughly: Make sure you understand why this problem hasn’t been solved yet

Examples might include:

• More efficient personal transportation in dense cities
• Better ways to reduce food waste in supply chains
• Accessible technology for people with disabilities
• Climate-resilient infrastructure for developing regions

For inspiration and to ensure you’re not duplicating existing solutions, explore patent databases through Google Patents and review current research on arXiv Engineering.

The Critical Documentation Process

With all these projects, maintaining a detailed logbook is essential. Your documentation should include:

Technical Process:

• Problem definition and scope
• Research methodology and sources
• Design iterations and decision rationale
• Testing procedures and results
• Failure analysis and lessons learned

Professional Development:

• Skills developed during the project
• Areas where you needed additional expertise
• How you found and evaluated information
• Collaboration with others (mentors, peers, professionals)

Reflection and Growth:

• What you would do differently next time
• How this project connects to your career goals
• Questions that emerged for future investigation

Making It Count

Remember, employers aren’t just looking for technical skills when evaluating engineering experience – they want to see engineering judgment, problem-solving resilience, and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.

Your project portfolio should demonstrate:

• Initiative: You identified and pursued challenges independently
• Persistence: You worked through obstacles and setbacks
• Communication: You can explain your work clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Learning agility: You acquired new knowledge and skills as needed

The goal isn’t perfection – it’s demonstration of engineering thinking in action. Even projects that don’t reach their intended goals can showcase valuable learning and professional development.

Start with problems that genuinely interest you. Your enthusiasm will carry you through the difficult parts, and that passion will be evident to future employers, collaborators, and graduate school admissions committees.

The world has plenty of unsolved problems waiting for fresh engineering perspectives. Your student years are the perfect time to start developing the skills and mindset to tackle them while building valuable engineering experience that will set you apart in your career.

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