Advanced Manufacturing Engineers

High School

Take as many science, mathematics, and computer science classes as possible in high school because these courses will provide good preparation for studying engineering in college. Shop courses will help you become familiar with tools and building processes and allow you to learn how to use computer-aided design software. Engineers must be strong communicators; you should take English, speech, and writing classes. Taking a foreign language will be useful because some engineers work in foreign countries where English is not the primary language.

Postsecondary Education

You will need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering to work as an advanced manufacturing engineer. Some employers require their engineers to have a master's degree. Advanced manufacturing engineers have degrees in chemical, computer, electrical, industrial, materials, mechanical, robotics, and other engineering specialties. Some engineers also have undergraduate and/or graduate certificates in industrial production, manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, 3–D printing, or a related field. Engineers who want to become managers often earn graduate degrees in business management, engineering management, or facility management. Some schools offer five-year degree programs in engineering that award a bachelor's and master's degree upon completion.

ABET is the official accrediting agency for colleges and universities that offer engineering technology and engineering programs. Visit https://www.abet.org for a list of accredited schools.

Some advanced manufacturing engineers train for the field via apprenticeships. Visit https://www.apprenticeship.gov for more information about apprenticeship training. Other aspiring engineers receive their initial training in the military and then augment this training by earning a degree in engineering, advanced manufacturing, or a related field. Visit https://www.todaysmilitary.com/careers-benefits/explore-careers for more information about careers in the military.

Certification

To augment their skills and knowledge base, some engineers earn undergraduate and/or graduate certificates in industrial production, manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, 3–D printing, or a related field. Colleges and universities offer these programs throughout the country. For example, the University of Pennsylvania offers an online graduate certificate in additive manufacturing and design to students who complete the following classes: Additive Manufacturing Processes, Engineering and Scientific Principles of Additive Manufacturing, Design for Additive Manufacturing, and Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Materials. Contact schools in your area for more information.

Other Education or Training

A variety of webinars, classes, conference seminars, and other continuing education (CE) opportunities are offered by professional associations such as the Association for Advancing Automation, American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Association for Computing Machinery, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, IEEE Computer Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, and SME, among other organizations.