For all of you college students out there who are experiencing wanderlust while searching for a major, it’s time to buckle down and think about your future. Ford has announced that in addition to the 30-40 engineers hired in 2005 for its hybrid vehicle team, the company will be adding another 250 by the end of Q1 2006.

The Blue Oval won’t be hiring just any engineering major green behind the ears, however. It’s looking for engineers with specific experience in the area of mechatronics, or the marrying of mechnical and electrical systems that are widely used in hybrid drivetrains. Currently Ohio State, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, MIT, Stanford, Illinois and Purdue are among the few universities in the country that offer training in the field.

While most of the 250 engineers will be hired from within Ford’s own ranks, the company is actively raiding the employee marketplace and competing with the likes of Toyota, GM and DaimlerChrysler for the cream of the engineering crop. So son, put down that beer bong and hit the books if you want to design the drivetrain for the next big hybrid hit.

[Source: Ford]