Filed under: Trends, Hybrids/Alternative
Want work? Ford says study "Mechatronics"
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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve S 10:08AM (1/04/2006)
What do you take for Exterior design. Somewhere in the development art is used. You can't tell me engineers are making sketches.
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Michael Cicconi 10:57AM (1/04/2006)
We have a new degree of mechatronics here at the University of Waterloo:
http://www.mechatronics.uwaterloo.ca/home.html
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Takeo 12:14PM (1/04/2006)
Mechatronics? Sounds like something out of an anime designer's bag of terms, sorta like "Robotech" LOL.
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ventivent 12:39PM (1/04/2006)
Sounds like some smart automotive "strategery" (sic) to me.
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FurdSox 12:58AM (1/05/2006)
Ford has a habit of making a big deal out of its processes instead of its cars. The Fusion and its Lincoln and Mercury clones look fairly good and emphasis would be better placed on talking up those new vehicles, not more blather about why Ford products might be better in the future because of some new program.
GM, Chrysler, and all the major Japanese brands are far superior to Fords. And if the Fusion is good, the Mazda 6 on which it's based is better.
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