As beginners, it can be difficult to know what career path to pursue in order to become a professional in CAE. Often, we find ourselves uncertain about the steps we are required to take in order to develop our skills in this field.
In this article, I will take you through the exact steps you can follow to become a CAE professional. I will share with you a detailed roadmap that you can use for reference whenever you feel uncertain.
But before that, I hope you've already gone through the prerequisites. So, let's begin.
You can watch a detailed video below where I've explained each step followed by Q&A or just read the whole article first and watch the video later.
Here are 8 steps for 'Beginner to Professional' journey in CAE:
1) Gain a fundamental understanding of Engineering subjects:
Before diving into FEA, it is important to have a strong foundation in mechanics and mathematics as they form the core of Engineering problem solving.
I've written a detailed post on exactly what to learn, how and from where to learn the fundamental concepts. You can read it here: Mastering the basics
2) Learn FEA software:
There are several FEA software packages available in the market, such as ANSYS, Abaqus and SolidWorks Simulation. Choose a software package that suits your interests and start learning it right away.
Many software vendors offer free trial versions or online tutorials to help you get started. Also keep in mind that, choosing a product/domain of your interest before choosing the software is of utmost importance. The software you need to learn will depend on your area of interest.
For example, if you are interested in Aerodynamics of a car, then your domain of interest is CFD and therefore the software that you must learn will be Ansys. Similarly, if your domain of interest is Vehicle Crashworthiness or product domain as Seating system, then you need to learn LS-DYNA in this case.
3) Practice with sample problems:
Once you have learned the basics of FEA, start practicing with sample problems. A lot of software packages include sample problems that you can use to practice and refine your skills.
One such example is Dynamore.com where they have provided numerous case studies in LS-DYNA along with the input files for reference. Similarly, if you visit websites like Altair.com or Ansys.com you will find good number of tutorials and case studies on almost any kind of problem or load cases.
If that's not enough, you can always visit platforms like Youtube to explore different channels or trainings based on CAE.
4) Gain Industrial Exposure:
Often, when we start learning something new, we tend to do things which we aren't supposed to do. What I mean is, when we chase our inclinations, we immerse ourselves in the flow and go further, doing things just because they interest us and lose track of reality.
The best way is to attend industry conferences, seminars and workshops to learn from experts in the field. This will allow you to stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in FEA. Another good way is to get in touch with the senior industry personnel who can guide you well.
5) Join professional organizations:
Join professional organizations such as the International Association for Computational Mechanics (IACM) or the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to network with other established professionals and stay informed about the latest developments in the field or even any relevant job openings.
6) Gain practical experience:
Consider working on CAE projects as an intern or entry-level engineer to gain practical experience. This will allow you to apply your knowledge to real-world problems and develop your skills further.
7) Network with the right people:
Although it may look simple on the surface, this is a very important step that has the potential to shape your career. Connecting with the right people through platforms like LinkedIn can help you leverage your understanding and requirements of the market.
It's better to network with like-minded people as well as recruiters as there are chances of getting good opportunities through their reference alone.
8) Keep learning and upgrade yourself consistently:
CAE is a constantly evolving field and it is important to continue learning and refining your skills throughout your career. Stay up-to-date with the latest software releases, attend workshops and conferences and seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills. Having said that, here are 12 Free Resources for CAE Engineers.
So, this concludes the article. To make your work easy, below is the downloadable roadmap (actually Spacemap! 😉) which you can keep handy and use as reference.
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