I'm a mechanical engineer working in a university research lab. We're a pretty broad lab with researchers in diverse domains but focused around one idea: innova

I'm a mechanical engineer working in a university research lab. We're a pretty broad lab with researchers in diverse domains but focused around one idea: innovative design. Making stuff that works. As a research engineer, I get pulled to work more on "development" projects close to or with industry. Grad students get the more early phase research stuff. I'm currently working on a contract for a large aerospace company, which involves a new kind of thrust-generating machine. I'm solely responsible for designing and building a prototype and test bench as well as doing the experimental work when that is done. It's diverse and rewarding work, but it gets a bit lonely sometimes compared to working in teams with 10s of engineers and techs in a large multinational corp. It's still the most enjoyable job I've held so far.