The automotive world is moving away from the internal combustion in favor of electrified powertrains. We’re still a long way away from widespread adoption, but the development trend is very clear.

Because of this shift, the demand for engineers with electric motor or hybrid controls expertise is skyrocketing, and the exact opposite can be said for traditional powertrain engineers.

That’s not to say that these skills are obsolete. Conventional powertrains will still be around for several decades, and even the highest-tech hybrid powertrains need an engine. But the most interesting innovation is more and more dependent on electrification.

Thus, veteran powertrain engineers are left with a choice: adapt or be left behind.

This isn’t what these people signed up for. They graduated with a high-tech degree, and probably thought they’d work on traditional engines for their entire careers.

But that just isn’t feasible anymore.

And these situations are becoming more and more common.

No one knows what the workforce will look like in 20 years. It’s impossible to predict how AI and automation will affect the world, or which new technologies will emerge.

So it seems like there’s only one robust approach for young professionals: learn valuable skills and be ready to adapt.

-Brandon