What inspired you to become an engineer?

This week, February 22-28, we celebrate National Engineers Week in the US to recognize the contributions to society that engineers make. During this time, there is added emphasis in schools on the importance of learning math, science, and technical skills.

I work with Generation STEAM, a group organized by the SYN Shop MakerSpace and the Henderson district library to create a series of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, [Art], and Math) classes that are free to the public. For my part, I’ve had the privilege of teaching a basic electronics class for kids a few Saturdays this year – and it’s been a blast. Our hope is that we are encouraging a few young people to follow the path of engineering.

We asked some of our friends in the EDA industry, if they recalled the moment back when they were kids that they realized they wanted to become an engineers. Take a look at some of their responses and share your own story by leaving a comment below.

What inspired you to become an engineer?

“When I was teen, my father used to open up and repair all sorts of engines and devices such as TVs, water pumps, and motorcycles. Although he didn’t have an official engineering degree he showed us (myself and my twin brother) the fun of “debug and fix” involved in many of our household devices.

Sitting next to him and working as his helper was like a true apprenticeship in electronics, electrical, mechanical, automotive, and more. This, along with my inherent problem solving skills, inspired me to become an engineer.”

Srinivasan Venkataramanan
Chief Technical Officer, CVC

"Growing up I was always trying to understand how everything worked, often taking random household items apart and trying to re-assemble them. (With varying degrees of success!) A fascination with computers and electronics was a natural progression of this curiosity.

The book "Digital Electronics Projects for Beginners" from the local library eventually demonstrated that the previously impenetrable world of electronic circuits could be understood and even created by mere mortals, so thank you Owen Bishop!”

Chris Higgs
Lead Developer, Potential Ventures

“Engineering drew me in with my first programming class in high school. Shortly after digital circuits won out. With VHDL, I get to do both and internal peace and bliss has been restored.”

Jim Lewis
VHDL Training Expert, SynthWorks

I've always enjoyed building things. I dreamed of inventing new things that didn't exist before, of inventing the future.

I knew that an engineering degree would be my ticket to join the men and women at the frontier of technology."

Philippe Faes
Founder and CEO, Sigasi

“A computer science lesson back in school inspired me to become an engineer. We were studying HTML, and I remember creating a simple page with just few words and colored background. It was so amazingly incredible: simple text, written in a file, transformed into a graphical "website"!

After that, I realized that I want to be a part of this industry.”

Pavel Leshtaiev
Software Product Manager, Aldec

“One of my early memories is of being amazed at all the cool electronic components in a small bird-sound maker that my uncle had built. I was wowed by the fact that this piece of plastic, metal, and wires was making such a realistic sound that it even fooled a humming bird.

Science fairs were a regular drive to create something new – which is continuing with me till today, only the school science fairs have been replaced by DVCon and DAC.”

Anupam Bakshi
Founder and CEO, Agnisys

"I was good at math and physics in high school which led me into an engineering university and, no surprise, I became an engineer. It happened naturally."


Jie Meng
Senior Application Engineer, Tanner EDA

To learn more about National Engineering week, visit www.discovere.org.

Share your own story by leaving a comment below. What inspired you to become an engineer?