Renewable Energy Engineering Jobs: My Education and Career Path as a Mechanical Engineer

By request, here is the story of my mechanical engineering education and career path working on renewable energy engineering technologies for fifteen years so far. I chose this career because of my concern about climate change. Being an engineer is great because it does give you the power to work on something that will change the world to be more the way you wish it would be!
I actually recorded this interview nearly a year ago while I was still working for a wind turbine blade manufacturer. Now I am an independent consultant working on innovation strategy and new technology development for all kinds of energy transition technologies (get in touch via LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/rosemarybarnes/ if you have a business proposal for me!).
If there are any parts you would be interested to hear more detail about then let me know and I can do a follow up. Just tell me what you're interested in: job search and networking skills for engineers perhaps, or more details about the kinds of projects I've worked on, what my PhD was about... anything at all.
In the video I start with the hobbies I had as a kid, my early STEM education starting with doing maths with my dad, my first part-time job in a bike shop, my love of physics and how I chose between studying physics and engineering at university. Then the jobs I have had working in solar energy, startups, other renewable energy, sustainability and circular economy projects I worked on before deciding to go back to university to get a PhD in composite materials structural design and analysis so I could get a job working for a wind turbine blade manufacturer.

[@terry5089]

It is so nice to see an engineer who enjoys working with their hands. Most of the engineers (electronics) that I worked with during my career would only sit in their cubicles all day, hands on engineering was beneath their dignity. Personally I was always happiest when I was in the lab.

[@Kash-sq5ml]

There's no shortage for those kinds of people in the mechanical engineering industry LOL

[@bazoo513]

1:40 - turning a 2D object into a 3D one (sewing) is an engineering challenge. But taking a *1D* object and turning it into a 3D one (knitting) is _magic_ ! And, yes, baking is a rather challenging branch of chemical engineering.

[@burtvincent1278]

Imagine if engineers ran a country. Problems would be solved instead of created.

[@clawsoon]

That's basically the situation in China right now. It does come with its own problems, most notably Engineers' Syndrome. :-)

[@arsalan1155]

MashaAllah... role model for all women.. keep up the good work...always enjoyed listening to you..

[@reoii8020]

Rosie,Your video is very inspiring,I LOVE wind and solar energy.I got my AAS(PTK) at 44 yrs old.I never finished 10 grade(joined army).Wife taught me reading and writing skills (she's an educater).I started wind /engineering courses at Texas Tech.They my wife's health went down.So at 52,I'm still wanting to finish one day.Our farming and cattle take alot of time and her health requires me to do the cooking ,cleaning etc at home +chores.I love her ,but I really wanted my degree.Its inspiring to listen to you.Keep up the great work.Hsve a blessed day.

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Wow, it is your story that is inspiring! I would really struggle to pass an engineering course now, even though I have done it before. It is much easier to do it straight after school when all the mathematics is fresh in your mind. So huge credit to you for not giving up your dream, I hope you keep perservering until you finish it! Good luck 😊

[@reoii8020]

@@EngineeringwithRosie Thank you Rosie,We hope you have a wonderful new year.Your show is awesome,well for sure be following.

[@allanliu1314]

Amazon career path. Really appreciate your videos explaining many turbine and mechanical issues. Keep up the good job!

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Thanks, will do!

[@tonitouchberry894]

I am now 76 and I so wish that I had been encouraged when I was young! I studied commercial art but loved engineering and architecture! I once applied to an architecture company, as I wanted to make scale models but was told that because I had never used a bandsaw before that I was "incapable" of making models! When I was in highschool, girls weren't "allowed" to take shop!??? Can you believe that??? Now we girls are in every field of science and engineering! Even DARPA has a large number of female engineers making vehicles and weapons for our national defense! I'm so proud of all of you and so very, very sorry that I missed the boat! Oh well! Next life🤷

[@perelisabethooven]

thank you SO MUCH for this video! I'm about to finish my masters and I really saw myself a lot in your earlier experiences and you path. I hope to one day get a job in the renewable industry, your insight is really helpful

[@HamzaAhmedQazi]

Nice to hear about your professional career 👍.

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Thanks! 🙂

[@macroman91]

Baking often results in working with both carbon and fibers, though not necessarily carbon fiber...

[@dprcontracting6299]

My baking often becomes pure carbon lol

[@nivendarsoo4575]

Its a Pleasure knowing you Rosie

[@pipertripp]

Perhaps you work for Vestas. They have a couple of production facilities here in Colorado employing a few thousand people. Great to see your channel growing. I really enjoy your content! Cheers

[@hughwaller6789]

Love your channel Rosie. I'm trying to find a quietish HAWT that will power my house at least some of the time that the neighbours won't complain about.

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Sounds cool 😊 Check out the certified small turbines on these sites. The certificates should have actual noise measurements, so you won't have to take the manufacturer's word for it: smallwindcertification.org/certified-small-turbines/ www.dnv.com/services/valid-certifications-70432 (download the Excel file)

[@greggm7056]

Dave from "Just Have a Think" suggested checking out your channel and I'm glad he did. Sounds like a dream job, working on things that matter. I'm a Manufacturing Engineer working on things that don't matter, very unfulfilling. I'm thrilled you're working on ways to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels, thank you!

[@xxwookey]

It's unfortunate that our economic system encourages the creation of jobs doing stuff that doesn't matter. It's not good for the planet or the people involved. I hope you can find something more satisfying. I would commend Rosie's advice that it really is worth doing you actually care about if at all possible. It may not maximise your income, but almost any engineering job will pay enough to live on, and you'll be so much happier with your lot overall. It sounds like you get this already, so best of luck.

[@greggm7056]

@@xxwookey Thanks. I'm 62 and started seeing the futility of my efforts about a decade ago. Sorry for the bad attitude. I've been saving my money and will hang in there 1 more yr, retire and start collecting SS at 64. When I was growing up my family lived on a tidal river in R.I. and as a teen I sketched out a design for an under water turbine to generate electricity. Rosie's channel reinvigorates my imagination and since she's way smarter than I am, there's plenty to learn.

[@timmonapier8832]

Go Girl!! I hope this vid inspires another generation of engineers.

[@ashishraulin]

Thank you so muchhhh maim...🙏 Actually I'm from India right now I'm in 11th standard I also want to do Engineering in Renewable Energy because I want to save the planet Earth first...your videos are really helpful for me....

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Fantastic! Good luck with your studies and I hope we can save the planet together 😁

[@ashishraulin]

@@EngineeringwithRosie yeahh definitely just give me your blessings teacher❤️🙏😊😊

[@rogermckenzie2711]

Just WOW! Great story of encouragement and achievement. Impressive lady!

[@mikeklein4949]

Great work. Thank you for becoming you.

[@shale3d980]

I'm happy for you that you enjoy your job ❤️

[@dprcontracting6299]

Fantastic Rosie well done. You got some good skills and advice from your Dad. I spent 3.5 years in the NZ High Commission in Canberra on the Defence Staff. A great city to bring up a young family.

[@michaeldepodesta001]

Thank you for your frankness and honesty.

[@A-K216]

Amazing video, 1 year remaining and I’ll get bachelor in mechanical engineering (hoping to find a job)

[@我来外网看你们的乐子]

great work let our earth be batter

[@needsomewater]

Really inspiring I have no idea how to start on this type of path.

[@POWERBEAUTY2021]

Congratulations! You are an empowered woman.

[@bazoo513]

This can really be an inspiration for girls all over the world: the fact that you like to do "girly" things does not mean that you cannot be a kickass engineer. (Cue Peggy Seeger's "I'm Gonna Be an Engineer", and never let others tell you that you cannot - not every girl has an inspiring, supportive parents!) BTW, I thought that only in experimental physics PhDs spend much of their time with soldering irons, screwdrivers and covered in vacuum sealant grease. Apparently, engineering is similar: PhDs like Rosie find it a _privilege_ to climb those impossibly high, skinny towers in windy places! Thank you, Dr. Barnes!

[@tommyGeylang1637]

I m so happy to find u :) . . . Interesting

[@manuelgonzales2570]

Nice video! Thanks!

[@brianjonker510]

Those stereotypical girl activities have a lot more cross over than is acknowledged. Wife grew up doing a modest amount of crafty things. When we were married her & I did nearly all repairs from mechanical to carpentry as DIY. She was better than I at it because she could manipulate shapes in her mind and had a sense for the proper sequence of steps coming apart and for assembly. I theorize she got this skill from doing crafts as a kid.

[@bobgroves5777]

Way to go, Rosie!

[@abdullahal-junaibi3656]

nice video so inspirational . thank you

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

So nice of you to say that 😊 I'm glad you liked it!

[@Soothsayer210]

Don't know if you have already done videos on Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. I find them fascinating.... to use in medians of the highways along with Pressure Sensitive roads to generate electricity. Throw in thin film Perovskite Solar Panels in that. Would be just PERFECT for Green Energy Revolution !!!

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Hi, yes I did two videos so far on vertical axis wind turbines: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e36QmHasnbabhrc kzbin.info/www/bejne/opXXZWNrn66FZqc And I have plans to do one on Perovskit solar cells later in the year.

[@Shehlaowais]

Appreciated

[@ilysnb]

Hi Ms Rosie!! When I was watching this video I was honestly dumbfounded, because I could relate so much to you! I’m currently in between year 12 and 13, and you described exactly my situation- a love for physics and maths, and a desire to go into engineering and renewable energy. I have a few concerns though. I’m at a crossroads as to what I specifically wanna study at uni. I was considering a mechanical engineering degree, and I was wondering if this is what you did too because I also want to end up doing what you do but I’m not sure if this path will take me there. I thought about applying to applied environmental sciences courses or similar, but chemistry was a requisite which I unfortunately didn’t take. So now I’m really unsure as to what I’ll do!😅

[@GPatrick137]

👏👏👏 your dad would be so proud of you

[@therealxunil2]

The world needs more Rosies in it.

[@gzcwnk]

I used to be an engineer with a specific biased mechanical degree in building services and energy management. I swapped to IT at 39. I was sick of poor pay, no status, lack of interest from clients and being made redundant repeatedly. 20 years later, its been 20 good years in IT, good luck.

[@sarahsasser6179]

Engineering Is Tremendously interesting but I am a junior In high school, I've never been good at math, Guess I'll pick something else!

[@carlsmith3208]

You are an amazing woman!

[@certion0523]

Hi Rosie, really enjoying your videos!! I can remember an article some 15 years ago about how pollution on blades could make them to stall a lot quicker and therefor loose production potential. I think the pollution was mostly dust and insects and mainly occured in dry climates because the lack of a regular washdown with rain. Do you know of any research in this matter or possible solutions that blade manufacturers might have come up with? Keep up your posts! Best Regards, Theo, the Netherlands.

[@mahalonasp4127]

Good morning sis, very good

[@matthewolanrewaju2443]

Can you recommend any solar energy academy in US for an international student? Duration in the range of 2 to 5 months

[@saasch_baasch]

Hi Rosie, thank you for your nice explanations, which i enjoy totally, despite the fact that I am working as an engineer in the Wind industry too. 😄 My job is much more practical, I mean less theoretical, so if you need any Pictures or videos out from any Types of Turbines, please let me know, because I am on approximately 1000 Turbines a Jear :-)

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Wow, 1000 turbines per year, that makes me tired just thinking about it. I have climbed maybe 10 in my whole career. I get so exhausted from wearing the heavy harness and other safety gear all day, so even though it was a career highlight for me to climb I would not want to do it every day! It could be really cool to get some footage of climbing turbines, can you get in touch with me on LinkedIn or Facebook so I can contact you when I have a video that could use that footage? I don't think I will be able to find you by searching your username😊

[@saasch_baasch]

@@EngineeringwithRosie got you on Instagram 🙂 this Job can indeed be hard, even for experienced Workers. But If you do it with Passion and appreciate the View from top, than it's worth to climb a 166m Tower on the Ladder, cause the Lift is out of order 😄

[@tkkingcreation8858]

Superb

[@Shehlaowais]

I just shifting my electrical engineering (design substation ) to renewable energy path. Can you guide me that can I take short course of consultancy of renewable or specific solar energy and storage ?

[@johnyrockstar007]

I have been in the operations side of plants and want to switch to mechanical engineering now. What is a good start and skills that will be handy. Thanks

[@lovekishorbista6687]

The voice on simulink and simscape tutorials in matlab matches to yours..Is it your voice?

[@heronimousbrapson863]

I wanted to be an engineer like my dad, but I could never get a sufficient grasp of maths.

[@allison240]

Thank you so much for your video! I really wanna make a degree in renewable energy engineering but sadly in my country that degree does not exist :( I decided to do a master and PhD in renewable technologies but before I need to chose an undergraduate program and I'm soooo confused. I don't know which career could fit best with the master I want. I'm thinking between environmental engineering, mechatronics engineering or mechanical engineering and I still can't decide :c I don't have any family member who is inside this laboral field too, so I'm lost with what I will do with my life.

[@ПараКиев]

hello Allison! What did you decide finally? I'm at the same point of my life now

[@erickmanangan4803]

Take electrical engineering

[@abdiputerapertama9942]

Nice Toterial

[@gert_kruger]

2:49 Woosh 🚲🏁

[@shreymanohar]

Hello Rose, I'm an engineering graduate from india. I'm planning for masters in Renewable energy from the UK in fall 2021 intake. I'm curious about climate change and nature conservation. Do you have any advice to give me before I go? Can we connect?

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Hi Shreyas, how exciting! I would suggest that you look at job ads and think about what kind of job you would like to do after your masters. See what skills those jobs require and make sure you choose subjects and a final project that will give you those skills! You can find me on LinkedIn if you want to follow my professional activities.

[@piyushnandurdikar9234]

Hello Shreyas! I'm a Btech student, will graduate in 2022 and interested to work in the renewable energy field. Did you get any info that would be useful in career ahead? Any updates on ms courses related to this field?

[@keerthimahesh7565]

Super sister

[@joan3338]

Do you think someone with a background of chemical engineering could fit in a career in renewables?

[@tmc1373]

Is it possible to work as a renewable energy engineer without a degree?

[@augustine_]

I'm from India and Hoping to move to Canada for higher studies. Is choosing ENERGY SYSTEMS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY ADVANCED DIPLOMA course in Centennial College in Canada, a good choice? Any guidance before taking that course? Career Growth?

[@JRAPHAEL0]

There is more than 1 math in Australia?

[@manojpathak7288]

Super 👉💃👌👌

[@andydelarue9344]

Go girl make that green power.

[@divyangbali120]

Hi

[@divyangbali120]

How to will get job in renewable energy

[@ceeemm1901]

"Composite materials are great"...said Captain Nemo never......

[@ahmedahmed5305]

😁

[@beathypef9786]

very beautifull girl

[@rashiraguram1212]

did you use pythagoras theorem anywhere in your career (practical application)

[@EngineeringwithRosie]

Yes, I use Pythagoras all the time! You can see it in action in any of my videos on wind turbine aerodynamics, whenever you need to add vectors you end up with right triangles. These two for example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWeldKGeqseVn7M kzbin.info/www/bejne/opXXZWNrn66FZqc

[@LovelyDeyOfficial]

your video was really helpfull

[@ashleyd6852]

Hello Rosie, I am an engineer as well. It would be great to speak with you about engineering. I had some bad experiences in aerospace and I want to move forward. It would be helpful to speak with you. I spent 6 months in Sydney, Australia when I studied at Sydney Uni. Australia is wonderful! Could we exchange emails? Thank you, Ashley