A Day in the Life of a Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineer: Meet Sherif Ismail

Mint Minds | Day in the Life Series

When students hear the word engineer, they might imagine someone designing machines, working with technical drawings, or spending their day solving equations.

But an engineering degree can lead somewhere much broader as we have learned when speaking to Sherif Khaled Ismail .

Sherif studied Mechanical Engineering and later on pursued his master's in Mechatronics Engineering which became the foundation for a career spanning engineering, AI, robotics, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.

Today, Sherif is the CEO of ETGAH, where he focuses on AI, robotics, engineering, and technology solutions. Though he didn't get there overnight, his experience spans companies including Siemens Energy and Odoo

We spoke with Sherif to find out what his career actually looks like, his day-to-day life, and what students considering engineering should know.

Why Engineering?

Sherif's interest in engineering started with something simple: curiosity.

"I was always interested in understanding how things work and, more importantly, how different technologies can work together.

Mechatronics was the answer for him, particularly because it brought several areas together: mechanics, electronics, software, and automation.

For students who enjoy understanding systems, experimenting with technology, building things, and solving problems, this combination can make mechatronics an exciting field to explore.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

For Sherif, his day-to-day work life spans a variety of tasks. He might be discussing an AI solution with a client, developing a new business opportunity, meeting with a university or government entity, or working with his team on ETGAH's strategy.

His career demonstrates how engineering can extend far beyond purely technical work, but also into people, strategy, communication, problem-solving, and business.

From Engineer to Entrepreneur

So how does someone go from engineering into entrepreneurship and commercial strategy?

For Sherif, the transition happened naturally.

"I realized that creating great technology is only half the equation. You also need to understand the problem, the market, and how to turn technology into business value."

The problem-solving mindset he developed through engineering became useful far beyond engineering itself.

Engineering taught him to approach problems systematically. Entrepreneurship allowed him to apply that thinking to customers, markets, products, and opportunities.

The Reality Behind Innovation

One of Sherif's favorite parts of his work is taking an idea and turning it into something real. He particularly enjoys seeing technology create measurable impact. But there's an important lesson here for students interested in innovation:

Just because something can be built doesn't necessarily mean it should be built.

One of the biggest challenges in Sherif's work is balancing what is technically possible with what is commercially valuable.

As he explains:

"Not every impressive technology solves a valuable problem."

That ability to identify the right problem may ultimately be just as important as knowing how to solve it.

What Makes a Good Engineer?

According to Sherif, students considering engineering should develop:

• Curiosity
• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Persistence

But today's engineers increasingly need something else: communication and business skills.

"The ability to explain why a solution matters is almost as important as knowing how to build it."

Engineering is no longer necessarily about sitting behind a computer solving technical problems independently. Engineers may need to present ideas, understand customers, collaborate across disciplines, lead teams, and communicate complex concepts clearly.

Your Engineering Degree Doesn't Define Your Entire Career

This is perhaps one of the most important lessons from Sherif's journey.

When you're choosing a university major at 17 or 18, it can feel like you're choosing what you'll do for the rest of your life.

Sherif wishes he had understood earlier that this isn't necessarily the case.

"Your degree is a foundation, not a career boundary."

An engineering background can potentially lead into R&D, AI, management, entrepreneurship, consulting, investment, and many other paths.

Your first degree can give you a foundation of knowledge and ways of thinking without determining every step that comes afterward.

Should You Study Mechanical or Mechatronics Engineering?

Sherif has an important piece of advice for students considering either field:

Don't choose engineering simply because you're good at mathematics or physics.

Instead, ask yourself:

Do I genuinely enjoy solving problems and building things?

Sherif recommends experimenting with things like robotics, Arduino, CAD, programming, or small engineering projects while you're still in school.

Trying the work even at the most basic level can tell you far more about whether you enjoy the engineering mindset.

What About AI?

AI and automation are already changing engineering, but Sherif doesn't see that as the end of engineering careers.

Instead, he believes it will change what makes an engineer valuable.

Routine elements of design, analysis, coding, and documentation will increasingly be automated.

That means future engineers will need to bring more to the table.

"The strongest engineers will be those who can combine engineering fundamentals, AI, creativity, and business understanding to solve problems that actually matter."

And perhaps that's the biggest takeaway from Sherif's career journey.

The future may not belong to students who simply learn how to use technology.

It may belong to those who can understand problems, connect different disciplines, communicate their ideas, and use technology to build solutions that matter.

🌿 Mint Minds Takeaway

Engineering might be worth exploring if you enjoy:

• Understanding how things work
• Solving complex problems
• Building and experimenting
• Technology and innovation
• Combining different areas of knowledge
• Turning ideas into practical solutions

And remember: choosing engineering doesn't mean choosing one job for the rest of your life.

Your degree is only the beginning of the journey.

Day in the Life is a MintMinds series introducing students to the real people behind different careers, helping them understand not only what professionals do, but what it actually feels like to work in their field.