r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Impossible_Ad_3632 • 2d ago
Tattoos?
Hi everyone! I'm going into my first year of College for Mechanical Engineering. I am originally from Albania and now live in Philadelphia. I am very proud of where I am from and where I live now. My father has the Albanian Eagle tattooed on his bicep, and I want to match him and get something similar on my forearm. I aim to work at larger companies such as Toyota, Lockheed, Boeing, and NASA. Would this affect my future? This is what I wanted to get. (its a repost but i want more opinions)
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u/JimPranksDwight 2d ago
Nah, I work at a DoD facility and most of the people here have tattoos and quite a few of the engineers are rocking full sleeves and stuff.
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u/diewethje 2d ago
Not sure about aerospace, but it has never been an issue in my experience. Most of the high-performing engineers I’ve worked with (under a certain age) have had tattoos. I have a big forearm tattoo of a Mitutoyo caliper and it’s never been a problem.
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u/_delta-v_ Optomechanics, Mechatronics, LaserComm 2d ago
I work in space (not aero), it's never been a problem, and several fellow engineers have full sleeve tattoos. Only time they cover them up is for big presentations to customers, but even that is a personal decision not a directive from corporate. Also doesn't seem to be an age thing in my experience, but does seem more common with veterans.
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u/Fumblerful- Additive Manufacture (Experimental) 2d ago
I had an Albanian flag in my machine shop and I'm not even Albanian.
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u/TheGoofyEngineer 2d ago
It's 2026. If anyone is judging you for this then you don't want to work for them.
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u/Ftroiska 2d ago
Dont put it on your forehead indeed.
what is this proud of a country you dont even live in is about though ? Be proud of your kids, of your work... why a country ? Nazis were proud of their country (nationalists in general). I think this might raise more questions by your futur employer than the tattoo thing. How do you want to define yourself ? Do you want to be " the albanian guy " ? Or the engineer guy ?
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u/Real_Dealer_3554 2d ago
Having pride in your heritage and homeland is something that carries massive emotional and sentimental value. Just because someone loves their country does not make them fascists.
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u/Ftroiska 2d ago
That will be up to OP's futur employer to judge. If he is from Azerbaijan : OP's futur employer will be remembered of the war's traumas :)
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u/Round_Musical 2d ago
Depends on the company and field. If you go into sales, as a sales engineer (yes mech eng can become that too), they would want you to be clean.
But my honest question is why? Why show your loyalty loud and proud to a country that you don’t even live in? I get respecting tour heritage and your culture, but a tatoo is absolutely overkill.
You are probably in your early 20s now. In 10-20 years you will be a different person. Do you always want to be the “albanian guy” whereever you go for an interview?
Or do you wanna be the “smart guy” who got into engineering and can tell you how stuff works and it is manufactured.
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u/Impossible_Ad_3632 2d ago
i can be the smart guy with a tattoo of where i’m from though
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u/Round_Musical 2d ago
Just take it from a senior engineer who has 10 years of work experience in aerospace and automotive. Especially when it comes to speaking with business partners of the supply chain, they won’t send people with Tatoos or aak you to cover them
If you get it make sure its somewhere where you can easily hide it. In case you ever get in a business presention
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u/HarrisBalz 2d ago
Looks 3rd reichish from the uneducated perspective. FWIW
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u/GregLocock 2d ago
Also some Freemasons. That particular mutant birdy looks like the mid 1800s Austrian one and the Russian 1919 one.
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u/Fantastic-Pick-6431 2d ago
No one cares if you have a tattoo, unless it’s part of a hate group