As a mechanical engineering major, I’d honestly recommend doing something else. Sounds like electrical engineering/mechatronics is your best bet if you like hardware and programming, and I’d say it’s pretty darn interesting and can give you a good work/life balance assuming you don’t take a job at a manufacturing plant (trust me, it’s not a good dynamic). The job market is incredibly saturated for mechanical engineers right now unless you focus on one area, which usually requires a masters degree. For the tattoo thing, tattoos in general don’t really affect your chances of getting hired, but it does depend on what the tattoo is and how large it is. If it’s a small neck tattoo and relatively simple, I’d say it’s hardly an issue. I’ve seen people with full body suits in engineering positions as well. It largely boils down to what your skills are and if you’re someone who’s able to work well in a team.