Author Topic: Career Suggestions?  (Read 3484 times)

StudentEngineer

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Career Suggestions?
« on: October 21, 2016, 07:35:28 PM »
Hi everyone!
I'd like to get suggestions on possible career choices from you all.  I'll be graduating college here in the next fews years with a B.S. in mechanical engineering.  I've interned with a MEP consulting firm and have some knowledge of research (worked in a lab for 6 months, not too interested in repeating this).  I am very interested in energy and energy efficiencies.  Anything along the lines of increasing energy efficiencies for buildings or companies or dealing with production, transportation or consumption of energy.  Also I am a huge fan of Tesla and SpaceX but not sure that I would enjoy working on cars or rockets, maybe you know of specialized positions that could suit me.

So far I'm interested in:
Energy engineer
Tesla/Spacex?
Oilfield/petroleum stuff

Any all suggestions welcome! Thanks!

Cromacster

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2016, 07:56:18 PM »
This is sort of a really broad question with lots of different answers and not a whole lot of information to base a response on.

Reminds of the travel advice sketch from Tom Segura

Best advice I can give as an engineer myself is choose an industry that interests you.  If you like energy production or energy management, target energy companies Xcel energy is the one near me.  If you are more interested in building design and efficient energy usage target building design and architect firms. (TKDA and AMEC are big firms)

If you are not sure you would like working for Tesla or Spacex, checkout Hyperloop, which is Elon Musks highspeed train company.  But also remember working at these companies you are not designing cars or rockets per se.  Rather you will be desiging components or even just working with outside vendors getting them to design and build said components for you.
« Last Edit: October 24, 2016, 06:57:57 AM by Cromacster »

StudentEngineer

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2016, 10:04:53 PM »
Thanks Crom.  I see your point about the travel advice :p Maybe I should've asked what do the engineers here do for a living and the pros and cons of their work.  What type of engineer are you?

Goldielocks

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2016, 11:01:52 PM »
Look into suppliers of co generation equipment, or plants that run cogeneration.

So many growth opportunities, and using "green" energy to power your generator or your trash truck is really cool.   Even working with incinerator technology...?



StudentEngineer

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2016, 10:41:02 AM »
Look into suppliers of co generation equipment, or plants that run cogeneration.

So many growth opportunities, and using "green" energy to power your generator or your trash truck is really cool.   Even working with incinerator technology...?

Thanks Goldielocks!  That definitely looks interesting and I'll look into it in greater depth.  Any companies you could speak highly of?

Cromacster

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2016, 07:12:22 AM »
Thanks Crom.  I see your point about the travel advice :p Maybe I should've asked what do the engineers here do for a living and the pros and cons of their work.  What type of engineer are you?

I am a Mechanical Engineer, currently working for a large manufacturing company.  The group I work in is mainly a tier 2 automotive supplier, but the company as a whole isn't.

Pro's:  Large company resources in terms of r&d budgets, testing capabilities, smart people to discuss problems with.  Decent benefits.  Room to advance if you want to move into management.  Some hands on work and lab time, but wish there was more.

Con's: Being focused on supplying automotive related companies there is a lot of paperwork.  I mostly feel the amount of paperwork and documentation is good, but it gets tedious.  Large companies also seem to want to follow the industry in terms of benefits, especially annoying when they reduce benefits to "remain competitive to comparable employers".  FFS don't you want to be an industry leader to attract top talent?

I previously worked for one of the large airlines, which I enjoyed for the most part.  Still lots of tedious paperwork, but there were also maintenance issues where you figure out how to fix it asap.  Those moments were hands on and engaging.

For me personally, I enjoy engineering jobs where I am fighting fires and working with my hands.  So that's what I am focusing on for my next job.

HydroJim

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2016, 05:53:45 PM »
I'm about your age but I figured I may have some good advice. I'm currently in my 3rd year of my BSME and I've been interning pretty much constantly since my freshman year in the aerospace/defense industry. Here is where I've worked...

-(Part-time freshman year, unheard of company) Small satellite and airframe testing start up. I worked on enclosure design and electromechanical integration. It was fun as a freshman but wasn't technically challenging and I wasn't really learning anything so I moved on.

-(Full-time summer 2015, Medium name recognition) Fortune 500 "industrial" company. I worked in their Aerospace division helping design parts for Gas Turbines used in airplanes as well as power plants. I thought the work was very cool but to be honest, I worked with a bunch of boring old guys and just couldn't see myself working there for the rest of my life.

-(Part-time sophomore year, Global Brand) Airplane manufacturer. I was part of a program between my school and this company and the particular job sucked. My friends who still work there basically learn nothing. They are simply CAD and simulation monkeys. It certainly beat flipping burgers in terms of wages but I got out of there as fast as I could.

-(Full-time summer 2016,  part-time currently. Big Defense contractor) I take pride in my company and my work. I find the work to be technically challenging. I also work with a good mix of old and young people. I can definitely see myself worked here for a while.

My point in sharing this is that I think you're too early to know what YOU want to do. It's good to try to figure out what you want to do, but you need to get out there and try stuff before you can draw a conclusion. Coming into college, I wanted to work in the automotive industry. I briefed considered oil & gas as well. Our FSAE program was in shambles so I joined one of the more aerospace oriented clubs. I knew a ton about automobiles but learning all about rockets, missiles, and airplanes has been fascinating since I never had a big interest in these topics prior to college. These days, working on automobiles is my hobby and I'm okay with leaving it as just a hobby.

Blindsquirrel

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Re: Career Suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2016, 05:48:24 PM »
   Government. Cushy pension and very hard to get fired. They print the money or take it in in taxes so you are not subject to business cycle or conditions.
Pharmaceutical industry I also recommend. High margins and insulated a bunch from business boom and bust. Also, you can work on projects that matter a great deal to patients around the world. Two cents and worth half the price.