calling all mechanical engineers

[qwerty15]

Im looking into a career in mechanical engineering and i know there are some of you on this website. I would like to know as much about it as i can to see if i would like it. Im already designing a small bulldozer like the magnatrac. I want to end up designing tractors or construction equipment that would compete with the big brands. What is your typical work day like? Is the job stressful and does it require traveling? What do you like and hate about being an engineer? I enjoy math and science. What should i expect for an average salary if i had a PHd in engineering. Are there any websites that would be helpful? Thanks in advance
Frank

 

[hazmat]

Frank,

Where to begin????

First, let me congratulate you on your rebuilt kohler.

I work for a defense contractor (Raytheon). I spend most days sitting in my cube in front of the computer. I AM DILBERT!!!! Read the cartoon, it is very accurate (at least at large companies).

My previous job, I worked for a company that built ambulances. I traveled a bit more, actually interacted with several customers, & was on the production floor everyday. Downside? It was in New Jersey, I missed New England & my family.

Stress & travel depend on the project & the "project team" at a big company, sometimes you get farmed around and aren't doing work for your actual "boss" This can be a bad thing if the new boss is a jerk.

I like solving problems, I hate the red tape.

Salary varies by industry, economy & location. Contact your local university, they should be able to tell you starting salaries. If you are working in industry, typically a masters degree is your best bang for the buck, if you are in academics, PHD.

Check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.asme.org>American Society of Mechanical Engineers</A>

Ask your guidance counselor about summer programs. I know its a little nerdy. but I did one (way back when) at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rose-hulman.edu/> Rose-Hulman </A> for three weeks after my junior year in high school.

Sounds like you want to work at your own company? I'd suggest trying to get a job in the industry first & trying it out. The smaller the company you work for, the more you will be exposed to at an entry level (less layers of management). Ambulance company had 100 employees. I can't keep track of how many Raytheon has. They keep merging & spinning off etc divisions. Something like 40,000.

 

[RobS]

That's a tough question to answer Frank, kind of like "what kind of tractor should I get?" Here's a couple of random thoughts on the subject...

ME is perhaps one of the most flexible of the engineering professions. You will find ME positions available in nearly every industry. You can work in a product design area (such as you are with designing a dozer) or a process design area. Most people overlook the fact that virtually every product available to mankind is processed in some fashion and engineers are behind a lot of that processing and manufacturing equipment.

Jobs can vary from sitting at a tube 40 hours a week to lots of travel. You can be travelling to customers, suppliers, sister companies or ??? There is typically a technical career path or a managerial career path to follow.

Good thing you like math. I don't use as much of it on the job, but the math requirements through school are pretty gruelling.

Salaries vary as much as the job variety. Did I mention there are large company opportunities as well as small and even "be your own boss" one person jobs (consulting mostly). Phds in Engineering are pretty rare in my area but you will find a lot of positions in academia as well as research arms of larger companies.

I'm in automotive which is probably vaguely similar to the heavy equipment field. Love it, even with all the politics and beauracracy. Never a dull moment!

As far as websites, try the engineering schools you may be interested in (Purdue comes to mind!). Try some companies that you are interested in, many have internet job postings to look at and talk to as many of us in the field as you can.

BTW, what level are you in school now? Good luck /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

<font color=blue>As far as websites, try the engineering schools you may be interested in (Purdue comes to mind!). </font color=blue>

No way, check out Cornell <font color=red>GO BIG RED</font color=red>

 

[RobS]

Oh Haz, you have so much to learn /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Actually, I find myself in a precarious situation lately. Both my sons (only 8 & 3) are showing technical tendencies. Of course I would be proud to have them follow in my footsteps as a Boilermaker but with our move to Michigan I have to consider the finances of it all. Michigan has several well respected engineering schools with U of M seeming to be the premier (OK, maybe Kettering). Unfortunately, U of M in-state rates are nearly as much as Purdue out-of-state. This could be an expensive move for me /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

On a different note, I was quite the black sheep in my college choice. My parents both went to IU, my three sisters all went to IU, my dad taught at IU and I went to Purdue. At least I didn't have to put up with many pesky parental visits /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

Back to Frank's topic... As Hazmat indicated, you may be better off working a bit for an established company even if your dream is to be on your own. It would be a great way to develop work practices and a network to count on and a steady income sure beats wondering if you'll have a rent money next month. Also, work life is a far cry from anything you'll learn in school. This was quite a shock to me upon graduation as none of my family had any experience to share in engineering industry. My biggest critisism of engineering school at the time was the lack of training in business practices. My advice: Use some of your free electives to take a basic management class and for your personal well-being take a personal finance class. I tried to be a hero and filled my school schedule up with all sorts of advanced engineering courses that I have long forgotten. Had to pick up the "life skills" on my own, mostly the hard way.

I'll add more random thoughts as they occur, which is mostly how they do occur lately /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

<font color=red>Definitely go for the degree!!! </font color=red>

I'm not, and it's truly putting a ceiling on my aspirations (so, back to Penn State to finish the Business degree).

The main thing you'll need the degree for is getting that initial interview. In my field (Quality Engineering/Supervision) in automotive, you won't learn much of what you'll need in college...it'll be on the job. You want to learn CAD (ProE seems to be the biggie today) and project management. Most automotive engineers I've dealt with have a lot to learn about processes and manufacturability. Designing is but one part of the equation.

Now, designing your own tractor is just a small part of the job. You'll need to know how to assemble your product in a cost effective manner. You'll need a network of dealers to sell and maintain your product.
This isn't a one man operation. Modern manufacturing is truly a team effort to be successful.

So, you'll need to know how to deal with people you'd really like to strangle. If you read Dilbert...that's your future, bucko!

Then..it's government regulations to deal with <sigh!>...another thrilling undertaking.

So, as others have said..try to get into a major manufacturer first. Maybe even intern during college.

Now, a little rain on your parade...it's an unfortunate (and likely devastating to this country in the long term) fact that heavy manufacturing is moving out of the United States. I don't expect this trend to cease in the near future.

By the way, my company makes the hinge pins (you know, the things you grease on your FEL) for the big Caterpillar equipment

 

[RobS]

<font color=blue>Now, designing your own tractor is just a small part of the job. You'll need to know how to assemble your product in a cost effective manner. You'll need a network of dealers to sell and maintain your product.
This isn't a one man operation. Modern manufacturing is truly a team effort to be successful.</font color=blue>

That's a great point Roy. Today's environment is very interactive. Years ago the individual contributor was highly regarded, and rewarded accordingly. These days (at least in automotive, and likely in heavy equipment) your ability to interact with others is a tremendous asset. If you are the design engineer you will interact with suppliers, quality, purchasing, sales, marketing not to mention manufacturing. It's a balancing act to keep the system in harmony. Too much design margin and everyone is after you for costs. Too much cost pressure and you won't pass your certification tests. It's sad, but the role of the technical expert is becoming passé in our business.

Now Frank, before you get all disillusioned realize this may not be the case in other fields/technologies. Particularly emerging technologies where the role of the expert may still be highly regarded. And even in my field, the challenges of maintaining that harmony are very satisfying (and rewarding). One of our favorite catch phrases is the auto manufacturers want aerospace technology at commodity pricing. Not too far from the truth, and part of the overall challenge /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RobS]

Oh, and one more point... Definitely go for the full up degree. My company, and most others in my field draw a line at a four year engineering degree. That's your passport. We have people much more qualified but with only two year degrees or four year engineering technology degrees. Unfortunately, those people don't make much more than the high school grads even though many can out-engineer some of the full-up engineers. It's not necessarily fair, but that's the way it is so do everything you can to get that four year engineering degree /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[rationalizer]

Lots of good thoughts on the posts above. I work at one of the big three (two) - and you are right that we want aerospace engineering at commodity prices. Actually - we want better than aerospace - seen what's inside the shuttle?!

A few thoughts I'd add. I've worked in the auto industry for 20 years - and I've smiled on my way to work most days. The product and people are fun. I suspect that machinery etc. would be fun to work on too. The comments about "learning on the job" are accurate. For your first job - look carefully for a position where the company stresses training and learning - not just "number crunching"/"tube jockeying". We have a 2+ year training program so that people can try many jobs before finding a "home".

I also agree with the comments about having a business background. I got an MBA after a few years of engineering as a lot of my work ended up being managing my suppliers. But - don't think you have to - the larger the firm the more you can specialize. The smaller firms need people who can do everything. I think really small firms can be very stressful - if you are always on the brink financially. Larger firms tend to be more "stable" - but there are no guarantees...

One last thought - don't bother getting a PhD if you want to be a working engineer. You know the saying - after a bachelors degree you know a little about a lot, after a masters you know a lot about a little, and after a PhD you know everything about nothing....

Enjoy - its a fun road to travel.

Bill

 

[budman72]

ROBS,

I have to agree / disagree with you. I have a BSMET and earn as much as BSMEs in my company (I work in the industrial/medical gas industry - liquid oxygen, nitrogen, argon). If I had to do it over again I probably would have gone for the BSME, it probably opens a few more doors and nobody will ask "whats a BSMET?"

I would question the PhD in engineering, a better combo would be the BS / MBA. I got my MBA a couple years ago mostly for personal growth, it didn't make any difference in my career - I would have to move back to Houston (no #*&*@ way!) to get any benefit out of it in my industry.