Actual hands-on engineering

[HornTootinEE]

Does anyone have an opinion on what field or where to get actual, physical, hands on engineer expierience? Whether it's testing, breadboarding, fixing things, etc. Is there such a thing? I work in utilities, and if I were to do any true hands on I'd get slapped with a union grievance so fast it'd make your head spin. So my "field" engineering right now is nothing more than sitting at a desk then going into the field to watch work get done once in awhile. Any suggestions or guidance from the groupies out there on how to go forward? I have 4 yrs. expeirience and will be sitting for my PE in April, but not so sure that I'm a big fan of the power business like I thought I'd be.

 

[ctopher]

You can work with the union and ask them nicely if you can get a little hands on experience.
If they see that you are interested in learning their trade, they may let you in...more $ for them.
Discuss with your boss also.

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[MiketheEngineer]

And I hate to bring this up - but what if you get hurt doing "hands-on"?? Make sure you have corporate approval.

I LOVE hands-on - it truly is the only real way to learn - as I did - many years ago. I still stop and "watch" whenever possible. Sure, we engineers can draw anything - but then go try to build it. Sometimes - not possible or very expensive - where a minor change could have easily saved the day!! A good journeyman can show you some tricks you would never have thought of....

 

[looslib]

One place I worked took the design engineers and assigned them to the shop for a week to work on the assembly line to actually build the product. They said it was a good experience in seeing how the machines assembled.


"Wildfires are dangerous, hard to control, and economically catastrophic."

Ben Loosli

 

[tygerdawg]

As always, the question is really "what do you want to do?"

I received the majority of my experience in CAD- and non-CAD mech/elect/controls design, control systems programming, robotics, materials knowledge, automation, manufacturing/industrial engineering, machinery engineering, heat treating, injection molding, lean, facilities, six sigma, diplomacy, laser, supervisory, statistical, tolerance, sensors, patience, leadership, economic justification, pursuasion, simulation, business management, and a variety of other hard and soft skills at multiple assignments as a Manufacturing Engineer. The pay is substantially less than the more glamourous jobs in the pure design or research fields, but the opportunities are very broad. And you get to play with some of the coolest toys in the industry.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[ajack1]

Look at smaller companies, generally you are expected to “wear more hats” and they are less driven by unions and job titles.

R&D also usually offers greater variety.

 

[Twoballcane]

I think the best way to get the hands on is to build prototypes. I worked with one engineer that he made prototypes out of cardboard boxes (electronic packaging) and used rope for cable so that he can get a feel of how it will go together. Plus he was able to show off his full scale model at CDR which won over the customer.

Tobalcane
"If you avoid failure, you also avoid success."

 

[macmet]

I agree with Ajack. I worked at a small company and wore many hats. I did everything from painting equipment to taking apart pumps in our office, to spending months on site commissioning. I miss that job. I learnt a lot and everyday was different.

It gave me a specific job set which may or may not be good. I was laid off last year and I found any company that was interested in hiring me really wanted me, but those who weren't, wouldn't even consider me. Worked out nicely salary wise. I also think that even though I'm not even 30, I know a lot more about this industry than the typical engineer.

I liked the work, so I'm looking to get back, so I think it was good for me, but a couple of the other young engineers have had trouble moving into new areas when they tried.