Best Ways/ Websites to Find Moonlighting Gigs 1

[boon123]

I am interested in finding a moonlighting gig as an electrical engineer with their PE stamp in California. What are some of the best ways about finding these gigs? Who should I reach out to? Are there any websites I can use to find these gigs?

 

[SectionIX]

Maybe Google "California Electrical Gigs?"

 

[Ron]

Be careful! You have some ethical and perhaps legal responsibilities to your employer when you consider moonlighting, particularly as a P.E.

 

[ZeroSeq]

I am a professional engineer and I do some minor work on the side. However, this work is generally unrelated to the work I do for my employer, I never use my company resources for anything, I do work only outside of the jurisdiction of my employer's work, and most importantly, I do not stamp anything ever. There are a lot of things to consider if you are trying to moonlight, as Ron said, and you definitely do not want your employer's insurance to get dragged into your moonlight work.

That being said, you also will not (or at least extremely unlikely) find any engineering work where the prospective client has deep enough pockets to pay market rates (hence why they are on a freelance site).
As a result, I take on some technical work at a greatly (about 50%) reduced rate ONLY because I do not take on any liability, and have zero overhead. In my deliverables, I explicitly state the work is to be reviewed by a licensed P.E. in the appropriate state, I do not stamp anything, and I never put in writing the work is done by a licensed engineer. To the freelance client, I am just a person who has vast technical knowledge in the areas they require.

Here are some sites that broker the freelance transactions. Usually a 10% commission fee is added.

http://www.elance.com

http://www.odesk.com

http://www.upwork.com

http://www.ideaconnection.com

 

[msquared48]

Ron has an excellent point to never forget. If you do this, make sure it is acceptable your employer, and that you are working in a market that is not competitive with that of your employer.

What market due you intend to pursue?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[boon123]

Thanks everyone for the input.

I was looking to do some construction plan reviewing and stamping as a PE.

Should I get something in writing from my employer approving my moonlighting?

ZeroSeq,

Do you have a lot of success on those freelance sites? They seem more tailored to software engineers. Do you use any other avenue of obtaining side gigs?

Thanks Guys!

 

[SectionIX]

Boon123,

The advice given this far with respect to not competing in your current market and letting your employer know your intentions to moonlight is spot-on.

Be aware that your current employer may not be pleased as they may see this as a distraction from your current position and may question your commitment to them. If your projects are delayed, or in their opinion not up to par for reasons outside your control, they may most likely attribute it to your second job. Right or wrong, I've seen this happen in the past, and it doesn't always end well. Also, your employment contract/policies may preclude moonlighting, another consideration to take into account.

Hopefully this works out good for you, but be careful.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Zero,

You raise an interesting point. To practice engineering, you need a P.E. You claim to practice the same work that requires a P.E., but you don't stamp it and request another P.E. do so... but I question the legality of such a tactic when it comes time to assign blame since you (as a P.E.) are held to a higher standard. Interesting conundrum...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[ZeroSeq]

OP:
I would find it exceedingly difficult to try and do engineering work within the same area (geographically and specialty) as my employer. I would rather just bring the work into my firm.
Regarding the freelance sites, I have found lots of work in areas that I have an interest in, but not within my specialty per se. It usually takes me a little bit of homework, but if I find something interesting, I'll be able to produce a valuable product for the client. You just have to keep your eyes open to interesting opportunities.

MacGyverS2000:
It is an interesting conundrum, which is why it is really important to vet the client and be cognizant of the type of work you are doing. Most of the work I do is internal to manufacturing processes and does not require a P.E. stamp. Where I engage in work requiring a stamp, the client is usually themselves a P.E. and they just need a little help from a technical standpoint. But, as you said, that does not completely relinquish your liability. Ensuring the work you do is as low risk as possible is an important step.

 

[oldestguy]

Remember in this business of engineering there are no secrets. The slightest mistake in the client relationships never can be hidden. Proper insurance is another important picture. I'd follow the advice of one above. Go out and bring in work for your firm instead. A small mistake in "moonlighting" might even cost you your job.

 

[MikeHalloran]

A long time ago, I knew a PC designer who worked for my company, and started moonlighting for another company nearby. The companies did not compete with each other in the product marketplace, only in the labor marketplace.

It happened that my company had some standard boilerplate prohibiting moonlighting, that the designer had signed when he started, and apparently forgot about or didn't read.

When the companies became aware of the situation, he lost both jobs.

;-----

Much longer ago, I worked for a tiny spinoff of a big multinational.
One of the multinational's designers moonlighted for us, but we couldn't call him at work; we had to send a message via his wife, because he was scared of losing his job.
The multinational had a strict no-moonlighting policy, and was known to enforce it ruthlessly.
The designer signed his drawings for us with only his initials.

The designer didn't know that his immediate supervisor also moonlighted for us.
The supervisor signed his drawings with the initials 'WK' for 'Who Knows', since his initials were unique enough to be possibly identifiable.






Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA