Describe your Job

[bradpa77]

I've been out of school for 4 years and I've been at the same company for the whole time. I sometimes wonder what it would be like in other engineering jobs. I sometimes think about leaving the company just to see firsthand what another job would be like, but that's not really a good reason to leave a good job. I was thinking that I am probably not the only person who is curious about other positions. If I could, I would job hop until I found a job I loved, but that wouldn't look good on a resume.

So I thought it would be a good idea for us to post a quick summary of our jobs. That way, us newbie engineers who haven't been around the real world can somewhat experience what kinds of jobs are out there for us (without having to spend years job hopping). I'll start with my own job.
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Education: BS Mechanical Engineering Technology
Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer
Industry: Turbomachinery (Compressors and Steam Turbines)

I spend most of my time using Pro/E and ANSYS. When I started, I did ALOT of Pro/E. I had to create models and drawings for components that were to be manufactured and used in shop orders. There was very little design to be done. Mostly, you would copy an existing model and apply predefined standards or rules to the new parts. The department was very specialized too. Each person had a component they always worked on. So for the first 2 years, that was how I earned a living. I was unhappy with it and I moved into an opening for R&D.

As an R&D engineer, I started to get involved with more interesting work. My first project was a product enhancement for our compressor line. It required a lot of creativity and involved a lot of the things I learned in school (dynamics, kinematics, stress analysis). I had to design a mechanism that would rotate a set of vanes in the inlet section of the compressor. It was by far my favorite assignment to date. I actually looked forward to working on it. I may be recieving a patent on the design also (we will see if it goes through).

Once that project was completed, I was moved to the steam turbine area of the R&D department. This is where I am currently working. The main goal of the steam turbine R&D is to create a larger more powerful steam turbine. Basically we are scaling up the already designed turbine stages. When they started me on the project, I was only doing Pro/E again. I was very close to leaving because I was so unhappy. I had a talk with my boss and he began to give me some FEA projects. I am currently doing FEA and stress analysis on steam turbine blades. The aerodynamic design of the blades is already complete. I just need to determine how fast we can rotate the larger blades without causing a failure due to the centripital force. It is better than plugging away at Pro/E all day, but it still gets boring from time to time. There really isn't any creativity involved. I just crunch the numbers and create writeups on the procedures and make graphs for the application engineers to use. Also, the blades are in a 2-D CAD package so the other half of my job is to model the old blades into Pro/E.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Education: BEng Mechanical Engineering
Industry: Automotive
Job Titles: Too many to list, but two main functions.

Job #1

I spent about 1/3 of my time setting up and carrying out NVH tests on vehicles (HP & LMS systems). About 1/3 of my time analysing them (Matlab) and the last 1/3 doing simulation work (ADAMS & own codes). Work was project based, with a typical project lasting between 6months and 2 years. Many client visits - loads of reports and presentations, even the odd conference paper. For a young chap, this was ideal. But then it started to feel like handle-turning, doing similar work for different clients. Or worse still, supervising juniors doing similar work (flat learning curve).

Job #2 (current job)

My daily engineering life now (I still regard myself as an engineer) involves writing and supporting engineering software. If you like a steep learning curve and aren't too bothered about politics and career climbing, it's good.

 

[PSE]

Education: BS Optical Engineering
Industry: Metrology Instrumentation (current)
Job Title(s): Like SomptingGuy, I'll list functions or priorities

Priority #1: Preservation of Cash Flow

Basically this involves doing whatever is needed to maximize line uptime. Troubleshooting products, processes, and equipment all fall here. "The (insert product) line is having problems, here you solve it".

Priority #2: Enhancement of Cash Flow

These are the cost reduction efforts. They can be through making assembly more efficient (automation, operator training, cell layout, facility layout), reducing material costs, model consolidation, to name a few.

Priority #3: New Product Introductions

This involves working to launch new products to the shop floor. Providing input to design on manufacturability, deciding on and designing production tooling and test equipment, getting the new product "loaded" into the MRP system. Build and test of prototypes as well as training of operators and process development fall here.

Other:

You end up being a resource for potentially many things including service support of (from a mfg standpoint) obsolete products still used by customers. The tools I use (or have used) Include AutoCad and ProE, various Optics design programs, and virtually all Microsoft office programs. Home grown test software utilities and statistics programs can also be thrown into the mix.

 

[Ussuri]

Education: BEng (Hons) Civil and Structural Engineering
Industry: Offshore Contracting
Job Title: Structural Engineer

This is a new job for me as I have only been here a year (prior to that I spent all my years after graduation at a large global consultant, doing all sorts) so i'll kinda explain what I do.

I work for an offshore contractor where we design and install all the subsea infrastructure for operators to transport their product (oil, gas, condensate). I work in the structural design department involved with all sorts of design aspects. These can be permenant works as part of an EPIC project, or temporary works required as an aid to installation.

I carry out design in accordance with British, American and Norwegian codes and standards. The design side of it is pretty much the same as buildings design. We design using steel mostly, occasionally concrete for protection structures. Never timber or masonry for obvious reasons. The main difference is the applied loadings, wave, current tidal, fishing boats, anchors, dynamics of lifting and installation. Also do modifications to our vessels as and when required to suit what ever we are overboarding.

In a nutshell I design and detail the structures to facilitate the installation of our products to ensure our client gets product flowing asap.

 

[LSA]

Education: BS Mechanical Engeering
Industry: HVAC consulting
Job title: Design Engineer

I work for a small consultant firm where we provide M.E.P (mechanical electrical plumbing) solutions to various construction projects. The scope of our projects range from small 500 sf tenant improvement to 50 story high rise new construction projects.

Being a design engineer, I provide mechanical solutions to our clients. Provide them with a HVAC system to meet their needs. Lately, I have been assigned as the specail projects guy....all projects that require special needs and applications.

My job is a very low tech type of engineering that involves alot of client interactions. MEETINGS....! Other than these 1 hour sessions of minute gatherings....i would say, I love what i do.

 

[flch95]

bradpa77,

that sounds like such a cool job. i really wouldn't mind doing design work like that, but then again, everything looks better than what i'm currently doing. lol!!