Do engineers work with their hands a lot? 2

[manicmonkie]

Hi, I am currently thinking about starting an engineering degree in the fall. I was wondering if mechanical or electrical engineers get to work with their hands a lot or if they do more computational kinds of work. Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[JStephen]

I'm sure it varies depending on what you do. My job, at least, is almost 100% paper-related, not necessarily all calculation-type stuff, but in no way related to being a mechanic. The "hands on" people at my company are welders.

 

[ctopher]

It depends on the job and the company.
I was an Automation Engineer at a major aircraft company. We got to work with our hands alot connecting cables, testing components on machinery, and programming CNC controllers. Very fun work IMO.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[GregLocock]

I used to instrument cars as part of my job, although my most recent mechanic did most of that and was very good at it. Now I sit on a computer or at meetings all day, except for once every couple of weeks when I go driving at the proving ground.



Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Tunalover]

manicmonkie-
I think the gist is that MOST (but certainly not ALL) engineers don't get much chance to work with their hands. This probably has to do with the fact that management would prefer to use them more for their minds than for their manual dexterity. This is strictly based on my observations. As a design engineer, I spend most of my time doing layout design on CAD, checking (and drafting) drawings, attending meetings, communicating with vendors, and defining (and interpreting) design requirements. Prototyping is normally done by a few skilled technicians with the engineer providing the information.

As I said, MOST but certainly not ALL. It all depends on what you do and where you work.


Tunalover

 

[IRstuff]

Depends on the job.

Some engineers are required t oarry a project through from start to finish. This means doing the requirements analysis, design, and following through to the test and integration of the design. In some cases, additional re-work of the design is necessary to put the product into production.

TTFN

 

[SomeYahoo]

I think that a lot of it has to do with the size of the company. I have worked at smaller companies or divisions in my (albeit short) career. Seems that at smaller companies, there tends to be a shortage of resources to apply towards testing, etc. When you can't find someone of a lower pay grade with the ability to do the job at hand, you end up doing it yourself. This can be good or bad depending on your opinion, but I certainly enjoy it.

Also, when a project due date is approaching quickly and the folks on the floor can't/won't stay late, I end up putting long hours in to get it done.

That's my experience anyway.

 

[NickE]

I work primarily in prototyping, although I am not a mechanical engineer. On prototypes I've had to do everything from design using SW all the way through to production of the prototype test pieces. This I think is more common since I work in a small individualized division of a very large company.

My work ranges from whole days writing reports and doing calcs. to whole days with the overalls on and re-building various machines.

Another thing I'd like to mention is that you have to be careful, after a company sees that you are willing to work with your hands you might get identified as a technician, even if you have a couple of engineering degrees. Thats HR for you.

It may be that metallurgists tend to work with our hands more because we generally deal with things, wether doing failure analysis or testing in general.


Nick
I love materials science!

 

[monkeydog]

Like everyone else has said, depends on the job. There are engineers at my company/location that do project management, design on a CADS system, and hardly ever see hardware. There are engineers that work in a Failure Analysis Lab that see broken hardware all day. They spend 90% of the day hands on the hardware, and 10% writing reports, meetings etc. And there are engineers in the middle.

 

[byrdj]

The engineering degree was required for the power generagtion field service engineering job I statrted with. For those that shyed away from hands on, the move was into the office.

 

[AndrewUK]

as before depends on your field I guess, as I design engineer I hardly ever got my hands 'dirty' as a process engineer I often do. Proving methods and knowing how to service and fixing machines can help you get the most out of them.

 

[griffengm]

manicmonkie,
After reading the previous posts and reflecting on my own experiences, I must state that it is a function of hats and tradition. The more hats you wear the more likely you are to work with your hands.
Tradition is a little less obvious. In some companies there has developed an attitude that "I became an engineer(could be accountant, HR professional, Programmer, etc.) so I would not need to get my hands dirty!" Some of this attitude is tied to the country in question. Professionals are the elite and both upper and lower levels know where the boundaries lie.
In others situations, especially in smaller companies where the founder got his hands dirty to build the company, dirty hands are expected and encouraged. Some of this can be ascertained when interviewing by listening to the stories of the founding of the firm. At least two of my former bosses felt that getting hands dirty improved communication between levels and strongly encouraged it. But then again, my affinity for companies that encourage it may be why I am not a ceo.

Good luck and know thyself.

Griffy

 

[bluesman0007]

Just adding my 2 cents, I have been very fortunate to have steady work for over 30 years in engineering. I've worked for a fortune 500 company to where I am now one of six employees. I am the CAD Designer/Engineer, and I design from customer concept, to cutting material on the saw, to welding, machining and assembly and occasionaly driving truck. Now granted in ninety degree weather I prefer to sit in my air conditioned office, but it's very satisfying seeing a project take shape and you have a "hand" in making it happen. I'll never be rich, but I have enjoyed my work. It has also helped me see the other side, when you're looking at a print and saying what dummy designed this,, and your name is on the print....

Dennis

 

[livingston]

In my experience, the best jobs are those that include a little of both. If your position doesn't explicitly require hands on work, do it anyway! It helps to establish a relationship with the guys whose positions do require the hands on work.

 

[zeusfaber]

In many large organisations, the answer is that you do less and less with your hands as you progress up through the ranks.

It may even get to the stage where the only thing that reminds you that you are at heart an engineer is that your colleagues approach their "management issues" in a much less logical manner than you.

That's the point where you search your soul and decide whether you're in it for the power and the money, or the fun and satisfaction of putting yet another one over on Mother Nature. There are some countries (the UK being one) where engineering doesn't often get the respect that allows power, money, and engineering creativity to sit easily in the samejob description

I never quite got round to turfing my rucsack of trials-gear out the back of my car, and am now wriggling to get back into a job where I can actually use it occasionally

A.

 

[gwolf]

Tough question to answer:

1) If you wish to be a hands on engineer with a professional qualification, even if you own your own company, you are highly unlikely to become rich enough that you never have to work again.

2) If you find something that you can do which you love, and which pays the bills, you will never have to work again in your life.

Regards,

Gwolf.

 

[drawoh]

manicmonkie,

Where I work, people complain that mechanical designers should assembly the stuff they design. I actually do not mind doing this, since I do learn stuff. My design work improves.

Quite a few years ago, they threatened to send me up in a helicopter with one of our systems. They probably were not completely happy with my response. I got a lecture about how incompetent the helicopter people were, and how helicopters are full of "Jesus bolts" and stuff.

I design a lot of optical alignment mechanism. I have never aligned an optical system. I would really like to.

JHG

 

[Cockroach]

I wash my hands more times than a surgeon.

My recommendation, if you design the piece, then assemble and test the prototype. This is the only sure way to validate slips and fits, potential field problems and prepare to write the necessary maintenance programs, possible repair kits, that sort of thing.

I have found it necessary to put Junior Engineers in the field for at least three (3) years. How else are you going to separate practical knowledge from theoretical?

Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

 

[IRstuff]

Helicopter rides can be quite an E-ticket, particularly in the front seat of a AH-1 Cobra.

I've decided that there needs to be a special HELL for designers of faucets and soap dispensers in bathrooms where the designers must spend eternity using their designs. Bleagh!

Clearly, if the designers of the pre-74 Camaro Z28 engine had been forced to change spark plugs a few times, there would have been some major changes.

TTFN

 

[unclesyd]

[IRstuff[/b],

If I can find it I had a wrench that was made purely by accident that made it relatively easy to get to the two back plugs on the right bank.
It was one of the long handle swivel head 3/8" ratchets that my stepson had used with a cheater and made about a 20° bend right where the forks begin that let it swivel. I got to point that I had to use the wrench in this condition and was amazed how I was able to get to the plugs on the Camero. It also worked extremely well on a Torino with the Cleveland engine except I had to cut the socket down about 3/8"