EE at equipment manufacturer

[HornTootinEE]

Have any of you EE's worked for equipment manufactures before-i.e. Case, John Deer, Vermeer, etc.?

If so, what did you do for them? I'm curious where an EE falls into one of those places.

Thanks

 

[hydroman247]

Anywhere. Like anything nowadays, electronics control everything from the engine to the springiness in the seat to the solenoid operated hydraulic spool valves.

 

[DRWeig]

It depends on your role there.

Big factories can be rewarding or miserable just like any other place. Manufacturing has many opportunities for an EE.

As a design engineer, you could design the electrical portions of the products and the controls that hydroman mentioned.

As a manufacturing engineer, you could be the process procedure person, the troubleshooting person, the electrical designer for new production equipment or expansion, or other functions.

If the plant is big, they might need a facility engineer. Those posts often go to EEs, but also MEs.

There are safety engineers, too. Inspect, report, inspect, report. Incident? Investigate, inspect, report.

They might need a compliance engineer. Make sure the product meets UL, gets CE, keeps records organized, deals with code issues and product liability.

In any of those entry-level cases, your first goal should be to work your way into engineering management. Then you can make PowerPoint presentations and attend meetings all day. The donuts are delicious.

Next, you should aim at plant engineer, director of engineering, or another top-level job in which somebody else makes all the PowerPoint shows for you before you attend the meetings. Executive-level meetings have much better donuts, and usually some mixed nuts and Halloween-size candy bars.

Finally, try to achieve chief engineer status. They'll only come to you for troubles that nobody else has been able to solve, or when there is disagreement between design and manufacturing. You'll also be available for engineering safety and ethical issues. The rest of your time is yours to decide. Pick your own projects to enhance efficiency, reliability, safety, or cost control. Make your own priorities. Write an occasional memo when needed to get buy-in and funding from the plant manager. Bask in the respect that you've earned.

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[HornTootinEE]

Goober Dave-

Do I sense a bit of expierience and cyinism or both in your response?

 

[DRWeig]

Yes, HornTootinEE, it's both.

But it wasn't meant to discourage you.

Just remember that some places are really good, and some places are more like the cynical side of my reply. Some places are way beyond that, too. It all depends on the people and the culture at the manufacturer.

I hope you land at a good one. As I described, the positions in which engineers are needed is diverse. Lots of opportunity there to move around and find the type of manufacturing engineering that suits you.

But I'm a realist who appreciates irony. At one manufacturer, our very best engineer got promoted a couple tiers up the org chart, so he was very isolated from the engineering work he used to do. He acquired the title Chief Whistlebritches by spending part of each day strolling through the plant with his hands in his pockets, whistling tunes. It made me laugh to know that he was getting payed about double the rate of us lowly folk who took care of meeting the company's goals while walking around and whistling. Many others didn't laugh, though. It wasn't good for morale.

Good luck! Be sure to read Dilbert every day, it's good for keeping the attitude right.





Best to you,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

 

[HornTootinEE]

Well, I'm currently a power guy with a PE that left a bad situation and landed myself in another one. I think I'm an idiot. Local equipment manufacturer is hiring engineers like crazy right now, and I'm thinking of applying, but not sure how my skills translate. one, not sure if it's work I'd enjoy or not (just don't know), and two I'm afraid I'd take a huge pay cut being relatively inexpierienced in that role.

 

[ScottyUK]

Globally electrical power engineers are in huge demand throughout generation, transmission and distribution. All the jobs in the sector can't be bad, and the demand for experienced people means that there is reasonable job security (or at least continuity of work) which I think will last at least until I retire. Your power skills would also transfer to oil & gas, mining, nuclear, steel, petrochem, perhaps big campus-type installations such as universities and hospitals too if you have distribution experience.

 

[HornTootinEE]

Well, I prefer to stay utility/power but have to keep all options on the table.

 

[lacajun]

Power EE types are in huge demand. Hard to go wrong with power.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[KENAT]

You could always interview, ask them what you'd be doing and see what happens. Not like you have to accept the job.

Our EE's do mostly circuit board magic, generally related to some kind of motion control, but we make a fancy type of microscope so not quite the same thing;-).

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[HornTootinEE]

It IS Hard to go wrong with power, and I really enjoy the work in most areas of power, but the cold fact is if I want to stay where I am geographically, the jobs are few and far between. But, I guess I just keep looking. Don't want to ruin a good direction because I can't tough out a crummy situation for a few more months.