Engineering Field Work - I don't want to spend my life in the office

[123MB]

Hi All

I am hating my work arrangement at the moment since I am always in the office. I am a power systems / control systems engineer.

Fair enough I do site inspections once in a while but it is not enough.

Does anyone know of some general types of field engineering placements where I can leverage my qualification while ditching the desk and maybe hitting some manual work or intense field work?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Ships, yachts, and boats over ~30 feet, have extensive and often complicated power systems, most of which are troublesome enough to keep you busy and away from your desk.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

Just bear in mind that this would limit you to essentially doing field maintenance, as opposed to original engineering.

Another option would be to go for your PE, which would at least allow you to visit customer sites, etc., but ultimately, you'd need to go back to the office to do the engineering work.

Yet another option would be to look for short time contract work, possibly overseas. This might at least satisfy your novelty filter.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[davidbeach]

Substation engineering should get you out into the field often enough.

 

[bk11]

I work as an applications engineer for a substation products company. I spend a few weeks a year commissioning or troubleshooting in the field and the rest of the time in the office or speaking to customers in their office. It's a nice balance for me, although the field work has had to stop now I'm pregnant. I still get to play in our test lab though.

 

[oldfieldguy]

123MB--

Man, you're on your way to being a GOD!

Check out any NETA company. They're crying for degreed engineers with a love for field work.

Alternatively, many electrical utilities would love to have engineers who don't see going to the field as a slight on their lofty position in the universe.

"bk11" has another path.

good luck!

old field guy

 

[COEngineeer]

Uh.... I rather be in the office thank you. I've seen too many accidents on my previous job. Crane fell over, someone leg got ran over by a semi, my truck fell into a huge trench, etc. Sitting infront of puter everyday in the air conditioned room is not bad at all for me . I am not complaining.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[csd72]

Mobile telecommunications towers and rooftop sites need electrical engineers to design the power supplies and asess the existing supplies.

Lots of site surveys and inspections(up to 50%).

 

[djm883]

I work in the movable bridge industry for about 3 years and there is a good combination of field and office work. I'm not an electrical but for every inspection we have both mechanical and electrical on-site.

 

[ash9144]

Chemical plants and refineries are in need of good controls engineers and pay quite well. You would certainly get a lot of field time.

 

[ischgl99]

Find a company that sells industrial equipment, they usually need someone to design and/or commission the control systems and could be heavy on the field side. Some types of companies you might want to look into, pumps, blowers, fans, centrifuges. Another area could be a panel shop that also does the field installations.

 

[Eleceng01]

Another option is to find a high-voltage maintenance company to work for! They are all scrambling to find power systems engineers and when I worked for one, I was RARELY in the office. I only had a desk so people would have somewhere to leave messages while I was gone. You have to like the travel though since they go to many client plants, but it never gets boring.

 

[Zogzog]

OFG is right, a NETA company would love to have you. Heck, call me, I would love to have you.

 

[IRstuff]

Just be careful that you don't wind up doing technician work. A certain oil exploration company used to hire degreed engineers just to babysit and operate their equipment in the field. Which is OK, if that's all you ever want to do...

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[COEngineeer]

Yes.. I agree with what IRstuff said. A lot of goverment contracts specify that you must use "qualified" personels. So hire engineers to do things that HS graduates can do.

Never, but never question engineer's judgement

 

[123MB]

Thanks for all your replies, guys.

 

[PJones]

We design and build equipment for pulp mills. Not pretty, but it pays the bills. We're looking for an electrical engineer with PLC experience to design machines and go out for commissioning and start-up.

 

[MotorVib]

The company that I work for has been looking for feild engineer for open pit mining equpment for over 2 years now.

Chris

"In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics." Homer Simpson

 

[lowedogg]

become a commissioning agent

 

[GregLocock]

or a lumberjack

Cheers

Greg Locock

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