Experience under an Engineer

[tolind]

I'm in a certain situation and I'd like some advice from professionals out there. I've worked for a small architectural firm for 8 years. Most if this time I was in college obtaining a BS in civil engineering. I trained under their in house engineer that wasn't liscenced. Almost three years ago I graduated, passed the EIT, and about 3 months later their in-house-engineer retired. Since then I have been doing mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering on a lot of the projects that pass through the firm.

In order to become liscenced I have to work with 3 engineers over a period of 3 years. Up to this point I've had little to no contact. I'm had discussions with my employeer and he says they are looking to hire someone but that it just hasn't worked out yet.

I like the work I do, wearing the different hats, but I don't have the condfidence that would come from learning under an actual engineer. If I don't know how to determine things I have to stick my nose in a book and it seems like it's a waste of time to the project, whereas this is probably something someone else could know off the top of their head.

I guess my question is what should I do. Make demands, leave, don't worry about it, or bide my time some more? I don't feel trapped exactly but at times I feel a little held back. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[NCCaryME]

In North Carolina, the PE License application requires your references to be "Individuals familiar with your work, character and reputation, and to whom you have distributed Reference Forms. ... For PE licensure, 5 references are required – 2 must be Professional Engineers." The way I read this, the references don't have to be engineers you've worked under, just ones familiar with your work and character. In your time at this firm, have you worked with clients or other firms who know you and your work well enough to be a reference?

This doesn't answer your question about the experience gained working under an experienced engineer. I agree with you, having been in both situations, working under a more experienced licensed engineer is a much quicker way to gain the confidence you want. It is certainly not the only way, though, so the question may be how patient are you?

 

[bushel3]

I am an EIT and I work in a small company w/ three P.E.s. and two EITs. I think it has been extremely valuable to work under their supervision because they see stuff that isn't in the books I read. Most of that is due to the fact that they've worked in the field for so long. They see more of the whole problem and not just how to calculate something.

The other point with that, is having more than one person to toss ideas around is always good. I have taught the PE's at my company a few things because I'm a different person w/ different ideas. A fresh perspective is always good.

It would probably be wise to work with someone with some more experience to develope into a more complete engineer who is able to see more sides of every problem. How to best go about that, I'm not really sure.

 

[JAE]

As an example, for Michigan, the board states:

All applicants must provide verification of at least 4 years of acceptable engineering work experience obtained after having received an acceptable bachelors degree. Work experience must be verified by five persons, three of whom must be licensed professional engineers.

So to get three PE's to VERIFY your work experience, they will have to have positively known what work you did for the four years.

Also keep in mind that many other states in the US require work UNDER a PE for four years so getting comity licenses in these other states someday may be a problem if you don't work under a PE.

 

[NickelMet]

Tolind:

Do you have a local chapter of NSPE (national society of professional engineers) that you can go to for information?

I, myself, did not work UNDER a PE for the period of time between passing the EIT and taking the PE exam. But, I was able to use PE's that were aware of my work and my character to vouch for me. If that were your case, that you could use PE's that were aware of those items, you might be able to use PE references from peers in professional societies. (Just have to be sure of your state requirements as JAE and Naygoo point out.)

~NiM

 

[CptHk]

I am in a similar situation that I have just started to look around at my different options. I have been working for over 7 years and just last year took and passed the FE.

I talked to my boss about my states requirements for me to get a P.E. and the fact that I need more training/supervision/mentoring. I think they were not genuine when they expressed interest to help me out, because nothing has changed since the talk.

When the boss says they are looking to hire someone but it has not worked out yet, you should try to find out from their actions if they mean it or that they like that you do a good enough job for the price and they don't want to pay more money for the PE. I think I know what the case is for me.

Let me know how it worked out for you.