Getting ahead with a GD&T cert? 2

[DeltaWing]

I recently graduated with a Masters in Aerospace Engineering (structural analysis emphasis), and I'm having a hell of a time finding a job. I believe this is largely due to my age (30) and complete lack of engineering experience. Would having a certification as a GD&T Technologist put me ahead of the pack? I know it's a highly regarded skill, and that the test is difficult to pass. Or is that not an appropriate cert for an entry-level engineer?

What about CAD certifications like CSWA? I have no CAD training because I switched to engineering after earning a BS in Physics, and CAD isn't usually taught at the graduate level. Should I focus on this instead? I get the feeling that not having Solidworks, Catia, etc on my resume is hurting me with HR departments.

Any other ideas about what I can do? I don't particularly want to continue with school and get a Ph.D. I just want to find some work.

 

[ctopher]

Since your education is "structural analysis emphasis", I think CAD/CAE would be the most useful in your line of work.
If you can, find minmum SolidWorks training, but CATIA may be more useful in AE.
Then go for GD&T if you have time.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[MiketheEngineer]

If you are "stuck" to a certain location that can be a problem. But I see jobs in your area all the time!! You just might have to move!.

 

[IRstuff]

I think that you'd need sufficient CAD to get your model into an analysis program, or was your structural analysis education strictly analytical?

The expectation would be that you know how to run NASTRAN, or equivalent, and to do that, you need sufficient CAD to be able to extract the components you need to analyze, crank a meshing program, and set up for a simulation.

That's assuming that's what you want to do.

GD&T would seem to be more appropriate if you are looking strictly for a design job.

I'm not sure you've given enough information to understand what you know, what you don't know, and what you want to do with your life.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[YoungTurk]

A full cert in GD&T doesn't get you much in the aircraft stress world. You're expected to understand the basics, but that is about it. I took the computer based ASME Y14.5 course, have it on my resume, and its only been mentioned a few times in a variety of interview situations, always in passing. GD&T profiency may be more emphasized on the design side.

Not knowing Catia or equivalent CAD is a big issue. Its hard/impossible for you to put even basic structural analysis skills to work if you can't navigate the engineering data well enough to understand what is being designed. Understand the GD&T aspects would also be nearly worthless without the CAD skills. I would suggest a simple Catia V5 course over a CAD certification course, it will be cheaper, faster, and probably more applicable.

I'm not sure how you fared with the Advanced Finite Element Analysis course from your previous post, but if you don't have any familiarity with standard FEA software that would be the next biggest issue, also more important than GD&T. This too, could be partially adressed with a simple course in the relevant software. I'd suggest something with the NASTRAN solver instead of ANSYS, such as Patran or Femap; ANSYS doesn't seem to get much play in the aerospace world. Elfini and Hypermesh are also popular in aerospace.

 

[KENAT]

What do you want to do in aerospace/engineering?

Let's assume you already have some FEA exposure.

If you want to be a more all round designer then for a first job generic Drafting skills will likely be of more use initially than in depth GD&T. In fact without general drafting skills and probably a good bit of experience I'd suspect jumping straight into in dept GD&T may be tricky.

If you can find a drafting course (that will almost certainly use one or more of the major CAD programs) that might be a good step. The trouble with CAD program specific training is they'll tend to show you what that CAD system can do, not necessarily how you should use it to create generically good models & drawings.

For a hardcore analysis position though you may not need awesome drafting skills, just some basic drawing reading and CAD modelling skills might be more appropriate.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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(probably not aimed specifically at you)
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[DeltaWing]

Thanks for the responses. I'll focus on CATIA and NASTRAN for now. It sounds like they're more relevant in the aerospace world.

Yeah, I'm interested in stress analysis. I've taken graduate courses in FEA and CFD, but they didn't go into the use of major software packages. It was mostly just an introduction to the fundamentals with relatively simple problems. I never took the ANSYS course I mentioned in the previous post.

One other thing: Would it be helpful to take the FE exam? Most of the stuff on it looks so elementary...

 

[KENAT]

May as well take it now while it's fresh. It probably won't be particularly useful in aero which is generally exempt but if it's easy/cheap to get it why not - you don't know what the future will hold.

Posting guidelines faq731-376

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

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

 

[ctopher]

I agree with KENAT, do it while it's fresh.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[moon161]

1st job is always hard, you're competing with experienced folk out of work as well.

Boeing is taking out banner ads for structurals on this site, you can find same on job boards. CAD Required, says it all. I think GD&T would be much more relevant to a mechanical designer or a mfg engineer.

I see some call for it in precision mechanical jobs in my area, aerospace hydraulic servoactuators, aerospace oxygen systems, death ejector racks.

IME, GD&T all takes place when the drawing is made instead of when the part is modeled. Except for hole fits & thermal expansion allowance, I'd place this well out of the structural world.

I saw the writing on the wall, solidworks is prevalent locally and spent a summer on it, did me right.