How is it to be and engineer out of Brazil

[Gustavo Silvano]

Hello there!

My name is Gustavo, and I'm from Brazil. I'm an electrical engineer here, but I'm currently working on a steelmill plant. So I'm currently on the industrial sector, and an engineer at this sector is normally turned to work at improvement on the process, study the process and other stuffs not so related to electricity.
And a normal behavior that is expected for an engineer is to be most in front of the computer, and not to use tools and work on the field as a mechanic and electrician.

My question is, is it same to be an engineer out of Brazil? Or is it more comumn to see then at the field working side by side with mechanics?
And is it normal to see an electrical engineer working at industries, doing jobs related to the process it self?

Best regards!

Gustavo

 

[IRstuff]

If that is what you want to do. Typically, though, a degree in electrical engineering is usually focussed on design.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

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[Lomarandil]

In the US, many electrical (power) engineers work for consulting engineering firms. They may get out of the office for inspection visits or commissioning, but certainly most of their time is spent in front of a computer.

 

[Gustavo Silvano]

But is it usual for an electrical engineer to work on industries? Like a steelmill or mining industry.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

Electrical engineers do work at commercial electric generating stations (plants). The projects they work on may require knowledge and skills other than traditional electrical engineering subjects.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

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[21121956]

Hello everybody:

Gustavo, in addition to office work in front of a computer, you can also work as an electrical engineer doing maintenance, for example in electric power generating plants, whether hydraulic, thermal, nuclear, solar, wind, etc. The world of maintenance is really exciting, always learning something every day.

El que no puede andar, se sienta.

 

[21121956]

Hello everybody:

One more thing, Gustavo, what I wrote in my previous post is valid in Brazil or wherever you go on the globe.

El que no puede andar, se sienta.

 

[controlnovice]

Yes, it is VERY common for Electrical Engineers to work in all industries.

When I started, I was a EE for a small unit of a major refinery in a plant. There were probably 12 Electrical Engineers in the plant.

They had 138kv coming in the plant with 12kv and 5kv distribution with 5kv and 480v motors, motor controls, MCCs, substations,synch motors, controls...the works. We handled everything from new design, system studies and small projects...not all necessarily electrical in nature, but usually (Sitting at the computer), to investigating issues in the field, side by side with the electricians....sometimes at 2am!

Did not work with any tools because it was a union plant.

So yes, you can do both when working in a plant and there are many opportunities to learn doing maintenance, even if not using tools...

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[Gustavo Silvano]

Thanks for your replys.

controlnovice, what is a union plant? Is a plant that the state is the owner?
And where do you work?

 

[controlnovice]

A "union plant" is a term used for a facility (or plant) that uses workers (labourers) that are members of an association called a union. I think it is associacao or coligacao in Portuguese. The union members are generally the labourers: electricians, mechanics, plumbers, operators. Engineers and Management and other support groups are generally not part of the union.

My previous reference to a union plant is that if you are not part of the union, you cannot work with tools. In addition, a mechanic cannot work on electrical items and an electrician cannot work on mechanical things. No matter how small. This makes sure the person doing the work has the proper training for the job. This also protects the workers jobs by only allowing them to work in their discipline....and nobody else.

So, in a union plant, an engineer cannot remove a wire to check the circuit, or use a volt meter to check voltage, or tighten a loose bolt they see. They have to get a union person to do that.

You asked about working in the field with tools. In the US, if it is a union plant, you cannot. I have worked for companies where I was in the head office doing design work, then would visit the plants for the startup of new or redesigned plants. The last two companies the plants were non union, and I worked closely with the electricians and they would let me (or didn't complain or mind) do light work with tools.

I've worked in a refinery, air plants, and the chemical sector (resins, plastics, adhesives, coatings). My work now is electrical, instrument and control system design in an office, with visits to the site for documentation, information gathering, commissioning and startup support. In this position, I'm not suppose to be working with tools, but it depends on the customer if they need additional help in that area.

I think in today's job market (in the US), you may not be doing what you were trained for...but you have a job.

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