HVAC JOB 1

[edoble]

Hey guys,

I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree in January 2011....I took the April FE test and found out that I have just passed.

I live in New York and I am currently looking for work. I see lots of positions available at MEP firms doing HVAC design. The only problem is I do not know anything in HVAC design. In school we had an online HVAC course and all I had to do was power point presentations, I did not really learn much.

Anyways, here is a rundown for a typical HVAC Engineer position.

* Individual with knowledge of HVAC systems
* Proficient in Auto CADD drafting system
* Experience with drafting steam and water systems
* Must be able to layout and coordinate systems
* Must be able to create fabrication sketches
* Experience in high rise apartment buildings a plus

Here is a rundown for a Mechanical Project Manager position:

* Individual with knowledge of HVAC systems
* Required to review revised contract drawings and determine changes and vendors/subcontractors involved
* Notify appropriate parties of changes
* Obtain estimates from parties and assemble proposal for extra work
* Review of requests for information from sub contractors. Attempt to answer if possible, or submit to consultants.
* Review of shop drawings from sub contractors for compliance with documents.
* Must have at least an OSHA 10 card
* Should have some computer knowledge

What would you guys suggest is a better move...design aspect or project management aspect...I do not have experience in anything...If I go on an interview is it OK to ask if there is training available or would I look stupid?

Thanks for your responses guys....looking forward to hearing from you professionals out there.

 

[edoble]

Also...I forgot to ask...what does it mean when companies say:

"Candidate needs to be able to conduct field surveys"

Where do I get training to conduct field surveys...school didnt teach much about HVAC...what a bummer because most Mechanical engineering jobs in New York are HVAC orientated....please help...I need some confidence and a paycheck to start paying off my loans!!!!

 

[berkshire]

edoble
Do you have an OSHA 10 card? A lot of companies are now requiring OSHA 40 cards for on site managers.
The number means you have received 10 or 40 hours of instruction in Occupational safety and health related training.
Once you have one it does not expire.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[MechEngNCPE]

I got my cad and ductwork/equipment selection experience through a paid internship, applying for a job you have no experience in will be tricky to say the least. As far as going straight into project management without any construction experience isn't going to happen. Sorry.

 

[DubMac]

You will be loking for an entry level position; nobody expects you to hit the ground running into one of these positions right out of school. If they do, they are cheating YOU out of the training you deserve.

Typically the project side requires a little experience in the industry; experience that would be gained at the design desk.

Although you will ride much faster up the learning curve at a smaller company, a larger firm will provide you much more thorough training; that is your choice to make.

If you are in NYC, go talk to Sy Levander or Gene Geyer over at Dolphin Eqpt. if they are still around. They are an HVAC rep firm and have been in the business of selling eqpt. to HVAC contractors for years. Just tell them your story, and ask them for some advice on how to proceed. They may know where an opening is or at least be willing to share a bit of there decades of knowledge. Won't cost you a thing to ask.

 

[edoble]

thanks for your replies guys...

I do not have an Osha Card...but I could easily get one

Also, I cannot seem to find any entry-level positions here in New York..all the positions ask for at least 1 year to two years of experience in design or construction.

A friend of mine suggested that I apply for a continuing education course in NYU (New York University). They offer a certificate for HVAC design...follow this link to get an idea of what they offer:

http://www.scps.nyu.edu/areas-of-st...tes/aec-certificates/hvac-systems-design.html

Do you guys think this is something I should pursue? Someone else told me that it is a waste of time and money because he says that once a company hires you they train you anyway....but I cant seem to find those type of companies.

Also, I am curious as to how well I need to know Autocad to get a position. I know all the basic commands is that enough, or do I need to be an advanced user?

 

[MechEngNCPE]

You would need to be familiar enough to do red to black markups, familiar with xrefs, mtext, and possibly 3D if they are using MEP versions which we do. Familiarity with piping and plumbing will also help you.

 

[edoble]

What do you mean by " red and white markups" ....anyone else have any professional advice on how I could land an entry level job?

 

[Drazen]

well, i would say you have good ground for improvement by being aware and admitting to yourself that you don't know much, while you don't really need to explicitly say that to potential employers.

what would i suggest may surprise you a little, but presents my best knowledge - none of proposed position is good for very new engineer.

sitting in design office from very beginning can deprive of real word picture and you can spend years in brushing yourself within some design procedures while not knowing for sure how things look/work.

the only exception to this is if design company is clever enough to send you to field work in your beginnings, to develop on-site design for construction based on concept design.

project management... people with good communication skills can achieve success here, your basic engineering knowledge will allow you to grasp some basics needed for coordination, but large hole in your experience will remain and will become even more bothering as you advance within project management.

"doing field surveys" should mean being able to conduct what supervising engineer normally do - so you cannot do that without experience.

if you cannot find design company as mentioned before, I would recommend that your organize your own apprenticeship. find employment at contractor, as specifier or field technician for one year at least.

that is best path possible in my personal opinion, but you need to save yourself to be dragged from engineering concepts, inclination of some hands-on professions.

arm yourself with good basic literature, like ashrae fundamentals, hvac equations, data and rules of thumb, wang's ac/r handbook and study it yourself as you work.

after one year you will be able to chose whatever you mentioned at beginning of your post, with good chances to provide superior performance for beginner.

 

[edoble]

Thanks Drazen...what do you mean by if the company is clever enough to send you to do field work in your beginings....i thought that there is no training in field work...its something that engineers should already be familiar with? Or do companies offer training in field work?

 

[imok2]

My advice is to find an HVACR Contracor eswho does service and constuction and inform him of your limatations and possible land a job as a learning application engineer and also take some classes on line in various service and contructions. While exposing your self to the service and construction people who actually do this type of work I have always maintained that all graduate Mechanical Engineers should be exposed to the actual field work for a minimum of at least 2 years with a General Contractor.

 

[DubMac]

Good avice above. I might add that you may want to look at manufacturers. Companies that build cooling towers, chillers, pumps, etc. all need engineers to work in design, application, etc.

Marley, BAC, York, Trane, Carrier, and host of other companies in the HVAC biz.

 

[Drazen]

edoble, some design companies put engineers in office, charge them with some design procedures which they grasp rather quickly and once they have pople able to work on some phase of design, they are not interested in their developments, and their knowledge stay very limited outside narrow field.

contractor jobs i mentioned as proposal for beginner do not need extensive training - your previous knowledge plus necessary introduction to work and than performing job procedures would get you achieve that.

and, as mentioned, do not forget about self-study, one level of it is necessary all the time, no company will gift you time for that.

so, you can recognize features of this small concept? literature study part of apprenticeship you can do yourself, and should do it, but site learning you cannot, and that is why you should find site work for your apprenticeship.

 

[edoble]

Thanks for all your help guys....your advice is invaluable...I started doing a WHOLE lot of reading on the HVAC topic and it seems there is much too know and understand...even the theories that are involved are tough too grasp...stuff like latent and sensible heat...dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures...humidity...CFM...and everything else.

For now I will continue to look for an entry level mechanical engineer job as well as continue to self study...

 

[MechEngNCPE]

Learn how to do problems on a psychrometric chart - ashrae has some good examples. That is the guts of HVAC. Remember sensible heat is heat without the moisture component, dry heat. Latent is the heat that the water in the air holds.

 

[DubMac]

Adding to what MechEngNCPE said, there are 2 excellent manuals you can get that are free handouts from Manufacturers:

Trane Air Conditioning Manual: they usually give it out if you attend a class of theirs (for Trane Reps and HVAC contractors). Has all of the psycrhometric charts with exercises, etc. Contact Trane or Trane rep to finagle one away.

Marley's "Fundamentals of Cooling Towers". One of the most complete books on evaporative cooling you'll find. Usually a handout from a Marley rep or Marley themselves (now SPX Cooling Technologies in Overland Park, KS)

These should be in every HVAC person's library; nice pleasure reading to cozy up next to a fire with.

 

[edoble]

Thanks for all of your help guys. You have given me a really clear path as to what I need to focus on to succeed in this industry.

But I still have another question. What does it entail when you have to survey existing mechanical systems for buildings? What do you need to know to do these surveys accurately.

Thanks for your replies.

 

[ChrisConley]

Don't forget to apply for the jobs looking for a year or two of experience. I got my first job in consulting by misreading the job application. I had a few years in manufacturing (air handling equipment) and sales. I read the application, didn't notice they were looking for 7-15 years in consulting, they liked my resume and my interview and offered me my first job in consulting.