I am an engineer am I commiting career suicide? 1

[paulpatrick]

I am an engineer and have been offered a role as a mechanical designer. The pay is less but it permenent. I am working in a semi - permenenat role as/at contractor rates at the minute. I am bored but I am learning to live with it.

Is it a bad idea to take a role like this for me as an engineer. I can use other design packages but catia is what I will be expected to use.

 

[KENAT]

Take a look around the site, this comes up every now and then.

Some people very much look down on this kind of thing, especially the more analytical types. The theory being that designing things using CAD 'isn't real engineering', only crunching numbers is real engineering. Also, it may not count toward your PE (or equivalent) qualification, consider that and perhaps look into it.

However, if it's a job, you need a job, and your dream Engineering position isn't around the corner, then maybe for you in your situation it's a good idea.

Some people start in positions like this and evolve into more hardcore engineering. Others just become glorified CAD jockies.

Also don't get hung up about the term 'permanent'. In most situations there's not such thing as permanent. Direct with benefits or similar yes, however as the fortunes of the company vary, so does 'permenancy'. I've seen a lot of 'permanent' people let go over the last couple of years.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

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

 

[Pipeline1972]

you're obvious bored and looking for something else. I would go for the Catia gig. And if, later on, you see a jobs that fits you better, then you can move on, this time with Catia on your resume, as well as your motivation to work, btw! Because of bad management, i spent most of my years after college doing CAD, and only now am doing engineering work. I wasted a few years, sure, but i do have a strong background in CAD, and i'm grateful for that. I'm better at CAD than most designers, here in the office, and that gives me "some" authority in the matter.

Process - Piping
ing - EiT

 

[paulpatrick]

I have the degree already kenat what do you mean by PE? I will probably try and do some other course also to upgrade my skills, but i dont know what exactly. I was told if i aint a fan of bs and paperwork to specialis in an area like pnuematics hydraulics etc is this a good or bad idea ?

 

[MortenA]

Paul

Nothing in life is permanent - so i would consider the choise from two angles: Do i need the additional security apperently added from going into CAD design compared to the reduction in pay, and is it what you want to do?

The first will depend a lot on your age, mobility etc where others (e.g. family) may have a say.

Second is only for you to decide.

Best regards

Morten

 

[tygerdawg]

It may not be a bad thing. But you should ask yourself:

(1) Do you need this new gig to make your livelihood?

(2) What are your career goals?

That is: does this new gig fit into your career plan? and how will it look on your resume and how will you explain this during the NEXT interview?

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[PEDARRIN2]

I was an estimator for a plumbing contractor but had a degree in engineering. I took the job to learn the plumbing design side of the field.

Then the contractor got too many jobs and had to let me go from my estimating position. First time I was ever let go because of too much work.

So I took a position of driving one of his delivery trucks. That lasted about 9 months.

Came back into the office later as a buyer. That lasted about a year.

All this time I wanted a design position -= which I wasn't going to get from the contractor.

Finally, got one and been doing it about 7 years now.

Long story-short - staying employed while pursuing options is a way of staying busy, productive, and sane.

Keep it up until something more to your liking comes around.

 

[bk19702]

PE mean's "Professional Engineer". Obtaining you're PE certification requires, among other things, several years of verifiable engineering work experience. Whether or not the CAD work would count towards that was what Kenat was questioning.

 

[SomptingGuy]

PE is an American term. There may be something similar in your part of the World.

- Steve

 

[KENAT]

Yeah, PE (Professional Engineer) is the US term, Chartered Engineer is the UK term, not sure what Aus does if that's where you're from. Essentially they are some kind of license or similar. Whether you need it or not will depend on sector of industry and geographic location, in some combinations you cannot work as an ‘Engineer’ without it.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

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

 

[TheTick]

Now that you know what you don't want to do, you need to decide what you want to do. Otherwise, your career track will resemble the downward-bumping path of a pachinko ball.

 

[plasgears]

Caution. Managers love to put engineers 'on the board' in order to get two for one. This could be damaging to your engineering expertise.

I worked for a guy who did CAD, and he appeared to abandon the analytical side. One particularly weak looking design had a feature that I analyzed and presented to him. He ignored it, and the design failed during test. He dismissed it without any embarassment. This is bad performance for a guy who is a graduate engr.

 

[BigInch]

Cadd work normally would not count toward a PE in Texas. That counts double if the design fails.

**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[CameronE]

The equivalent to PE in Australia is CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer). Doing CAD isn't going to get you chartered. The examiners would most likely ask why you aren't applying for a CEngT (Chartered Engineering Technologist) - the design drafters version of CPEng.

 

[alejandroillini]

dude there is nothing wrong with being a glorifed cad monkey. The pay is the same as the other engineers I graduated with in college. I am happy were I am at I enjoy my work. Also I started as to work really low in the food chain. now I am a "glorifed cad monkey" (I am exagerating a little bit there is a bit more to it than that) My title is design engineer. Basicly taking a lesser job will not tie you to that position especially if you have other experience. It may change the direction of your career In future Jobs they may expect you to make your own drawings.
Just make sure you are happy at your job. If your happy and the pay is good and the benefits are good whoo really care if thats what you went to school for or if its the dream job of the freshmen you.

 

[sow]

I think that doing CAD for a while is an advantage for an engineer. It helps with practical design and helps to make you a more rounded engineer. I know a lot of CAD techs who earn more than engineers.

However I would think about how long I could do this before I was pigeonholed. What would employers think etc.

PS - what is the difference between permanant and contractor? Around 3 weeks notice in most places I know.

 

[BJC]

"The pay is less but it permenent."
There is no such thing as a "permenant" job.
It may have been truer in you fathers or grandfathers day, but "the future ain't what it us to be."