ME in LEED construction

[Gorpomon]

Hi,

I'm an ME with a few years of diverse experience, 1 year (currently) doing applications style work in wastewater (bolts, joints, pipes), 1 year automotive design prior, and before that 6 months interning in supplier quality for HVAC.

I'd love to work in doing either MEP for LEED certified construction or design in wind or solar.

The problem is, I've tried forever (a year actually) with NO luck getting in either. I'm sure both are hot right now with engineers my age, but still I'm sure there's something I can do to set myself apart.

It seems that for the wind/solar jobs I see, they want people with either an EE degree or lots of experience, new hire or junior engineering positions seem really rare. For the construction they seem to want lots of prior experience, again no new hire/junior level engineering postings.

Are there any suggestion for things an ME would need to do get into MEP for buildings (doesn't have to be LEED but that's my eventual goal) or doing wind/solar design?

I'm willing to get real creative here.

 

[MechEng2005]

Might want to think about a master's degree with a focus on this.

This field is still in the developmental stage. The way I see it, they want people that have demonstrated and gained a good amount of knowledge on the subject. You can't develop it further without already having a foundation. It sounds like you have about 2.5 years experience, so it will be awhile before you have "lots of experience" to compete for the jobs you're seeing. Going for the masters might provide you with the theoretical background that would be your "foundation" for this career.

Just my thoughts. I'm not in that industry and have no special insight. And I don't mean any disrespect about your level of experience, I don't have much more (and possibly less if you left details out!)

-- MechEng2005