Mech/Aero to Subsea (UK) - Career Change

[AeroNucDef]

Hi all

I'm currently working as an engineer for a small mechanical/aerospace company here in the UK, but the future of the company does not look so good.

I've been an engineer for 15 years, lots of hands-on experience, good CAD skills, FEA...

So I've been thinking about working in the Subsea/Offshore sector (seems to have plenty of jobs) and I need to know, what kind of skills do you need in subsea? Is it difficult to change from one industry to another?

Some of the jobs that I have been looking at are, Subsea Design Engineer, Structural Design, Intervention Engineer.

thanks

 

[Ussuri]

A lot of your skills are probably transferable. Most of the engineers I work with started out in a different industry (Civil, Mechanical, Aerospace, Naval Arch, Electrical to name a few) and just seem to have drifted into the industry. Some of the subsea contractors actively recruit engineers from other industries.

The subsea sector is beginning to show a downturn with the effects probably beginning to show themselves in 2010/2011. There are certainly redundancies being made within the industry at present.

You dont state what your looking for, but generally the engineers fall into two catagories Project or Discipline. Project Engineers are responsible for working out how to do the job, writing the procedures and method statements, sourcing the materials and equipment, and finally going offshore and doing it. I always draw parallels with a site engineer, less technical more management. The Discipline Engineers are the guys who do the calculations and designs, produce the reports and drawings. These include structural, pipelines, piping, flow assurance, controls.

 

[AeroNucDef]

Thanks Ussuri,

I'm probably going to apply for both Discipline Engineers and Projects Engineer jobs. There are parts of each job that I like.

I didn't realize that the subsea sector was going into a downturn. Thanks for this info, I will start looking into other industries.

 

[PeterStock]

I have a degree in Ocean Engineering. Currently I am working in aerospace, engineering skills are engineering skills, they do transfer. You just need to get the interview and wow them.

Peter Stockhausen
Senior Design Analyst (Checker)
Infotech Aerospace Services

http://www.infotechpr.net

 

[racookpe1978]

If you are actually "I want to fish" you've answered your own question: Underwater work seems to be attractive.

Ain't no difference bewteen aero-engineering and water engineering. One's a bit heavier than the other, but otherwise ...... 8<)

Personally, I'd rather keep the hot high pressure water in the pipe, rather than find ways to keep the cold high-pressure water outside of the pipe, but each to his own .... 8<)