Need advice from US stress Engineers

[IonPro]

I'm a stress engineer with non-US experience (just under 7 years) and thinking about trying out the major OEMs in the states on contract.

Since there seem to be endless amount of work in the states based on all the postings I see, I think I may very well be in a position to be selective for once.

Can fellow members here share their contract experience at the big companies (Boeing, Gulfstream, Airbus NA, etc) ?
How would you compare the work environment, work stress, company culture or anything else of interest to a newbie ?

Would love to get some insight !

Cheers

 

[rb1957]

what'd be your immigration status ?

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[IonPro]

I'd work under TN status.
Only interested in civil work so I presume lack of US status wouldn't be an issue?

Also, most of my experience is in interiors stress. Would it be tough to move to primary structures with only 2-3 years of fuselage & wing stress+fatigue experience. Exp is a combination of hand calcs / Excel / Patran and OEM software like ISAMI for sizing and repairs. Not much MRB exp.

Are US-based OEMs using more internal prop. software or is it more traditional methods for justification?

 

[rb1957]

to get a TN visa you need to have a job first, and professional qualification (your local region, not where the job is) and accredited university.

i've used the TN route several times, when working under contract in the US. I'd suggest getting a contract job first (i don't think you can have a permanent job with a TN visa). The agency should help getting things sorted out. Once in you can start the green card process and then hopefully your contract work will be good enough for the OEM to offer you a full-time job.

civil work will be fine. interiors stress is one thing, maybe directing you towards specialised interiors manufacturers. i'd suggest first moving to systems stress and then onto primary structures.

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[IonPro]

I have an accredited engineering degree from a Canadian university with 60/40 Interiors/Primary Structures combination for stress, fatigue, some DTA and wind milling (for Airbus product line). No systems stress experience.

I applied for a contract job in US and got an offer within 3 days but something personal came up and I couldn't go down.
Seems like it's not too difficult to get a job down south but in Canada, it seems impossible...! I have been applying to Toronto BBD facility for ages but never get a phone call back.

rb1957, do you work in Canada? What's the story?

 

[IonPro]

Mind you last time I applied in the states was mid 2013.
Maybe it was just hot season?

 

[rb1957]

i'm in Ontario (was wondering if you were north or south, TN applies to both NAFTA countries).

you'll also need your local version of PEO (Professional Engineers of Ontario) ... TN visas are Only for professionals (engineers, architects, ...).

i read you had interiors experience ... i was suggesting that systems stress might be a good transition to primary structures.

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[IonPro]

Thanks for your advice. Appreciate it.
I'm currently in Ontario too.
I don't have any engineering licenses besides a BSME degree.

 

[rb1957]

GL, but without PEO i don't think you qualify for TN visa.

interiors experience ... working in Peterborough ?

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[IonPro]

Nope, never worked in Ontario

 

[rb1957]

sorry, assumed from "i'm in ontario"

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