Any mechanical engineers on here? Or engineers in general..

[jahimmelspach]

not to hijack the thread, but since there arnt to many Engineering threads. anyone with an ME on here want to chime in on if they have a PE license and if they use it? been thinking about going for it, but its hard to find other PE's to sign off under in the motorsports world...I assume @tokarzl either has a PE or works close with people who do. (My grandpa was a PE in Civil for the highway dept and MDot)
any advice would also help the OP i would assume.

 

[Joker]

Rose maybe you can get an unpaid internship for the summer worling with one of these companies. Definately something I would look into. It would be a really good spot to put your foot in the door.

 

[makejetskiinggreatagain]

Congrats on getting into MSOE and deciding on a path. I still don't know what I want to do when I "grow up", and I'm rearing up on 30 years old lol. Anyway, just my 2 cents. I work in the medical industry in a prototype machine shop. I'm lucky enough to get to be the first one involved in some of the most cutting edge surgical technology designed by some very talented engineers. They all love their job, and I forsee you loving yours as well. However, their ONLY regular complaint is that they don't get to do anything hands on...I mean ANYTHING. In my 6 years here, not one engineer has had the luxury of getting their hands dirty in the making of one of their projects, and its really unfortunate. I know this isn't the same everywhere and I am in NO WAY trying to discourage you, but my only advice as an outsider looking in would be to take a little bit of extra time when job hunting or in the course of your studies to find an industry (or a specific employer in your preferred industry) that has their company set up in a way that engineers are able to get their hands dirty once in a great while. After all, that's what you guys are wired for! Creation of amazing new ideas, and nothing is more exciting than shaping that idea you have into a product using your own hands.

 

[Roseand]

I have taken the extra time to consider that. As a company that sells and fixes landscape equipment, our business is highly affiliated with Briggs and Stratton so I know quite a few people there, and one of their plants I'd a couple miles away. The ceo of Briggs has met me because his son goes to my school, and he knows my dad and our shop pretty well, so I have somewhat of an in there.
But what I'm getting at is that I've talked and heard from some of the engineers there at different conventions and they talk about getting hands on experience testing out new stuff on tractors, etc. It really depends on what place you get into.

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[SuperJETT]

Just remember what you want to do now may not be what you want to do 20 years from now. Pick a direction, go with it, but remember you're not locked into it for life. A friend who passed away a while back was a lawyer but started out in engineering. In his late 30's he decided to go to law school while still working as an engineer, then ended up being partner in a law firm before he passed away in his late 40's.

 

[Roseand]

Very true Jett. That's definitely something I needed to hear! I'll try to remember that..


Back on to the Briggs and Stratton thing, a more descriptive example: Briggs owns simplicity, a landscape equipment brand, and one of their projects a couple years ago was to design a homeowner tractor built around having a rear suspension system. That was something they got to be hands on with, and definitely got to test the prototypes out.
Im not all about the hands on tho. Im very good with research, and I like improving things too..

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[Mark44]

I have 25 years in as mechanical design engineer in the food and radiopharmaceutical industry, I also have many years of hands on in machining welding forming and fabrication which has given be a large advantage over many mechanical engineers. I am now a global staff engineer for Nestle Purina with 43 factories around the world that I am the liaison too.

 

[Matt_E]

Engineering is for dorks!

 

[rashin]

I am a BSME from Purdue Univ. Ive been in the steel industry for many years. It's a cool industry to work in. You think a 1,000 hp car is impressive, then you see a 25,000 hp mill motor!

Ive seen many people I graduated with move to different industries and careers. There's lots you can do with your degree. If you have a knack for math and physics it's the way to go. You'll need a MBA and PE to make the six figure + salary... Make sure you take the FE exam in college when your mind is fresh!

 

[Joker]

Yo @rashin I go to Purdue also

 

[vshockey10]

The majority of my family are engineers - we have most fields covered, my grandma jokes we should start an engineering firm haha

I work for Gilbane Building Company in Milwaukee right now. I can see MSOE's campus from the 6th floor of the building we are working on.

My suggestion... get an internship as fast as you can. I learned more in my 3 internships with Gilbane prior to me graduating, than I think I did through school period. I have two cousins that did it a little different though as well. They took internships with different companies in different fields to find out what they wanted to go into for sure. Looking back on it I would have done that and not just did what my dad pushed me towards.

If you want help let me know I'm local

 

[Roseand]

Good to hear! Yes, I definitely will get into an internship right when I can.

We'll have to talk more at the dell's freeride!

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[rashin]

Yo @rashin I go to Purdue also

It's a great school! Which campus?

 

[Joker]

west lafayette

 

[rashin]

Yep same here.

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[Kny21]

Engineering is for dorks!

Accounting is for dorks, Engineering is for cooler dorks

 

[Matt_E]

^^Meh.

 

[Vumad]

~

 

[Matt_E]

I'm coming up on 30 and am a Fire Fighter. It's the "refuse to grow up" job.

Realistically speaking, I'm a very education professional that has above average work ethic and standards for job performance. I certainly have the potential to make a lot more money but I love my job. I was taking some classes towards Mechanical Engineering, but I'm knocking out some public safety degrees while I'm still young and in this field. I figure I have about 26 years to finish school so I can "retire" as an engineer.

I wouldn't bank on it. Once you are over 25-30, it can be very tough to get a job in engineering with what's basically "recent graduate" status.

Additionally, such a late career change poses financial challenges. You won't be 50 with 30 years experience, you'll be starting over with zero years relevant experience - and that starting salary is going to suck compared to what you were doing before.

 

[BrightE's]

^^ Yup yup, unless you're coming back out from grad school after years in the industry.