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

[MegaManAU]

Awesome, I was in ME from 2001-2004, graduated AU with an Industrial Design degree in 2007, then got my masters in ID in 2013.

 

[RippinRob]

Looks like im waking up an old thread. I am currently a freshman at MSU for ME. I joined the FSAE team here and it was honestly one of the best decisions. Ive learned how to mill, lathe, weld and lay up prepreg carbon. Jetskiing has definitely lead me down this path though lol. There's good info in here though for any other younger people like me on the forums.

 

[MTRHEAD]

Keep it up! Learn all these skills and you will be light years ahead of your contemporaries with engineering degrees. 90% can’t change something like jets or wire a switch in the house!

 

[Balduccimoto]

Like mtrhead says, learning those skills are crucial in engineering. Let's call it "mechanical aptitude" Too many engineers that are designing, but don't know how things are actually constructed. And that shows in their designs .. "bull**** drawings" I like to call them.

Learn everything and have an open mind. I went to engineering school for mechanical engineering to create things and I had the expectations to do 3D solid modeling and designing cool things. After sending resumes everywhere I accidentally found myself in the construction industry doing coordination/shop drawings and I exceeded all expectations because I was great at understanding mechanical things and 3D modeling them. That led me into a job doing electrical design in high rise buildings (yeah, I went to school for mechanical) and I found a good electrical engineer to teach me design (its really easy, its all about knowing the codes/regulations). But people come to me for everything, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, CAD, BIM, etc. While i'm doing good for my circumstances, i'm at a point that I need to decide my next move because I never finished college. Maybe it's best to gain work experience (7 more years) and then take my PE exam. And I can work as a project engineer for a contractor. It's higher paying and more stressful then engineering .. but my early career was an automotive mechanic and I prefer being in the field then an office.

 

[RippinRob]

When I was first shop trained here at state, the guy who did the training, has 30+ years of machine shop experience and and basically said the same about bs designs and drawings.
I enjoy hands on a lot, like most of you do. However, I'm starting to really enjoy designs and cading things before manufacturing. My thoughts on that whole stuck at a desk job thoughts are if that becomes the case, I'll always have my jetskis and other toys to work on . Hopefully I'll be able to put some of this carbon knowledge I'm gaining to good (jetski) use.

 

[Balduccimoto]

When I was first shop trained here at state, the guy who did the training, has 30+ years of machine shop experience and and basically said the same about bs designs and drawings.
I enjoy hands on a lot, like most of you do. However, I'm starting to really enjoy designs and cading things before manufacturing. My thoughts on that whole stuck at a desk job thoughts are if that becomes the case, I'll always have my jetskis and other toys to work on . Hopefully I'll be able to put some of this carbon knowledge I'm gaining to good (jetski) use.

I work in an office and maybe that changed me because you cant pay me to do composites or paint jobs. The dust and the chemicals are killer! I'd prefer to design/engineer and leave the composites work to the professionals that are comfortable with popping composite parts all day But as an engineer it's crucial to see/do the process! I've met engineers that are specifying switchgear, but have never seen them before! To them it's just a few lines on a schematic.

 

[bird]

I work in Software Development and you see a lot of the same, but in different forms.

People with a Master's in Computer Science but can barely use a Windows PC. The younger crowd is the same, good with a smart phone but never seen the Control Panel!

We also have the oppostie, folks who make things way too complex. Then I come in simplify it to 1 2 3 A B C. KISS, keep it simple stupid! Way too many people think they're smart, when they're actually just bad at communicating the answer.

DBAs, Senior Devs, and Management: "The Replication Server isn't keeping up." Me: "We don't have replication, we have mirrored servers."
~That's saying you have twin turbos, when you really have a bi-turbo

 

[bird]

I work in an office and maybe that changed me because you cant pay me to do composites or paint jobs. The dust and the chemicals are killer! I'd prefer to design/engineer and leave the composites work to the professionals that are comfortable with popping composite parts all day But as an engineer it's crucial to see/do the process! I've met engineers that are specifying switchgear, but have never seen them before! To them it's just a few lines on a schematic.

One thing great about Software, is you can totally destroy it and take it apart virtually. Then you just go back in time before you destroyed it(Source Control). NO mess or itch

 

[Jhucke]

When I was first shop trained here at state, the guy who did the training, has 30+ years of machine shop experience and and basically said the same about bs designs and drawings.
I enjoy hands on a lot, like most of you do. However, I'm starting to really enjoy designs and cading things before manufacturing. My thoughts on that whole stuck at a desk job thoughts are if that becomes the case, I'll always have my jetskis and other toys to work on . Hopefully I'll be able to put some of this carbon knowledge I'm gaining to good (jetski) use.

It seems that your mindset about a desk job is pretty much the same as every other engineer that is still in school. Basically it comes down to whatever position you decide to put yourself in will determine how much you sit at a desk. You aren't an operations technician on a line, you won't be building whatever you make full time. You will, however, be involved in designing, prototyping, and other support of that product as it ages. You'll find yourself on the manufacturing floor no matter what, but just don't think that you have to be fully geared up in a HAZMAT suit laying up carbon for a composite operation every day, you definitely do not need an engineering degree for that. There are jobs in engineering that are way more hands on than others. Test and development come to mind or even quality engineering.. Do some internships, I highly recommend doing at least one CO-OP with a company you think you'd like to work for to get an idea of what the day in the life is at different places. Sitting at a desk as an engineer isn't THAT bad, definitely be prepared for it because it will be a big part of your life depending what type of job you take.
You have a big advantage of going to MSU because you have so many OEM's and tier 1 manufactures recruiting around you for automotive. You'll have no problem getting an internship or co-op with them. Emphasis on tier 1 manufacturer rather than OEM if you really want to know how certain parts are built, seems like there is disadvantages and advantages to both, definitely do some research about that. Good luck, stick with engineering, its hard but rewarding in the end.

 

[RippinRob]

@Jhucke thanks for the reply, I'm trying hard to get an internship but its hard freshman year, definitely will do them if I can, or when I have more knowledge and companies are more interested. That makes me more comfortable hearing that and it makes makes sense. With a ME degree it seems like getting most industries is pretty attainable.

 

[Jhucke]

@Jhucke thanks for the reply, I'm trying hard to get an internship but its hard freshman year, definitely will do them if I can, or when I have more knowledge and companies are more interested. That makes me more comfortable hearing that and it makes makes sense. With a ME degree it seems like getting most industries is pretty attainable.

No problem. I just graduated last December and got my first job going and I feel like I could be typing a book to you on advice for how to do school and all that. (especially considering I got into jetskiing big time around the same time, kind of funny) As a freshman you're going to have pretty much no chance at a good internship, my advice is to do work in the summer that is something hands-on and relateable to engineering in some way. I worked construction, very practical, very useful, develops great problem solving skills then I got my co-op after my 5th semester. Every single person is worried they won't get a job, try not to stress too much.

Another thing too I didn't mention is that if you enjoy SAE, definitely continue doing that even if it means adding another semester to your plan to fit in the time. I treated school like too much of a business to get in and out as fast as possible. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't do SAE. I feel that I got lucky at my automotive-ish job because I wasn't involved in it, and it seems like all new hires here were. Should open lots of opportunities for you. let me know if you have any general questions.

 

[JamesG]

There’s a lot of ME jobs out there. I graduated a year ago and got a job pretty quick. Internships were hard to land during school though, so I worked at SBT, a restaurant, and did construction part time while I was in school. Machine shops are a great place to look for a job and get applicable experience while in school too.

It seems like there are a lot jet ski enthusiasts in this career path, which makes it even better.

 

[Balduccimoto]

I worked as a automotive mechanic for the 1st year of college and then the remaining was as a BIM coordinator. Also I 3D printed turn signals and license plate brackets for motorcycles. I was sending them all around the world, but I have since stopped making them because it wasn't very profitable.

 

[Dorny119]

I graduated from University of New Haven in May 2017 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Like Jhucke said, I got in and out of school as fast as possible. I did not join any clubs, any societies, and I didn't have any outstanding academic accomplishments! BUT I got a job a few months before graduating even still! I grew up tinkering with tools, and taking things apart and putting them back together. This means I had that mechanical aptitude that is very important! Keep up the good work RippinRob and you'll come out on top!

I am currently a manufacturing engineer at Whelen Engineering. We make the best LED Emergency warning lights in the industry. If you've seen or heard a police officer, an ambulance, a firetruck, a DOT vehicle, or an outdoor warning call, you have probably seen or heard Whelen. Manufacturing engineering is a blast! I have a desk and a computer where I come to solve problems, do research, design, and perform company operational work. I also go out to the production floor and work hands on with the people who build the product, and the tools we use. I am glad I landed in the manufacturing engineering world. Consider it an option RippinRob. Good Luck!

 

[egbrig]

I've been following this thread for a bit and I am jealous of ME's. I am not one but have gotten in trouble with corporate for telling some how dumb they are. The degree will get your foot in the door but that doesn't mean your good or skilled. I've seen newbie ME's come into the machine shop with the skills they acquired in school and f up stuff, all the while thinking their awesome because they have the degree, but nooo. I asked one of my favorite engineeres at Lockheed Martin why he had good mechanical skills (so many engineers pick up tools and just wind up stabbing themselves) and he said he was a diesel mechanic before college. Many F1 engineers have to prove they have mechanical hands on skills before they are allowed to design parts.
It's interesting how the engineers I've worked with that I respected the most were all into some form of racing. They were garage mechanic types at heart, but had the education which made them better at their jobs.

 

[Jhucke]

I've been following this thread for a bit and I am jealous of ME's. I am not one but have gotten in trouble with corporate for telling some how dumb they are. The degree will get your foot in the door but that doesn't mean your good or skilled. I've seen newbie ME's come into the machine shop with the skills they acquired in school and f up stuff, all the while thinking their awesome because they have the degree, but nooo. I asked one of my favorite engineeres at Lockheed Martin why he had good mechanical skills (so many engineers pick up tools and just wind up stabbing themselves) and he said he was a diesel mechanic before college. Many F1 engineers have to prove they have mechanical hands on skills before they are allowed to design parts.
It's interesting how the engineers I've worked with that I respected the most were all into some form of racing. They were garage mechanic types at heart, but had the education which made them better at their jobs.

I’ve had hiring people say that most individuals mechanical aptitude can be judged very quickly by asking simple questions like, can you change the oil in your car? Or just understanding if any of their hobbies involve any sort of mechanical skills. Based on that, they say they can usually tell if their going to be a useless ME or not, and pretty easily. I can see how that can be true.

 

[egbrig]

@JC-SuperJet I don't disagree with you, yes the world needs Digit-Midgets, but sounds like I may have broken it into two distinct groups that don't cross-over. We all know that when typing words it can leave a lot out there in the ether. at least for me.

I've seen the battle tested engineer work with the battle sergeant and its like a well oiled machine and when I got to do so, it was so much fun even though it was work. But its the guy who is both of those worlds and yes --he/and there is a her on this forum-- those are the ones that make big things work. I guess it fits into a bell curve just the same, only small percentage really are good the rest are average at best.

The great thing about this sport is, if you are an engineer or becoming one- you are doing real -hands on- work and if your lucky to connect with someone who's good then you can get that little extra "not in books" skill set. I do try to help the ones along the way that are becoming engineer's. I used to bounce at an ODU bar and I always let the engineering guys ( and BJJ students) in for free cause I didn't care about the sports guys, or the fraternity brothers, I wanted to here about the Langley wind tunnel time and other cool things they got to take part in.
I seem to remember only the people that really impressed me or the ones that made me wonder "how the hell did you get this job and why are you still here." So my writing doesn't always indicate what's in my thought, sorry.

The Craftsmen will benefit from grooming the Engineers, as this becomes a powerful improvement loop that will turn a Project into an exciting and fun time at work. And make a better Engineer.
Lockheed had a mentoring program for new engineers. The few that wanted to learn from the trenches you could see the wheels turning and I thought they will be good to work with in the future , and at the end, that actually happened and what was funny is: some of my co-workers/subordinates were jealous of my working relationships with those engineers, but I had good working environments because of the cooperation and non-ego of those. But-- many of those that came in were just fill in the work space employees.

I don't have an adversarial view towards engineers, I have an adversarial view of incompetence and self sense of achievement. I have gotten in corporate trouble for informing crew members of mine that they were incompetent and lazy (It may have been my language) but I wasn't wrong.

So when I have an engine idea, I do the math first, (by hand) because there is no good program for watercraft two strokes. If you think there is then you don't know watercraft two strokes, then move on to the physical.

Kelly Johnson is one of my hero's, as is Smoky Yunick, one engineer, one not, both brilliant!

 

[egbrig]

P.S I tend to suck at written communication, my girlfriend of 20 yrs. is an English teacher. I have never written her a love letter as I didn't want to see all the red ink with a circled F.