Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
(OP)
Hi, I am currently thinking about starting an engineering degree in the fall. I was wondering if mechanical or electrical engineers get to work with their hands a lot or if they do more computational kinds of work. Please let me know. Thanks.





RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
I was an Automation Engineer at a major aircraft company. We got to work with our hands alot connecting cables, testing components on machinery, and programming CNC controllers. Very fun work IMO.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
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RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
I think the gist is that MOST (but certainly not ALL) engineers don't get much chance to work with their hands. This probably has to do with the fact that management would prefer to use them more for their minds than for their manual dexterity. This is strictly based on my observations. As a design engineer, I spend most of my time doing layout design on CAD, checking (and drafting) drawings, attending meetings, communicating with vendors, and defining (and interpreting) design requirements. Prototyping is normally done by a few skilled technicians with the engineer providing the information.
As I said, MOST but certainly not ALL. It all depends on what you do and where you work.
Tunalover
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Some engineers are required t oarry a project through from start to finish. This means doing the requirements analysis, design, and following through to the test and integration of the design. In some cases, additional re-work of the design is necessary to put the product into production.
TTFN
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Also, when a project due date is approaching quickly and the folks on the floor can't/won't stay late, I end up putting long hours in to get it done.
That's my experience anyway.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
My work ranges from whole days writing reports and doing calcs. to whole days with the overalls on and re-building various machines.
Another thing I'd like to mention is that you have to be careful, after a company sees that you are willing to work with your hands you might get identified as a technician, even if you have a couple of engineering degrees. Thats HR for you.
It may be that metallurgists tend to work with our hands more because we generally deal with things, wether doing failure analysis or testing in general.
Nick
I love materials science!
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
After reading the previous posts and reflecting on my own experiences, I must state that it is a function of hats and tradition. The more hats you wear the more likely you are to work with your hands.
Tradition is a little less obvious. In some companies there has developed an attitude that "I became an engineer(could be accountant, HR professional, Programmer, etc.) so I would not need to get my hands dirty!" Some of this attitude is tied to the country in question. Professionals are the elite and both upper and lower levels know where the boundaries lie.
In others situations, especially in smaller companies where the founder got his hands dirty to build the company, dirty hands are expected and encouraged. Some of this can be ascertained when interviewing by listening to the stories of the founding of the firm. At least two of my former bosses felt that getting hands dirty improved communication between levels and strongly encouraged it. But then again, my affinity for companies that encourage it may be why I am not a ceo.
Good luck and know thyself.
Griffy
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Dennis
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
It may even get to the stage where the only thing that reminds you that you are at heart an engineer is that your colleagues approach their "management issues" in a much less logical manner than you.
That's the point where you search your soul and decide whether you're in it for the power and the money, or the fun and satisfaction of putting yet another one over on Mother Nature. There are some countries (the UK being one) where engineering doesn't often get the respect that allows power, money, and engineering creativity to sit easily in the samejob description
I never quite got round to turfing my rucsack of trials-gear out the back of my car, and am now wriggling to get back into a job where I can actually use it occasionally
A.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
1) If you wish to be a hands on engineer with a professional qualification, even if you own your own company, you are highly unlikely to become rich enough that you never have to work again.
2) If you find something that you can do which you love, and which pays the bills, you will never have to work again in your life.
Regards,
Gwolf.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Where I work, people complain that mechanical designers should assembly the stuff they design. I actually do not mind doing this, since I do learn stuff. My design work improves.
Quite a few years ago, they threatened to send me up in a helicopter with one of our systems. They probably were not completely happy with my response. I got a lecture about how incompetent the helicopter people were, and how helicopters are full of "Jesus bolts" and stuff.
I design a lot of optical alignment mechanism. I have never aligned an optical system. I would really like to.
JHG
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
My recommendation, if you design the piece, then assemble and test the prototype. This is the only sure way to validate slips and fits, potential field problems and prepare to write the necessary maintenance programs, possible repair kits, that sort of thing.
I have found it necessary to put Junior Engineers in the field for at least three (3) years. How else are you going to separate practical knowledge from theoretical?
Kenneth J Hueston, PEng
Principal
Sturni-Hueston Engineering Inc
Edmonton, Alberta Canada
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
I've decided that there needs to be a special HELL for designers of faucets and soap dispensers in bathrooms where the designers must spend eternity using their designs. Bleagh!
Clearly, if the designers of the pre-74 Camaro Z28 engine had been forced to change spark plugs a few times, there would have been some major changes.
TTFN
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
If I can find it I had a wrench that was made purely by accident that made it relatively easy to get to the two back plugs on the right bank.
It was one of the long handle swivel head 3/8" ratchets that my stepson had used with a cheater and made about a 20° bend right where the forks begin that let it swivel. I got to point that I had to use the wrench in this condition and was amazed how I was able to get to the plugs on the Camero. It also worked extremely well on a Torino with the Cleveland engine except I had to cut the socket down about 3/8"
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
If you want a hands on practical application approach then a BSMET (BS Mechanical Engineering Technology)will better prepare you for a hands on job.
If you want to perform theoretical/computational type of work then a BSME (BS Mechanical Engineering) will better prepare you for that type of work.
Most (not all) employers will hire graduates of both degrees but the BSMET does come with some limitations. Some employers will not hire a BSMET at all and not all states will allow Engineering Technology graduates the opportunity to become Professional Engineers (PE). Some even consider Engineering Technologists (BSMET) to be nothing more than a glorified technician. I'll assume now that statement will set off a war of words between those who agree or disagree with that statement.
Probably the best route to take would be to obtain a BSME due to the fact that it gives you more options. You can always seek a hands on job if you want but if will take a little longer to adjust to than a BSMET grad.
If a quality Engineering Technology program (BSMET)is the only school near by and you don't want to relocate then you might want to take your chances with it. All BSMET programs are NOT EQUAL. Some are very watered down programs of a BSME and a few can rival a BSME but will never take the place of a BSME.
In my opinion a company who employees engineers of both degree types will have better success than one who only employs one or the other.
Check this out for a better comparison.
http://www.asme.org/students/whichpath.html
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Many engineers just see a degree as a meal ticket for a career up the management ladder. Meetings, planning, and paper shuffling being the main activities. That is certainly the route to power and riches, if not happiness.
On the other hand, R&D or maintenance requires literally hands on knowledge that can only be gained the hard way. Real engineering. There is something deeply satisfying about seeing something created with your own hands succeed both technically and commercially.
The man that can earn a reasonable living doing what he would do anyway if he had unlimited free time, can lead a happy productive and fairly stress free life.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Agree with the previous poster: the smaller the company, the more likely you will get to (or "have to" if that's your way of looking at it) get your hands dirty.
I love R&D, love development, but low stress? Yeesh. At least I can occasionally take a 5-lb. sledge to something to relieve that stress, but the stress creating elements are still here...
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
The hands on part of it, and the reality of the working environment may be very different. Mechanical may involve oil and grease and more hard physical work involving skinned knuckles and high ambient noise levels.
Electrical may possibly be more in a heated or air-conditioned laboratory, or a bench type situation surrounded by nice clean quiet test equipment.
Later in life, being able to work in reasonable physical comfort may be an issue.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
I love my new career and being in an office and travelling around the world meeting clients can be great, but I still miss being on site all the time. But age does catch up eventually!!
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
There are Electro-Mechanical engineers out there, from what I have observed they are very good at that, but very limited in their opportunities. If you may want to look into the hydraulics world. Still mechanical, but you end up using laws and such that are similar to electrical.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
I reckon the emportant thing an engineering training/education is going to give you is the ability to think like an engineer. Once you've learnt to do that, you can get pretty much everything else you need to swing disciplines from a good text book.
A.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?
The best and most respected engineers get their hands dirty.
Which reminds me of an old joke:
When working as a plumber, remember two things.
1. Sewage flows downhill.
2. Do not bite your nails.
RE: Do engineers work with their hands a lot?