Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
(OP)
Well I just graduated from Penn State last year with a BS in Electrical Engineering and did pretty well. I've been working for a large defense contractor as a field engineer for the past 6 months. While I thought the jobs would be very hands-on type of work, I was very mistaken. Most of the work done in the field is performed by union technicians so picking up a tool is a no-no. When doing headquarters work, most of the job is paper-pushing and documentation. Basically I'm like an overpaid secretary. I'm starting to think that this job, or perhaps this career was not the right choice for me.
I've always been fascinated by building and fixing things, as well as designing them. That, along with my ability for math and science, also my dad being an engineer, led me straight into engineering. I've always been into building things, be it electronics, carpentry, metalworking, welding. I'm starting to think that a job as an electrician, plumber, or industrial maintenance would be for me. Maybe move up the ladder later on to be a plant engineer. Decent pay, seeing the results of your work, and somewhat technically challenging.
Have any of you ever had this kind of experience, where being a paper-pushing, desk sitting engineer just wasn't fulfilling for you? Did you change jobs, careers, or what did you do? In all reality I'd like a job where I design, build and test everything. None of this structured beauracratic engineering with unions involved, where everybody has their specific strict role. Just like to get your thoughts on this. Thanks!
I've always been fascinated by building and fixing things, as well as designing them. That, along with my ability for math and science, also my dad being an engineer, led me straight into engineering. I've always been into building things, be it electronics, carpentry, metalworking, welding. I'm starting to think that a job as an electrician, plumber, or industrial maintenance would be for me. Maybe move up the ladder later on to be a plant engineer. Decent pay, seeing the results of your work, and somewhat technically challenging.
Have any of you ever had this kind of experience, where being a paper-pushing, desk sitting engineer just wasn't fulfilling for you? Did you change jobs, careers, or what did you do? In all reality I'd like a job where I design, build and test everything. None of this structured beauracratic engineering with unions involved, where everybody has their specific strict role. Just like to get your thoughts on this. Thanks!





RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
But aside from aerospace most of my jobs have been hands-on but paper work is a integral part of engineering.
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Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
If you wanted more hands on, why don’t you become a tech?
Go Mechanical Engineering
Tobalcane
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Your dad is an engineer. What did he tell you about what he did? About what engineering encompass?
Some engineering jobs are paper heavy, some are more hands-on. It depends on the specific job.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
You'll probably need more school to get in with the with those people.
Sometimes it’s a matter of getting on the right projects too.
Boeing (Ex Douglas) used to have a group of techs that were mostly BSEEs working alongside the union hangar guys to install and configure flight test instrumentation (non-production).
You may be so new to the company you aren’t even eligible for a transfer yet too.
Work hard, grow skills, acquire relevant credentials and look hard. I'm sure you'll find a spot either inside or not.
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Maybe one percent of the paperwork you see has any technical content worth worrying about.
Unfortunately, it takes a trained engineer to recognize _which_ one percent _is_ worth worrying about.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
I work at the small size company, aound 500 employee globally. Since I work in the R&D group, we need to design, analyze and do the hand-on jobs to test the prototype. Most of the time, I get my hand dirty when assembly the parts. Of course, it is more practical and "real" by touching your design, instead of playing in the computer. I strongly suggest to work at mid- or small size company.
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
I ran into a bunch of the same crud when I was an engineering co-op at a chemical plant while still in school. A union technician (actually a planner) and I had to go out to the pipeline (a good mile away) and record some instrument data. My vehicle was on site, as was the custom with engineers and office workers, so we decided to take it. The planner had some tools and I offered to help him carry them to my car. He declined, citing the union rules. I then said, "man, are you sure your tools can ride in my car then?".
But I digress. A small company may be the way to go. I work with automation and control systems for commercial buildings- essentially for the HVAC industry. I began doing MUCH more hands-on stuff than I wanted. I have finally gotten away from that. But it is a small company and the opportunity to field work is always there. We have no uniton. The only problem with my industry (HVAC) is that it is typically low-paying. There are more people in the industry than needed and the technical aspects arfe very light in engineering so an actual degree is not usually needed. Hence, not the best pay.
Ed
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Hand's on is good, up to a point. You should have the opportunity to test and integrate your own designs, so that you can better learn what not to do the next time around. However, as a design engineer, your skills are primarily honed and maintained by doing designs, so you need to keep your priorities straight.
TTFN
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
You should probably stay where you are for a little while as you pick up everything going on and find out from HR if there are any other positions more to your interest. Consider what your real job interests are in the long term. In the meantime, you should also study other opportunites and the requirements for those opportunities.
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
My worst memory was spending half a shift running a bearing loading station, which greased and preloaded the wheel bearings.
That was about enough 'hands on' for a couple of years, for me! On the other hand, if anybody wants to know what a torque of 1.0 Nm is I can very quickly demonstrate it with my bare hand. I'll need to borrow the questioner's nose.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Doing electronics and RF design has required me at times to do a lot of hands-on unrelated to my normal work: Work on the line (during a ALL HANDS EMERGENCY big customer order), repair production machines (when the production techs couldn't figure it out), run mill and lathes to make special prototypes, and I even have painted walls twice (at two different companies) when special potential customers were comming through and they wanted to make the engineering spaces (i.e. dungeon) look nice.
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Geoffrey D Stone FIMechE C.Eng;FIEust CP Eng
www.waterhammer.bigblog.com.au
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
In a previous position an upper manager used to boast that as an engineer, he never once got his hands dirty. No matter how intelligent he appeared, he was not highly regarded as an engineer by the anyone who actually gets involved with their products.
To those of you that do not like to get your hands "dirty", or have the opportunity to do so, don't take it personally, but nothing beats learning from experience and working with the products.
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?
Some engineering requires conceptual visualization too.
"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
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RE: Do you think engineering is a "hands-on" career?