Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
(OP)
Hi all,
Well, to cut a long story short, I moved to Colorado last year after getting my green card thanks to marrying my American wife, and am trying to get an Engineering job here. My background (in US equivalents) is a BS in Materials Science & Engineering, and while at College I did 3 summer internships, all in University research labs (2 in the US - California and Indiana). Although I enjoyed them, I figured out that the academic/research route wasn't for me, so I went straight to work in England (my home country) for my Father's Engineering company. I mostly did Project Management/Procurement type work there which I really enjoyed, as I was able to work on technical projects in an organisational way which I preferred.
I've finally got to the stage where I have some interviews coming up - either at a Satellite/TV Dish company in a Procurement role, or at an Oil Company as a Field Engineer. I'm trying to decide between these two (should I be fortunate enough to get job offers from both) - as in terms of interest, I want to work in the Space Industry, but I also enjoy the outdoors and hands-on environment which the FE position would offer. My options for Space-related work are limited for the next 2 years until I become a US Citizen, and so can get the appropriate security clearances, so essentially I'm trying to find the best way to keep myself occupied until then.
In terms of future stuff, relocation is not a problem and actually welcomed by my wife & I, but for now we're trying to get something in Colorado, preferably in the Denver area, where we're currently staying with her family.
Any advice would be more than welcomed - I'm also interested in how to go about getting registered as an EIT or equivalent, if that would be beneficial (the British equivalent I believe is working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer, which requires several years of work experience and a report on a project you worked on, or a Master's Thesis).
Apologies for the lengthy post - just wanted to explain the full situation!
Well, to cut a long story short, I moved to Colorado last year after getting my green card thanks to marrying my American wife, and am trying to get an Engineering job here. My background (in US equivalents) is a BS in Materials Science & Engineering, and while at College I did 3 summer internships, all in University research labs (2 in the US - California and Indiana). Although I enjoyed them, I figured out that the academic/research route wasn't for me, so I went straight to work in England (my home country) for my Father's Engineering company. I mostly did Project Management/Procurement type work there which I really enjoyed, as I was able to work on technical projects in an organisational way which I preferred.
I've finally got to the stage where I have some interviews coming up - either at a Satellite/TV Dish company in a Procurement role, or at an Oil Company as a Field Engineer. I'm trying to decide between these two (should I be fortunate enough to get job offers from both) - as in terms of interest, I want to work in the Space Industry, but I also enjoy the outdoors and hands-on environment which the FE position would offer. My options for Space-related work are limited for the next 2 years until I become a US Citizen, and so can get the appropriate security clearances, so essentially I'm trying to find the best way to keep myself occupied until then.
In terms of future stuff, relocation is not a problem and actually welcomed by my wife & I, but for now we're trying to get something in Colorado, preferably in the Denver area, where we're currently staying with her family.
Any advice would be more than welcomed - I'm also interested in how to go about getting registered as an EIT or equivalent, if that would be beneficial (the British equivalent I believe is working towards becoming a Chartered Engineer, which requires several years of work experience and a report on a project you worked on, or a Master's Thesis).
Apologies for the lengthy post - just wanted to explain the full situation!





RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
FE (EIT) is a test you need to take. You can take it asap since you have engineering degree already. I dont know if you really need it though for your line of work. I am not sure.
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Why are you considering the procurement job?
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
But I didn't think they tasted like gizzards. Then again, I prefer my gizzards stewed, not fried.
And considering all the offal they eat in the UK, I don't think FutureAmerican has much to fear.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
I've considered doing the military as well, such as National guard, but as OCS is off-limits till Citizenship, as well as the type of jobs I'd want to do, that's 2 years away as well.
HgTX - I'm looking at the procurement job as that was part of my previous work experience. To be honest, I would prefer something more technical, and so the Field Engineer job would be preferable...but financially I can't really afford to wait around right now.
My wife warned me about Rocky Mountain Oysters before we moved here - but being a fan of the Bizarre Foods series with Andrew Zimmern I'm tempted to be adventurous and try it out!
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
FYI, if you are under 26 yo when you received your green card, you need to be listed in the selective service. So when the US attacks the UK, I am afraid you need to shoot your brothers down. Just kidding.
P.S.: Take your wife to Buckhorn Exchange for you anniversary. You can order the oyster for appetizer.
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
FutureAmerican, how about a shot at Raytheon, I don't have any contacts over there but their office is over off 225 and they are almost always looking for engineers
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
I registered for Selective Service as soon as I got here (I'm 24), as a lot of my career plans include work for the government or contractors, so I didn't want to hinder my path to Citizenship.
BTW, do you know of any good ex-Pat Brit communities round here (I currently live in Wheat Ridge/Denver Metro area)? I've thought of attending some meetups to make good contacts, social network etc, but not sure where to start. I've also looked at groups like the FreeMasons so I can get involved in Charity and community work, as I was invited to join in College and a lot of my ancestors were Masons, but I was in my final year so it would have been too much with finals and my other committments.
HgTX - NASA would be a dream come true for me eventually (yeah, I've dreamt of being an Astronaut since age 5)
JaredS - I'll take a look into Raytheon, but when I spoke to them at the Farnborough Airshow in '06, they said that I needed US Citizenship to work for them - but I'll keep an eye on the website in case anything comes up which doesn't need it.
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Check-out Ball Aerospace up in your neck of the woods.
That may give you the foot in the door for other aerospace companies or NASA.
If your working on a NASA project the Green Card should be adequate.
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
I too am from the UK, and now in the US (California) with about a year to wait till I can apply for citizenship. Likewise I'm here because my wife is US citizen.
Forget about defense or aerospace or anything vaguely related until you have citizenship. You cannot get a full clearance without a citizenship and the partial clearance (by program as I recal) you can theoretically get generally isn't worth the employers hassle/the government wont allow it. It's not that there aren't any exceptions but unless you are the world expert in something they really need it wont happen.
EIT – this may not be a simple as taking the exam. It varies by state so look up the Colorado board however, in CA at least my UK BEng does not count as an acceptable/accredited degree. Also most of my experience wont count because is wasn't under the supervision of a PE. Basically the rules are written around a typical US education/career path and while there are work around's it seems like it will take more time and effort to exercise them. Once I saw how difficult it was, and how it wasn't directly relevant to my field, I put it on the back burner.
PE is not the same as CEng, though there are similarities. In certain fields in the US (varying slightly by state) you need PEng to call yourself an Engineer/offer your services to the public. Typical fields requiring PE are those related to construction/infrastructure so Civil, Structural, Building Electricals, HVAC for mechanicals etc.
For aerospace/defense and similar 'exempt' industries there is no specific PE, at least in CA, the closest I could find was Mechanical but even them a lot of the exams etc were more aligned to people working on HVAC or elevators and the like. You are unlikely to need PE for the field you're looking at although it may be viewed positively.
Hope it helps, best of luck.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
So PE not required. But watch out for that degree thing. A PE might get you past that hurdle; if you managed to convince a licensing board that your degree is good enough, that might be enough for an employer.
Hg
Eng-Tips policies: FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Monkeydog - I haven't yet seen any jobs at Ball I qualify for, but I may just try cold-calling them to see if I can get an interview or over-the-phone discussion that way.
Kenat/HgTX - thanks for the info regarding PE...I'm going to see if the companies who would/do end up employing me like to get their engineers qualified as PE's, in which case I'll make it a priority to sort out.
My interview for the procurement job seemed to go fairly well today - I did an aptitude test (basic math/english), then was interviewed by potential co-workers, and the manager of the procurement department. I'm not entirely sure overall about the job, as it's definately procurement/logisitics, no technical stuff whatsoever.
I have a phone interview for a Field Engineer job with Schlumberger tommorow, and then Halliburton in-person interview next week - any advice on which of these to go for should I be lucky enough to get offers from both, and also if Field Engineering work in the Oil&gas sector could potentially transfer over to a Project Management role in Defense after I get my Citizenship, especially if combined with an MBA?
Thanks for all the advice and replies so far!
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
In the UK as you're probably familir, a 4 year engineering degree would probably be a Masters.
So if they ask if you have a 4 year degree just say yes, and explain later
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
Never, but never question engineer's judgement
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
When we lived in CO, there was a lot of electronics manufacturing going on, Hewlett-Packard and similar companies. Assuming those kinds of industries are still going strong, that seems to me like your best route.
I interviewed at one of the aerospace firms (Ball, I think it was). At that time, they were looking for people with a particular security clearance. If you already had that clearance, they didn't care what skills you had, they wanted you. If you didn't have that clearance, they didn't care what skills you had, they didn't want you. Seems like there were two aerospace companies in town, and each expected to hire experienced and cleared employees from the other rather than investing a nickel themselves.
Keep in mind that once you get started down a particular career path, it can be very hard to change. Going into the oil and gas business may tend to keep you there, so be leary about going in until you find something better. Right now, that field is booming, but it can bust, too, and has in the past.
RE: Advice for ex-pat Brit starting career in Colorado
I agree with checking into the PE/EIT. The requirements for EIT status varies from state to state and you may be required to take a few courses from an ABET accredited institution. I took courses with a gentleman from Iran, and Missouri required him to graduate from an ABET institution. Two schools come to mind: Colorado School of Mines (Golden) and the University of Colorado (Boulder). There is alos Metro State in Dever, but I am not sure of the ABET accrediation. Mines is closer to Denver than CU.
As for the work thing: I spent 10+ years chasing my degree (I paid for it out-of pocket), however I made it a point that what-ever job I took somehow related to my field of study. As posted by others, there are several companies in Dever that involve your field, good luck.
on a side note, I was born and raised in south-western Colorado and a photo of my grandfather can be seen in the main concourse of DIA, to the north of the main security check point.