Validation or Product Development Engineer: career paths
Validation or Product Development Engineer: career paths
(OP)
Hi,
I have a question that I'm not sure where to post, but this forum seemed more relevant than others. I've been lurking in this forum for a a few years, mostly for modelling help and other things, but this is my first post!
So I just graduated with an ME degree and have interviewed for two positions, in the same field, but at different companies:
1. Validation Engineer at an OEM
2. Product Development Engineer at a Tier 1.
I have experience with both from co-ops, so neither would be an entirely new environment for me, and I feel I will adapt quickly as an Entry-level Engineer.
Since the OEM outsources to a Tier 1 for this particular product, I wouldn't be able to design it at the OEM, which I honestly feel I will enjoy more and have more passion about; I do enjoy testing though. However, since the OEM is a larger company, there may be more opportunities to grow upwards within the company, which is a big bonus for me, even thought the Tier 1 is fairly large as well.
So my questions are:
1. Which of these positions has a better potential career path?
2. Are either of these positions more important than the other? I know they sort of rely on each other...
Thank you very much!
I have a question that I'm not sure where to post, but this forum seemed more relevant than others. I've been lurking in this forum for a a few years, mostly for modelling help and other things, but this is my first post!
So I just graduated with an ME degree and have interviewed for two positions, in the same field, but at different companies:
1. Validation Engineer at an OEM
2. Product Development Engineer at a Tier 1.
I have experience with both from co-ops, so neither would be an entirely new environment for me, and I feel I will adapt quickly as an Entry-level Engineer.
Since the OEM outsources to a Tier 1 for this particular product, I wouldn't be able to design it at the OEM, which I honestly feel I will enjoy more and have more passion about; I do enjoy testing though. However, since the OEM is a larger company, there may be more opportunities to grow upwards within the company, which is a big bonus for me, even thought the Tier 1 is fairly large as well.
So my questions are:
1. Which of these positions has a better potential career path?
2. Are either of these positions more important than the other? I know they sort of rely on each other...
Thank you very much!





RE: Validation or Product Development Engineer: career paths
As you say the second job sounds better, but as you know, life is more glamorous at the OEM, what with a bar fridge in every cubicle, hot cars to drive in the car park, and all that.
1 OEM
2 No, they are equal, bottom rung engineering jobs (but hey at least you aren't in sales).
In my experience it is not hard to switch from Tier 1 to OEM, once you have some experience. However you would be likely to move into design and release for the component you have experience in, D&R is basically a releasing clerk/project management function these days, the engineering is done by other people.
So it rather depends on what you'd really like to do in the long term.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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