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Project engineer for power company vs. mechanical engineer for A&E firm

Project engineer for power company vs. mechanical engineer for A&E firm

Project engineer for power company vs. mechanical engineer for A&E firm

(OP)
I've been a mechanical project engineer for two years for a large electrical power supplier, working under contract rather than directly. Most of my work deals with planning, scheduling, estimating, equipment selection, project documentation, design, etc. for small capital projects. (Before that, I was a mechanical engineer for six years for an A&E firm, mostly doing design and some drafting for hospitals. I received my PE near the end of my time there.) I enjoy my current position, but because it's contract, I'm somewhat worried about job security, fewer professional development opportunities, and less connectedness than my direct-hired peers. I've come to realize I really enjoy project management (even if my exposure has so far been to small projects) although I miss doing more design work as I would at an A&E firm. And even though I don't expect to ever do as much drafting as I did earlier, I do worry that my CAD skills will become completely lost if I wait too long to return to the consulting side, and I enjoy AutoCAD and Revit.

Anyway, I'm interviewing at an A&E firm this week, and in the event the interview goes well and they offer me a job, I'm not sure if I should take it assuming I like the offer. I can't imagine anyone else would pay me what I make now (considering all benefits), and right now my job is pretty flexible. I get paid by the hour so if I need to work more I get paid more. And power plant work would presumably tend to be more sophisticated and specialized than commercial buildings (although I may be underestimating what goes into such buildings). But in some ways I'd think I could be a more well-rounded engineer at an A&E, managing projects while staying immersed in design work and some amount of CAD/BIM.

If I'm on the owner's side doing power plant work and I generally enjoy it, is it a mistake to leave it to go back to the consulting side? Is one better for my career long-term than the other?

BTW, are there good forums out there for engineering career talk? I realize this maybe isn't the best forum for this, even though I'm sure a number of people here will be able to give me some good wisdom.

Thanks.

RE: Project engineer for power company vs. mechanical engineer for A&E firm

Quote (MinnesotoSlinger)

If I'm on the owner's side... is it a mistake to leave it to go back to the consulting side?

No, I was employed by an electric utility for many years. One of my colleagues left to go with a large power industry consulting firm - not an A&E firm in a different industry, like you are considering. He has been happy with the move. With a total of 8 years experience, make a well thought out decision this time. Its not to late to switch fields now, but it will get more (financially) difficult to change again in the future.

Quote (MinnesotoSlinger)

Is one better for my career long-term than the other?

You answered this question yourself:

Quote (MinnesotoSlinger)

...because (my current job is) contract, I'm somewhat worried about job security, fewer professional development opportunities, and less connectedness than my direct-hired peers.

That why you are well paid, to make up for those and other uncertainties.

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