Moving into engineering

[paulm1979]

I'm currently looking for work in engineering, but seem to be getting nowhere fast. My dad's a poster on here and recommended it as a good place to ask.

I finished a mechatronics degree in 2000 at Leeds and then went to work with patents for about 9 years, mainly dealing with electronic control systems, turbines and automotive electronics. I'm now trying to move into engineering industry (and am interested in many areas from machining to design engineering) but it seems that the lack of more practical experience in engineering/manufacturing is really hampering my success.

I believe the technical and analytical skills I've gained from my previous job would be really valuable to a company, but how should I get over this perceived experience barrier? I think that some kind of shop-floor work experience might help get over this. If anything, I'd love to have a nose around some kind of CAD or machining company. Has anyone done this?

[Bodo]

Try to find a crossover kind of work first. Which discipline involves patents and is hands-on? Design engineering is the closest, I can imagine.

Nine years work experience is a long time; are you able to train in CAD with one of the enterprise systems? This would help a lot!

[cqueen]

Engineering (from my experience in both mechanical and civil) is a guff industry to get into. You study study study, train and educate yourself in the latest software, all of that - only to earn a very average salary. There just isnt the need for engineers in the UK because we dont make anything. There are other much more profitable industries to go into.

[Engineer1]

+1 Engineering is a bit of a duff choice, you take years getting qualified. Unless you luck out with employer you end up being seen as a cost not an asset, speak to some engineers about how often they get laid off, ignore the IMechE stats as it's likely to be an expense that's cut.

[BigBen]

Speaking for Electronic Engineering I would recommend it. Loads of interesting work around and the money can be pretty good.

Do you feel your skills tend towards the Mecca or tronics bit of your degree ?

Ben

[paulm1979]

BigBen said:

Speaking for Electronic Engineering I would recommend it. Loads of interesting work around and the money can be pretty good.

Do you feel your skills tend towards the Mecca or tronics bit of your degree ?

Ben

I'm probably the most interested in mechanical and control engineering, especially the design and machining of components (too much Lego as a kid). When it comes to electronics, I'm fine with larger scale systems, but not some much at the resistor-level stuff.

The most interesting things that I have dealt with in my career so far have been automotive control systems, which seem to usually be more of an off-the-shelf system that's been specifically programmed for the engine it would be working with.