Engineers

[Bushcraftsman]

Hey,

Are there any Manufacturing/mechanical/welding engineers on this website? I'm trying to decide which route I want to go down and trying to weigh up the advantages of each. Also dont really know what each job entails (in detail anyway) so obviously can't base it on what i'd enjoy most if I dont know what is included. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Jordan

 

[Dannytsg]

I work in sprinkler systems ( the design side ) but I have experience working in the fab shop butt welding pipe etc. It all depends on what you believe will be challenging to you in your daily life and thats what engineer stands for (problem solver).

 

[mereside]

hi mate im a fabricator welder, fire away with your questions either in a pm or on here i do alot of prototype jobs so hopefully can help ,atb wayne

 

[Bushwhacker]

I'm mechanical design. Wish I was still a window cleaner like I was when I was 16!

 

[Andy T]

I'm a fabricator, (well at least i used to be), if i were you i wouldn't go down the welding route. Just the thought of looking through a small dark glass, approx 4x4 all day makes me quiver.

 

[mereside]

keeps you warm in winter though and a nice glow to the cheeks, atb wayne

 

[santaman2000]

I take it "engineer" means something different there?

 

[Bushcraftsman]

What do you mean santaman?

And well at the minute I am employed by rolls royce as a "technical welding Engineer" so I do more the ManE and MechE side of things, Trying to decide if I want to try and become a skilled welder (tig mainly) because I know it's a good skill to have as there aren't a lot of people out there that can do it well. I have been doing for a year and we are being trained to ASME nuclear standards. Also dont really know how a MechE differs to a ManE?

 

[Thetillerman71]

I'm an aerospace engineer, not too sure of your age but would suggest a modern or what they call a higher apprenticeship in engineering leading to a foundation degree. you get paid and allowed to go to college for about 3 years and can then later specialise in whatever you enjoy most. I originally started off in electronics but now do mainly mechanical and thermal type work

 

[mereside]

if you want to be in welding i would definately say go the tig/stick route , money is definately better but i suppose it depends on where you want to head .
lots of jobs out there for the right people but more and more abroad .
we are lucky in my line of work as its a niche market so work has been good but working in qatar really opened my eyes to working and the jobs available just depends if you are willing to work abroad or want to be here .
wages for mig welding has been driven down through foreign workers and cheaper products from elswhere ,atb wayne

 

[santaman2000]

What do you mean santaman?

And well at the minute I am employed by rolls royce as a "technical welding Engineer" so I do more the ManE and MechE side of things, Trying to decide if I want to try and become a skilled welder (tig mainly) because I know it's a good skill to have as there aren't a lot of people out there that can do it well. I have been doing for a year and we are being trained to ASME nuclear standards. Also dont really know how a MechE differs to a ManE?

I was confused when you mixed "welding" and "engineering" into the same category. I'm used to welding being a skilled trade whereas engineering is a proffessional university degree over here.

 

[Robbi]

qualified Mechanical engineer of over 30 years from aircraft to boiler houses and building structures, pipework, heating and plumbing and building services, what do you want to know ? ask away either by PM or on here and i'll do what i can to help.

Robbi

 

[Lupin Rider]

I was confused when you mixed "welding" and "engineering" into the same category. I'm used to welding being a skilled trade whereas engineering is a proffessional university degree over here.

Santaman, over here engineer is used for both and also extended to chaps who install satalite dishes by screwing them to walls. Each of the professional enginering institutions argue that it should be protected and used for Chartered Enginers in the same way the use of Architect is protected in law.

The majority of people in the uk dont know the difference unfortuanetly between the real engineers (IMO) of the chartered or fabricating variety and those who just use the word. This undervalues the professions and i think adds to the current shortfalls in new people entering the industry.

If the OP means professional engineering then i'm happy to talk about it, where i work we have many of different flavours. (process chemical ,mechanical, electrical , instrument) of each of these the IChemE chaps have the highest earning potential at every year of experience.

John

 

[santaman2000]

Santaman, over here engineer is used for both and also extended to chaps who install satalite dishes by screwing them to walls. Each of the professional enginering institutions argue that it should be protected and used for Chartered Enginers in the same way the use of Architect is protected in law.

The majority of people in the uk dont know the difference unfortuanetly between the real engineers (IMO) of the chartered or fabricating variety and those who just use the word. This undervalues the professions and i think adds to the current shortfalls in new people entering the industry.

If the OP means professional engineering then i'm happy to talk about it, where i work we have many of different flavours. (process chemical ,mechanical, electrical , instrument) of each of these the IChemE chaps have the highest earning potential at every year of experience.

John

Thanks. That clears it up a bit. Over here there is also some cross-utilization of the word. Limited, however to circles highly influenced by old world traditions such as the maritime industry and a small circle of the military. But by and large the majority think of the profession when they hear the word engineer. Apart that is, from those who think of railroad locomotive drivers (but that's usually obvious in the context of the conversation)

 

[greasemonkey]

I'm a marine engineer; with a basis like you have, I would recommend you have a look at the merchant navy, if it interests you. Good pay (often tax free), excellent travel opportunities and up to 6 months leave per year.

 

[pastymuncher]

Just checked your profile. Age 18 the world is your oyster.
The big money earners are nuclear and oil & gas, lot of new build nukes coming up in the U.K and there are a several new oil/gas fields opening up overseas, Baku, Angola and NW Oz . More money in oil but you will need to travel and can be difficult to break in to. Nuclear, you will need security clearance and some experience in your field
Another field to look at is private super yachts, but you will need your marine tickets, and the economy is obviously suffering a bit, but the rich still have their toys and they still need fixing. Good money and often tax free with lots of perks i.e your wages are pocket money, as food and accommodation are all sorted for you.

You might want to try contract work to get your foot in the door, be warned though it gets addictive, I started 20+years ago as a temporary thing!!!!!!
There are lot of broke, divorced, alcoholic contractors out there.
Welders can earn more than engineers if you're prepared to work hard and smart (hard alone just gets you burnt out).

Good luck whatever your path, it can certainly be a wandering one.

I started as a marine engineer playing around on small boats and yachts, I currently work on a nuclear power station, played with genetic research machines, built satellites and worked for the sub-sea oil crowd along the way, who knows where I'll be next???

There is a desperate lack of new blood with hands on experience in engineering these days, every outage on power stations is getting harder to find people to do the work. i.e someone I know had 72 men booked in for inductions, 9 turned up!!!!!

 

[santaman2000]

Just checked your profile. Age 18 the world is your oyster.
The big money earners are nuclear and oil & gas, lot of new build nukes coming up in the U.K and there are a several new oil/gas fields opening up overseas, Baku, Angola and NW Oz . More money in oil but you will need to travel and can be difficult to break in to. Nuclear, you will need security clearance and some experience in your field
Another field to look at is private super yachts, but you will need your marine tickets, and the economy is obviously suffering a bit, but the rich still have their toys and they still need fixing. Good money and often tax free with lots of perks i.e your wages are pocket money, as food and accommodation are all sorted for you...

At age 18, if nuclear engineering interests you, you might see what the royal navy have to offer. Both in terms of career fields and training. I know the US Navy has a very good training program for nuclear power production and the chance to get your sea qualifications. I would imagine the Royal navy being similar.

 

[Lupin Rider]

Nuclear new build hasnt yet broken in the uk and some of them i think are already shelved. yatchs sound fantastic. Reality is oil and gas is where it is at at the moment and for the forseable. The size of the labour force is much much larger and so more jobs available. Navies are all shrinking globaly and so my advice would be aim for oil. If you mean proffessional engineer then agency contract rates for chartered chemical engineers are currently extreamly boyant at more than £50/hr, Graduate salaries at mid thirties. Google the whynotchemeng website.

 

[pastymuncher]

Nuke new build is very close and as he is 18 at the moment he will probably hit it just right.
Welding supervisors are on £30 an hour and the welders aren't far behind.
http://www.velosi-intec.com/search/?kw=&st=A&l=460&jt=C&o=R&Submit=Search+Vacancies#results

 

[Broomstickize]

Without repeating too much of what has gone before... If you are talking Engineer then PM away. If you are really talking what my business (I think quite rightly) calls craftsman - whether that welding or what ever other practical skill - then I might still be able to answer a couple of questions.

Without getting too off topic I think Engineers are the problem solvers and craftsmen are the master makers. Though we shouldn't forget that both came in some part from a either a craftsman with an engineering bias or an engineer with practical skills (e.g. a myriad of Industrial Revolution 'Engineers').