You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I know that there’s people with a good range of jobs on here and (sometimes) a lot of good advice so thought I would see what people think.
I have been working as a Stress Engineer in the Aerospace industry for about 8 years now (7 at the same company in Bristol) and think that it is time for a change in direction. However, I am struggling to work out what other roles I would be “experienced” enough to do. Whilst a switch to a different engineering sector (Marine or energy for example) seems a simple answer, any job descriptions I find speak about several years’ experience of specific tasks. Whilst there will be a lot of transferrable skills I already have, I feel that there will be several people with the appropriate experience that would always come above me and not need the same period of getting up to speed that I would. Moving for a more junior role is always an option but if I’m going to “start from the bottom” I want it to be for the perfect job. Plus, mortgage etc.
Does anyone else in the same/similar industry have experience of finding a good switch or have any suggestions of jobs to look for?
Moving out of engineering is always an option too..?
No suggestion is off the table so far
I would have thought staying in engineering to be a good move - they seem to be in real demand at the moment and changing discipline might not be too much of a stretch, assuming you're good at what you do currently.
We're struggling to find a good process engineer because we're a very small company and can't compete financially with the big guys.
Re. job descriptions - don't worry too much if you don't meet the exact spec (depending on how it's worded) - this is often a list of ideals, just be honest and do what you can to demonstrate you're adaptable.
There will be differences going to any other industry, but it's all bits of metal (or composite) that behave fundamentally the same.
I went from Aero to Energy about 7 years ago now, had about 6 years in Aero (plus a year and a bit Automotive) at that point. I was doing stress work too and it's got its limitations.
An alternative might be to try and find a slightly different role - one of my former colleagues now works signing off repairs which has a bit more variety to it, totally different from staring at an FE model/excel sheet/ACD4 all day.
I would take a more fundamental look at your motives and 'career drivers' to help you understand yourself better and your style of working before you start looking at specific role. There are plenty of self-help books on the subject e.g. Edgar Schein Career Anchors - you complete a questionnaire and it helps analyse your motives. If you work in a large company, then making a sideways move into another function may help to broaden your experience - your engineering experience is always valid when working in a similar type of business.
Can't take the strain?
Sorry (not sorry). 😀
About 7 years ago I swapped from a mechanical engineering role working in digital inkjet, to a mechanical design engineer role in the semiconductor industry.
It was a steep learning curve but a lot of the skills are transferrable and the company were looking more for the person than someone with semiconductor experience.
Once you get to a certain level, unless there are some very particular skills required I would think you could transition between roles with minimal issues.
What is it about the job that you want to change? If you're bored running FE, in itself, then you'll probably find any other FE the same, so using your experience is difficult. If the actual FE is OK but it's always the same kind of structure, you might be able to get into something like nuclear FE, and then diversify away from that into more general nuclear engineering. I'd avoid pipe stressing, as one pipe is much like another - building structures are more varied, and it tends to be more about understanding seismic response, not just stress.
Submarines..or flying cars?
What about other fields of stress / FE?
Modelling of crash structures always looks a bit more interesting. Could be automotive, F1 or rail - so maybe some options South Midlands, Oxfordshire etc.
Crash and crushing of batteries and casings is going to be a thing over the next few years.
Or military vehicle options not too far from where you are now.
Medical? I know people that have worked on artificial joints, high tech prosthetics, puncture properties of skin for injection devices, strength of medical devices (dropping etc).
Oil and gas. Plenty to go at there and travel the world
Ditto greybeard - can you narrow down what you are frustrated about in your job, or what you want to look for in a new job?
I was in your shoes about 12 years ago, when I worked at airbus in stress/fatigue. My main reason for wanting a change were mainly a desire for more variety and challenge.
I ended up moving to Dyson, which for me was a great fit and from a technical and creative perspective it was really enjoyable. I'm not there anymore.
They are recruiting like mad at the moment so sure to have some interesting positions.
Shout if you want to know more. It's a great company but really is not for everyone.
A different perspective: how about a move into a more commercial role? I graduated with an electronics engineering degree but after a couple of years developing stuff I realised I couldn’t see me in a cubicle for the rest of my career. I went to work for one of the software companies whose products we used in an application engineering role and haven’t looked back. I have long since moved into an outright sales role. I’m not a gregarious extrovert like many of my fellow salespeople but (I’d like to think) my customers value the understanding I have of their business. It’s worked out well for me.
**rare serious posting*** Most absolutely interesting place to work...Rutherford appleton lab at the science park down didcot..
Not a single day is the same and you get to design stuff that literally hasn't ever existed so it's never boring, they are hiring at the moment too.
**Normal service resumes***
Well this is interesting - the OP could almost be me, except this particular bored stress engineer of 8 years experience works in oil and gas...
Unfortunately I don't have any useful answers. I think changing sector would quell the boredom for a bit, for as long as the codes/structures were new and interesting. Once it settles down to being the same old thing project after project, I think it might be just as dull in another sector.
I'll be watching this thread closely!
In my experience, trying to recruit good Stress Engineers is like searching for unicorns, so I'd say that if you enjoy the discipline then you will be very sought after. I have been in aero stress in the same company for nearly 17 years and never have a dull day. Frustrating days, yes, but never dull. I now manage the team so have a wide range of tasks that keeps my easily bored mind busy.
I guess what I am saying, is decide if its the job, or the company. If it's the company, then finding a new position should be relatively easy if you are able to relocate. I live in constant fear of my team moving for a competing company. Loads of jobs around at the moment in Stress.
Turns out I’m not alone!
I’ll be keeping a close eye on this thread, as I’m starting to go off engineering...but the grass is always greener and all that, and I feel I’ll struggle to get an equivalent salary if I change vocation completely
**rare serious posting*** Most absolutely interesting place to work…Rutherford appleton lab at the science park down didcot..
Not a single day is the same and you get to design stuff that literally hasn’t ever existed so it’s never boring, they are hiring at the moment too.
**Normal service resumes***
My 1st Job as a CAD operator was drawing up the wax tanks for their particle accelerator.
I'm kind of in a similar boat, a bit bored of CAD/staring at a screen all day. Been tempted to train as a plumber so I can get out side and be self employed but also considering emigrating. Both are a big plunge though.
Thanks for the replies.
It’s not just the company, for all of its failings I am generally happy with how it is run (other than the usual grumblings that everywhere has) and the people I work with/for. I’m definitely aware that the grass wouldn’t necessarily be greener just for being a different company. It would still be the same stuff just in a different office.
I think my main reason for change is the lack of much innovation in the work that I do. I’ve done a lot of work where I’m just repeating analyses etc that have been done before but with a very minor design or load changes that inevitably won’t change a lot. I’ve pondered whether a smaller company would provide more variance (be a bigger cog in a smaller machine type of thing) but think that it might just be how the majority of aerospace is and that most changes are going to be minor and slow.
I think you’re right about not worrying too much about the specific job specs and just getting in touch with any company that seems interesting and seeing where they could place me (if they want me).
<Been tempted to train as a plumber so I can get out side and be self employed but also considering emigrating. Both are a big plunge though.>
Pun intended?
From what I've heard (and Petefromearth’s suggestion), somewhere like Dyson could be a good fit. I had what seemed like a very promising couple of phone calls with someone from their recruitment team a couple of years ago where I was told to expect an interview for a role any day now. After a couple of weeks of chasing I gave up but if they are recruiting again I might give them another try?
oP, if you moved from engineering, what would you like to do?
Have you looked at a mid sized consultancy? That could give you more flexibility and variance - in my company the ability to learn fast is often valued above outright expertise, certainly until you're approaching the top grades. I felt very much the same as you end of last year after 1.5 years testing the same controls software - spoke to my manager and now I'm ramping up on a super innovative project making the software instead of testing it.
Öhlins are advertising a job here in sweden that doesnt need swedish. live the dream!