[HeavyTeddy]

Most people that I've spoken too are under the impression that a mechanical engineer is involved in manual work, much like a mechanic. I'm pretty confused too about what a mechanical engineer actually does in industry (autmotive, oil and aerospace in particular). Is the job much more office orientated (what I would imagine) or is there actually manual work involved?

I tried to do a google search but the results were contradictory, so I'd really like some clarification before I set my sights on a career as a mechanical engineer.

Thanks.

[Sw3ensterFM]

Engineers don't dig the holes.

That being said, it completely depends on the job that you're doing. It's too varied to say specifically what you'd be doing.

Do you have any ideas about what area you'd like to work in?

[Jack93o]

You know anything that moves?


Yeah, thats what mechnical engineers do.

[Smack]

I'm a mechanical engineer placement student in oil and here is what I do: I'm part of the team that manages the operations and day to day running of an oil platform. Others are involved in large projects such as installation of new major equipment. Others are involved in the actual design and analysis of equipment, components, structures etc.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for more hands on work, though. A lot of engineers in oil work offshore. There's more money in that too. And the experience you gain from that time offshore will help you a huge amount once you're back onshore and help propel you into higher positions.

If you have any more questions about oil then just ask; I'll do my best to help. Hopefully people who are in aerospace and automotive can chime in too.

[HeavyTeddy]

(Original post by Sw3ensterFM)
Engineers don't dig the holes.

That being said, it completely depends on the job that you're doing. It's too varied to say specifically what you'd be doing.

Do you have any ideas about what area you'd like to work in?

For automotive and aerospace I'd really want to go into design, and oil, I'm not entirely sure about that yet.

(Original post by Jack93o)
You know anything that moves?


Yeah, thats what mechnical engineers do.

....

(Original post by Smack)
I'm a mechanical engineer placement student in oil and here is what I do: I'm part of the team that manages the operations and day to day running of an oil platform. Others are involved in large projects such as installation of new major equipment. Others are involved in the actual design and analysis of equipment, components, structures etc.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for more hands on work, though. A lot of engineers in oil work offshore. There's more money in that too. And the experience you gain from that time offshore will help you a huge amount once you're back onshore and help propel you into higher positions.

If you have any more questions about oil then just ask; I'll do my best to help. Hopefully people who are in aerospace and automotive can chime in too.

Do you know what the hours are like for onshore and offshore? Is the oil industry saturated/ are you likely to get a job with a good degree (2:1), ec's and work exp?


Thanks for the speedy replies guys, I really appreciate it.

[iceman95]

(Original post by Smack)
I'm a mechanical engineer placement student in oil and here is what I do: I'm part of the team that manages the operations and day to day running of an oil platform. Others are involved in large projects such as installation of new major equipment. Others are involved in the actual design and analysis of equipment, components, structures etc.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for more hands on work, though. A lot of engineers in oil work offshore. There's more money in that too. And the experience you gain from that time offshore will help you a huge amount once you're back onshore and help propel you into higher positions.

If you have any more questions about oil then just ask; I'll do my best to help. Hopefully people who are in aerospace and automotive can chime in too.

What type of operations do you plan? Cos I want to work in oil industry

[Smack]

(Original post by HeavyTeddy)
Do you know what the hours are like for onshore and offshore? Is the oil industry saturated/ are you likely to get a job with a good degree (2:1), ec's and work exp?

The hours onshore at usually standard office hours. Many companies do a flexi-day either each month or twice a month so you could end up getting every second Friday off; but you'll have to work about an hour longer each day. Where I'm at currently the office starts to empty at 4pm but people tend to start a bit earlier.

Offshore shifts are typically 12 hours long and you'll spend two weeks offshore; more if you're further afield. You usually get at least as many weeks off as you do offshore, and quite a few more senior people get 3 weeks off after their two weeks offshore. In fact some even get a whole four weeks! But they're usually the most senior people on the platform.

There certainly isn't any shortage of applications to these oil companies. The place I'm at this summer had I think 2000 applications for around 30 places. And some of the biggest companies get much more than that. But that's not taking into account the standard of the applicants. It could well be that people are just seeing £££ and decide to hit the apply button.

Overall I wouldn't let the numbers put you off. Everyone at my university that applied had no problems getting job offers in the industry. Relevant work experience really sets you apart, too. It's also much easier to get relevant work experience if you attend at university that has strong links with the industry... I'm not going to lie, I only got my first placement because I attended an event where only students of certain universities were invited. And many companies only advertise their internships/placements at certain universities too.

(Original post by iceman95)
What type of operations do you plan? Cos I want to work in oil industry

Could be anything from cleaning out the drinking water systems to coordinating diving campaigns to trying to get new components sorted out.

[+ polarity -]

(Original post by Smack)
I'm a mechanical engineer placement student in oil and here is what I do: I'm part of the team that manages the operations and day to day running of an oil platform. Others are involved in large projects such as installation of new major equipment. Others are involved in the actual design and analysis of equipment, components, structures etc.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for more hands on work, though. A lot of engineers in oil work offshore. There's more money in that too. And the experience you gain from that time offshore will help you a huge amount once you're back onshore and help propel you into higher positions.

If you have any more questions about oil then just ask; I'll do my best to help. Hopefully people who are in aerospace and automotive can chime in too.

Are you offshore right now?

[Smack]

(Original post by + polarity -)
Are you offshore right now?

No.

[HeavyTeddy]

(Original post by Smack)
The hours onshore at usually standard office hours. Many companies do a flexi-day either each month or twice a month so you could end up getting every second Friday off; but you'll have to work about an hour longer each day. Where I'm at currently the office starts to empty at 4pm but people tend to start a bit earlier.

Offshore shifts are typically 12 hours long and you'll spend two weeks offshore; more if you're further afield. You usually get at least as many weeks off as you do offshore, and quite a few more senior people get 3 weeks off after their two weeks offshore. In fact some even get a whole four weeks! But they're usually the most senior people on the platform.

There certainly isn't any shortage of applications to these oil companies. The place I'm at this summer had I think 2000 applications for around 30 places. And some of the biggest companies get much more than that. But that's not taking into account the standard of the applicants. It could well be that people are just seeing £££ and decide to hit the apply button.

Overall I wouldn't let the numbers put you off. Everyone at my university that applied had no problems getting job offers in the industry. Relevant work experience really sets you apart, too. It's also much easier to get relevant work experience if you attend at university that has strong links with the industry... I'm not going to lie, I only got my first placement because I attended an event where only students of certain universities were invited. And many companies only advertise their internships/placements at certain universities too.

Do you think then it'd be a good idea for me to email universities asking about their links with particular industries?

[Smack]

(Original post by HeavyTeddy)
Do you think then it'd be a good idea for me to email universities asking about their links with particular industries?

I can't imagine universities giving anything beyond a generic "we have strong links with both local and national industry blah blah blah" response; certainly not to the point where they openly advertise which companies recruit interns from there. You can look at the companies which exhibit at each university's careers fair.

[kaosu_souzousha]

(Original post by HeavyTeddy)
Most people that I've spoken too are under the impression that a mechanical engineer is involved in manual work, much like a mechanic. I'm pretty confused too about what a mechanical engineer actually does in industry (autmotive, oil and aerospace in particular). Is the job much more office orientated (what I would imagine) or is there actually manual work involved?

I tried to do a google search but the results were contradictory, so I'd really like some clarification before I set my sights on a career as a mechanical engineer.

Thanks.

Weather forecasting
Rolls Royce Turbine design
Deep sea pipe leakage detector robots
Rocket science
Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear reactor design
Orthopedic surgeons
Exoskeletons

etc
etc
etc


or just go to Siberia and work for some oil & natural gas giant

[abcdefg1]

(Original post by Smack)
I'm a mechanical engineer placement student in oil and here is what I do: I'm part of the team that manages the operations and day to day running of an oil platform. Others are involved in large projects such as installation of new major equipment. Others are involved in the actual design and analysis of equipment, components, structures etc.

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for more hands on work, though. A lot of engineers in oil work offshore. There's more money in that too. And the experience you gain from that time offshore will help you a huge amount once you're back onshore and help propel you into higher positions.

If you have any more questions about oil then just ask; I'll do my best to help. Hopefully people who are in aerospace and automotive can chime in too.

Are there any people from civil engineering backgrounds at your work?

[Smack]

(Original post by abcdefg1)
Are there any people from civil engineering backgrounds at your work?

Lots. When you're dealing with steel structures that are 600ft tall, there's definitely structural engineers.

[pheonix254]

Engineers - Yeah, those of us with degrees are not technicians or mechanics, we're professionals. We understand how things work, how to design, operate and build systems, be they structural, mechanical, electronic or whatever. we come in many different "flavours," but we all speak mathematics, and we are like physicists except we make people money, and hence are more employable. We're good with computers, simulations and detailed planning, but not so good with a spanner (although not completely incompetent with one) Some of us understand how components work, and how they fit within the system, and how to make better components. Others understand the system as a whole, and act as the orchestra conductor to get everything working correctly in-sync. Others still are involved in cutting edge research, working out just how much power we can get from an engine, or mobile phone battery, whilst still providing something that the customer can afford to buy. We make things work, we keep people on the move, we connect them, and if we're doing our jobs properly, we're generally invisible. We design the technical stuff, the interior (the exterior is generally done by graphics designers and whatnot), the stuff that matters, that does the job you need it to do.

Any complex system will have had an engineer develop it. Computers, cars, aeroplanes, mobile phones, the electrical grid that powers your house. We provide the blueprints, the technicians, machinists and mechanics put it all together, but we provide the standards that they work to, ensuring that everything can work together, as it is supposed to.

I work in aerospace, marine, oil & gas and energy. Right now I'm developing strategies to work out what future technologies we need to be investing in for research and development, in South East Asia. My last job was managing a £multi-million project involving simulating an engine on a supercomputer. And I'm a year out of university, so that is what we do.

Stu Haynes MEng MIET MIEEE

[usernonapplicable]

(Original post by Smack)
Lots. When you're dealing with steel structures that are 600ft tall, there's definitely structural engineers.

This reply is irritating me.

The design would be considered on land in an office. Once it's dumped in the sea there's no requirement for an army of structural engineers on an oil rig.

Presumably the majority civ' eng'ers employed on oil rigs are doing engineering related jobs but unlikely civil engineering related.

Have you actually worked on a rig or just saying what you think?

[Smack]

(Original post by usernonapplicable)
This reply is irritating me.

The design would be considered on land in an office. Once it's dumped in the sea there's no requirement for an army of structural engineers on an oil rig.

Presumably the majority civ' eng'ers employed on oil rigs are doing engineering related jobs but unlikely civil engineering related.

Have you actually worked on a rig or just saying what you think?

If it "irritates" you you're just going to have to deal with it I'm afraid, just like TSR has to occasionally deal with you and your various aliases.

[usernonapplicable]

(Original post by Smack)
If it "irritates" you you're just going to have to deal with it I'm afraid, just like TSR has to occasionally deal with you and your various aliases.

My alias is the one you see.

Anyway, I wasn't having a 'go', I just wanted to know what lots of structural engineers were doing on an oil rig. Might want to look at the option myself, but I have absolutely no interest in structural engineering.

[pheonix254]

You'll need them there to deal with the rig as the situation changes, situations which affect the structural integrity of the rig, such as the state of the sea, the fact that you're drilling into rocks containing high-pressure gas several kilometres below. If the rig wasn't constantly in a state of flux - if it was land based, then yeah, probably less need, but it isn't, it might be drilling several kilometres below the surface, and problems at one end need to be understood by someone who can make judgements on whether it is safe to proceed. Modern structures, particularly oil rigs, are in operation at the edge of their capabilities, and don't often operate around a steady-state - which is precisely why you have engineers on hand to deal with issues as and when they arise.

A bridge, on the other hand, isn't going to need a structural engineer onsite 24/7 as everything can be worked out in advance, and the situation doesn't change anywhere near as often. Though after a truck/boat/car/hurricane smashes into it, you get those engineers back on site to check everything over again.

I'm neither a civil engineer, nor work on rigs, and I am just saying what I think, but I can easily see why you'd want them on-site.

Stu Haynes MEng