Design Engineer Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What does an entry level design engineer has to do at his/her work? What does a design engineer do ? Does he draw up schematics from scratch to see if it'll all come together or does he use pre contructed designs and schematics and test it day after day to see if it works .Or does it have to be from scratch as well as from schematics already given to them ?

Answer: A design engineer solves a problem by creating something from the materials at hand using a combination of his knowledge of science, math, and engineering principles; his knowledge of similar devices or systems; and his creativity. Schematics might be drawn from scratch, but in reality, there is some combination of the stuff I just identified directing the thoughts. There is a certain amount of trail and error involved, depending on the state of development of the technology, the engineers awareness of it, and the input and creativity of all those involved in the process. An entry level person will be given work to do that is commensurate with thier demonstrated skills towards compeltionof a project, if they are being guided by a fairly senior engineer. Thier work will be checked by senior people and they will be asked to prove or validate new thoughts or concepts and told to fix or "re-learn" things they may have missed in school that are essential to thier continued professional development.

Question: How many times does a prototype need to fail testing before the design engineer gives up and moves on? How many times does a prototype need to fail testing before the design engineer gives up and moves on to something productive? Does your answer in any way change if the engineer happens to be an insane female with mental issues?

Answer: I guess it depends on what one is designing, for a lot of things I've seen, I'd guess if it fails on the first try one labels the design finished and sends it to manufacturing. Is the person making changes based on the failures, before retesting, or is the person just retesting the same design over and over? If they are making progress with repeated testing, I'd guess the number of iterations would depend on the cost of the testing vs. the potential value of the final design. For the last item, If you are engaging in a bit hyperbole, then I suggest taking it up with HR, however my experience females tend to be predominate in that field , so I'm not sure what will happen. But I hear Burger King is hiring, so you probably won't starve. However, if you aren't using hyperbole, you might want to find out if this person carries a gun and is looking for a reason to use it (if she does you'll shut the **** up and mind your own business if you know what is good for you, seriously, insane females are nothing to joke about) Actually, I was using hyperbole about the gun (well, sort of) actually a law suit for a "hostile workplace" is more likely, but if you cost the company half a million or so, they probably are not going to be giving you any big promotions any time soon, who knows, they might even avoid or settle a suit by making this person your boss. Good luck, I think you are going to need it.

Question: What do I need to become a Design Engineer? I gained a B.Eng. Engineering Management degree but feel that I am more technical minded than management orientated. Does anybody have any advice on how to go about trying to become a Design Engineer?

Answer: If you have a portfolio of work done that is applicable, simply apply for a job as Design Engineer and blow them away with knowledge and application at the interview. There are many agencies, but ensure you go for the right one. Most are specialist in only one field, whether that be Petro/Chem, Water, Mechanical, M&E, etc. etc. Otherwise, I'd suggest you go about creating one, something that an Engineering company can look through and see your various capabilities in terms of conceptual design, with full fabrication and design calculation, tooling and/or die costing (R&D). Methodical, systematic and easilly read drawings which these days would mean knowing how to run a 3D package like Autodesk Inventer or Solid Works (Design Draughtsman) .. through to the financials, quotations, job cards, method statements, project programme etc. (Project Engineer). Edit: These days, due to constraints of business, a Design Engineer is also a Design Draughtsman, a Project Manager, a Site Manager (so CSCS qualification would be asked for) as well as a workshop foreman.

Question: Is liability insurance necessary for a mechanical design engineer working as a contractor without an agency? I am a mechanical design engineer working in product development in the U.S., and I am pursuing work as a contractor. I have a potential client that is willing to hire me and pay a gross salary without an agency. Do I need my own liability insurance? I am not a licensed PE, if that makes any difference.

Answer: If he hires you as an employee he assumes the responsibility. If it a a public safety issue then most states require a PE sign off on the work, but insurance is good, I doubt you get it without a PE, you may by a bond for the particular job, but no guarantees.

Question: How hard is it to switch from CAD engineer to analog design engineer? I have been working in the semiconductor industry as a CAD engineer for quite some years. How hard is it to switch from a CAD engineer to an analog design engineer? I have a BSEE. Can the managers and directors give me advice on whether the design group would want someone like me with the CAD talent? What does it take to switch over? Thanks!

Answer: It depends upon you...Can you actually do the job of analog design??? I think you may have to take a more junior position, if they take a chance on you, and prove that you are qualified/valuable enough for a more senior position since you are moving out of you area of specialty. Make sure you can both do the job and pass the interview.

Question: Why would an engineer design a circuit with 3 resistors in parallel? Why would an engineer design a circuit with 3 resistors in parallel as opposed to just using one resistor with 1/3 the resistance?

Answer: Remember that resistor will heat up with the passage of current. One reason to use three resistors instead of one is that it is more effective to dissipate the heat using three resistors instead of one and each resistor will suffer less by sharing the current, hence the heat. Anothe reason is that by using two or three resistors you are adding redundancy in the circuit and if one resistor fails (burns or becomes open circuit, for example), the other resistors will allow current to continue flowing and the circuit will still operate.

Question: I am an electrical design engineer, where I can get best jobs tru online application?Please help.thnx? I am a licensed electrical engineer w/ almost 2 years experience in design of residential and commercial buildings..I live here in Manila Philippines and my salary couldn't sustain my family so I need some help for me to get a job true online application going Dubai or Singapore anyone could help me. Is there a free websites where I registerto apply for these countries?Thanx.

Answer: You can try to migrate to Australia as a skilled migrant where electrical engineers are in demand.Visit the link below where you can find all relevant information. This will involve cost and time. Take all factors into consideration before taking a decision. Good luck. http://www.immi.gov.au/

Question: Can a civil engineer design buildings like an architect? I know the engineer does more with math and making it stand but can it just do both jobs? like design then apply the practical stuff?

Answer: Most architects are Civil/Structural Engineers with a masters in Architectural Engineering, at least they used to be.

Question: What is the main duty of mechanical design engineer? I'm really interested in continuing my education and become a mechanical design engineer/CAD. I was wondering after you get your degree what kind of jobs and duties do you expect? I really like this field and does anyone else thinks its a good Field to get into?

Answer: I am actually a mechanical design engineer, and use CAD (pro engineer specifically) and other cad programs to design mechanical parts and mechanical systems for aerospace. my current jobs kinda sucks, though it pays better than my last. My last job was in the desert doing prototype design and manufacturing engineering for UAV (unmanned aircraft) and that was great but they didn't want to pay me what I was worth. really, my point is that it all depends on where you are working. if you can get a good education and find the right job, doing what you want (meaning if you like cars, you work with cars, you like airplanes, you work with airplanes) and you get paid enough, and you get along with the people, than design engineering can be one of the coolest most satisfying jobs for a smart and creative person. That being said, if you get stuck doing repetitive and stressful drafting and engineering paperwork, you could go crazy. I would seriously recommend getting an internship at an engineering firm before you get out of school, that way you have some heads up on what kind of place you want to end up in when you start working. In term of getting an engineering job you really like, it's really just hit and miss...you go to interviews, you feel it out, but it's hard to tell until you start working there, and sometimes you have no money so you have no choice to work there! there is a shortness of qualified engineers/cad designers these days, or so I have heard. I am always looking for a new job, and I hope to get involved with alternative energy, that way I know my heart would be in it. give me an email if you want, I can give you some more great advice on this subject. kevbeer2003(at)yahoo(dot)com FYI I am 26 and live in california

Question: How much does an electronics design engineer make in Demark? Specifically I'd like to know if someone has a link to the salary statistics. And more specifically I'd like to know how much you think is the average pay for a VLSI engineer in Denmark with 10 years experience? Is ~50K (DKK) a good monthly salary or not?

Answer: My brother in law or my sister's huaband work in IBM as an IT specialist Well I guess his job is more related to you or more likely... He earned more than 40,000Dkk minus 46%tax.... So probably almost the same if you work as a comp.engr. Yes 50kdkk is a good salary in Dk and the food and clothing are cheap. You can also rent an apartment about below 5k dkk. Try this company IBM Mærsk Nordea SAS Hilton hotel Goodluck!!!!

Question: Is an IC design engineer typically found in merchant foundries? By typically i mean at least one engineer. Please provide relevant links. A merchant foundry is a place where they fabricate Integrated Circuits.

Answer: What is a merchant foundry?

Question: What College course in the US can I pursue to design and engineer automotive parts? I would like to design automotive parts and I am not sure which engineering program will point me in that direction. I would prefer to go to a college in Southern California but am open to others elsewhere.

Answer: That would fall under Mechanical Engineering.

Question: My company is looking for someone to design/engineer an outdoor lighting fixture. can anyone help? I am with a small landscape lighting company and need help with the design of a fixture. specifically low voltage lighting. LED lighting knowledge a plus

Answer: you haven't defined the application/usage of the lighting... Unidirectional ? Omnidirectional ? Swivel ? fixed ? Array ? standalone ? halogen ? LED ? polarized ? rechargeable solar ? hardwire ? plastic ? metal alloy ? decorative ?watt/electricity limits ? other design limitations or parameters ? Anyhow, an engineering or home fixtures company could assist you.

Question: Where can I find a Software Engineer to design me a music production plugin? Want to make a music production plugin and need a software engineer to design it and I would like to release it legitimately. Where is the best place to find one? And also how do I protect my idea from being stolen when getting quotes for the idea? I have a confidentiality agreement is that the best method? THANKS for the help and answers guys, thank you.

Answer: well, you can get software engineers on http://www.rentacoder.com but i cant comment on confidentiality.

Question: Can Mechanical Engineer Design Exterior parts of the automobile? I always see in the advertisements that mechanical engineers are engine designers and industrial designers are who design exterior and body part of an automobile. I just wanted to know if i graduate from mechanical engineering, can i do what industrial designers do in the automobile industry?

Answer: If you have an American degree, like BSME, then YES If you have an Indian ME Tech degree, then probably NO

Question: If someones career was design engineer, would you consider that to be a good and proffessional job? Someone I know gets mixed messages. I think it's a good job because i understand what it is, but what does everyone else think about it? Does it sound posh, rubbish, interesting, etc? What do you think?

Answer: I'm a Trainee Design Engineer; (no shit, I am); and yea it's a good job.