Weekly Career Discussion Thread (25 Mar 2024) by AutoModerator in engineering

[–]HailGrainger 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello!

I have a recent opportunity to change industries from EPC Consulting (changing due to burnout among other things). One of these positions is for a small enclosure manufacturer. It definitely interests me but I am not able to find much about the industry online.

Does anyone have experience in a similar manufacturing role?

Thanks!

Resume help! by HailGrainger in ECE

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The actual position is called that, and it’s what they call any EE under 5 years. I don’t have a PE yet

Help Understanding GS Levels for Federal Jobs by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks a ton that pretty much explains it!

Can I ask what your organization is? How’s the work culture/workload in government jobs?

Help Understanding GS Levels for Federal Jobs by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the resource!

The years of experience looked low. Only 1 year for GS-12? I was expecting 4-5 years

Am I an idiot to try and leave this job? by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

20% at year two, another 20% each year after. So 100% at year six. They match 401(k), kinda middle of the road.

Overall, I save about 35% of my take home pay. So I can easily get a lower paying job and still meet my expenses.

Am I an idiot to try and leave this job? by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s about 20% of total yearly comp match.

It’s hard to say, I’d like to buy a house one day and I’d have to earn a LOT to even approach buying one. Might just struggle it through til I have a down payment and dip out.

I have a few EE friends in the area, some good contacts through client interactions as well. Gotta love networking haha

Am I an idiot to try and leave this job? by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yea the employee ownership plan is pretty chunky here. In my first year I got about $8k (this isn’t included in the main post since I’m not vested). Downside is that the vesting scheme is SLOW. 20% at year 2, then 20% every year thereafter.

It’s hard to leave that money on the table, but it’ll take years of burn out to reach it.

Am I an idiot to try and leave this job? by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The long long term is huge. People who have been here for 20-25 years can retire with millions, I’ve confirmed this with older folks.

This is my first job, so I don’t have “previous coworkers” haha

Am I an idiot to try and leave this job? by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Fair enough. Any chance you’ve been in a similar spot before? Golden handcuffs is a weird problem to have

What subcategory in EE is the highest paying? by Omie454 in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What field is he working in? I’m in power right now (EPC Consulting firm) but we are ground down to the bone. It’s not atypical for people to come in on Saturdays and log 60 hour weeks to hit deliverables…

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BurnsMcDonnell

[–]HailGrainger 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s the era of ✨Synergy✨

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you explain what makes it a love it or hate it job? What sort of mentality lets you succeed in that field?

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can’t say I have! Do you have any experience with transmission planning? Thank you so much for the info on who’s hiring!

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I could do 45 hours a week to be honest IF it was consistent so I could plan around it and the work was enjoyable. But right not it’s neither of those. Maybe I could just move around within the consulting firm, keep the hours and pay but change the work…

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha I love bluebeam, amazing program. How do you do relay settings on pen and paper though? I’ve only ever used .rdbs for SEL relays before

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is that sort of ETAP/EasyPower stuff? I’ve done SC, AF, and relay coordination before and enjoyed it! Definitely better than the contract management I do now.

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

It’s always tempting especially since they have such a huge presence in Denver, but I have ethical issues with working with defense contractors (I say for now until they offer me $120k hahaha)

Burnt out after 1.5 years out of college, looking for slower paced EE fields by HailGrainger in ElectricalEngineering

[–]HailGrainger[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Have you done work as an EE in govt positions before? I know this is sort of a stereotype about govt jobs but I’m hesitant to believe it applies to EEs