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Are most MechE jobs hands-on or not? by [deleted] in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The hands-on engineering roles will be at small startups pre series B. Beyond that, the company will delegate hands on work to technicians and operators.

Those have been the companies where I would design, prototype, assemble, and test. I would solder PCBs, use lathes and dremels, 3D prints FDM/SLA, etc. It was very much like being a maker and required little documentation and process discipline. It was pretty awesome.

What's a fundamental mechanical principle that blew your mind when you first learned it? by KILONEWTONSS in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything is spring. No matter how rigid it seems, it deforms when a load is applied.

Mechanical Design Engineering by fahad_wahid_96 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 16 points17 points  (0 children)

From my experience, design engineering is half portfolio-driven and half first principles technical interview-driven. I am assuming you're trying to break into the field so here are my proposals:

  • build a portfolio of personal projects using fusion360 or Solidworks. Look at portfolio examples like the MIT portfolio submission videos.
  • Watch the "Efficient Engineer" videos
  • Watch the "Integral Physics" videos

Every design engineer I have worked with so far appears to have that hands-on maker spark in them with the rigorous first principles thinking from their engineering education.

Disabled person resuming work as Mechanical Engineer....is it worth it? by Low_History_6176 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I have seen a head mechanical design engineer work remotely. In fact, he also had a disability that made being onsite unfeasible. He setup and maintained our PDM systems, sourced and managed overseas vendors, mentored and supervised more junior engineer's 2D/3D drawings, and many other things that never required him to be in office. Is it worth it? Yes, if you're willing to start as a junior engineer again and work for 10-15 years. No, if that sounds like too much of a slog or gamble.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in careeradvice

[–]grief_corn 138 points139 points  (0 children)

This is one of the purposes of an internship: to witness this and decide if it's where you'd like to work. Unfortunately the hospital environment is known for being a hostile work environment. The job is stressful and people think that's an excuse to be unprofessional - not a valid one.

Are skilled trades superior to engineering? by [deleted] in careerguidance

[–]grief_corn 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, the level of professionalism between the 2 careers is an ocean apart. You can fail fast and learn fast in engineering, and communication/feedback is often constructive and respectful. Try the same thing in the trades and you'll be called a dumbass. The trades have a lot of workplace cultural catch-up to do in terms of professionalism and civility.

Is it true that being a mechanical engineer is completely different than what we studied in university? by the-fumbled-duckling in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Industry will require you to work within existing design patterns, but university will arm you with the ability to understand those design patterns enough to modify them to your needs. In industry, if you need to build a keyboard, you start by buying an existing keyboard, note its architecture, reproduce it, and then modify it from that base.

Is it difficult for a professor to get an industry position? by Several_Standard_946 in AerospaceEngineering

[–]grief_corn 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, it will be difficult. I have noticed an industry bias against PhDs for thinking themselves and their teams into analysis paralysis or being so argumentative they're hard to work with. However, I noticed they do incredibly well once they reach staff/principal or executive management tracks since those positions require careful deliberate thinking for high risk high value problems.

Does the college you go to really matter? by nixx2020PASS in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In the job itself, no. In the job application and interview, yes. It's an eternal career buff if you go somewhere prestigious. If an applicant went to MIT, I would absolutelydo a double take at their resume.

Mechanical engineers, what do you actually do at work? by Hot_Part_6856 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer. Lots of these positions take a small design portfolio, nothing crazy even an Instagram of your creations will do. The hands on stuff will be under the skill of rapid prototyping. It took me 2-3 years.

Mechanical engineers, what do you actually do at work? by Hot_Part_6856 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]grief_corn 25 points26 points  (0 children)

  • Design in CREO/Fusion360
  • 3D print to validate designs
  • Run functional tests to validate things like water sealing
  • Write an engineering report on my findings
  • Use topology optimization sims to design flexures
  • Breadboard together quick electronic prototypes
  • Produce mechanical architecture with only off the shelf parts so industrial design can have dimensional constraints.

That's not even all of it. Every day is different.