Posts
1402
Joined
1/28/2009
Location
USA
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 12:59pm
A small bit of background information...
I'm a 28 year old commercial pilot/flight instructor with all of my FAA pilot certificates and have a 4 year degree in aeronautical science(worthless outside of aviation for the most part)... I'm not making enough money flying so here are my plans:
I've been accepted into Oklahoma State Univ.'s College of Mechanical Engineering and plan to start in the spring and will complete in roughly 7 semesters.
So here is where your opinions come in...My dream job, given my aviation background, would to work at NASA or be a test pilot for Boeing. Outside of the aviation world, however, my dream job would be working for either a MX Race Team, or for an OEM in the R&D Department.
For those reading this that might have more insight into the back side of the industry than I do, are there decent careers working for the OEMs in certain departments? I want job security and quality of life(see outside aviation)... I've heard Ping talk about how there is NO job security for the Manager of a race team, but what do you think about the job security of an engineer working in-house at an OEM?
And yes I know that there was a topic similar to this a few weeks ago, but it dind't address my questions.
Thanks,
Joseph
I'm a 28 year old commercial pilot/flight instructor with all of my FAA pilot certificates and have a 4 year degree in aeronautical science(worthless outside of aviation for the most part)... I'm not making enough money flying so here are my plans:
I've been accepted into Oklahoma State Univ.'s College of Mechanical Engineering and plan to start in the spring and will complete in roughly 7 semesters.
So here is where your opinions come in...My dream job, given my aviation background, would to work at NASA or be a test pilot for Boeing. Outside of the aviation world, however, my dream job would be working for either a MX Race Team, or for an OEM in the R&D Department.
For those reading this that might have more insight into the back side of the industry than I do, are there decent careers working for the OEMs in certain departments? I want job security and quality of life(see outside aviation)... I've heard Ping talk about how there is NO job security for the Manager of a race team, but what do you think about the job security of an engineer working in-house at an OEM?
And yes I know that there was a topic similar to this a few weeks ago, but it dind't address my questions.
Thanks,
Joseph
That said, most of the engineering for the "Big 4" MX bikes is done in Japan. The US R&D offices are more centered on research and planning functions. So while a ME degree is a great path, it's not your only choice. Marketing or Business Psych are good paths also.
Your best bet would be to try and get in with a team like JGR or even PC who actually develop a product that requires R&D.
Whatever you decid to do, you'll be the smartest guy in the industry uder 30, but you'll also be making less money then all your friends for awhile.
Good Luck
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Do FSAE at school, you will learn the most about engineering from that.
1) There's NO such thing as job security.
2) If job security is what you seek, then "Sail your own ship".
By being your own boss, your the only 1 in control of your future.
Realistically speaking, your credentials can take you much further then here, plus there's way more earning potential elsewhere too.
Then you can indulge on all the latest and greatest.
Dave O.
Now, having sad that I live in Seattle and see Boeing test flights going all the time - 787, 747/8...if being a test pilot is your dream follow it with the mechanical degree.
i work in the mining industry and know alot of engineers that are being marginalized or even let go ; at the same time i see alot of companies looking for people with engineering degrees (BME specifically). it's weird? my own opinion is to use your current credentials to find a home with a good company and grow, versus go further into debt and get a traditional engineering degree and waste another three plus years. i'm sure i'll get flamed for this, but the job market is going to turn before three years time. the jobpool is full of overqualified applicants that are willing to work for less and employers are filling positions based on experience versus education. example: my friend is a petroleum engineer that hold the position of a mechanical engineer at a mining company. good luck.
Your clients will though.
What are your times, do you have enough multi to get on with a regional?
Pit Row
You can charge way way more than you would get from a day to day job, and without the Dilbert corporate bullshit.
Creat your own niche...start small, and look where Troy lee, Payton, Elmer etc ended up...but the key with those guy is incredible passion and business acumen.
Finally if you are great at something and no ones knows about it, goodluck!. Market, network like crazy. Look at the energy drinks, the product is shit, but the ignorant public wants to be part of it..
Justa few ideas, hope they help.
cheers.
Isn't that the truth.
Derek
You want to piss away another 7 semesters in school to find a job doing what you think is fun. You want a job you want, and that is fine if your working off Dad's nickle, but your are 28, and its time to start thinking what sells. If you were in a business, wouldn't you be better off developing a product that the consumer wants? Do some research what jobs are in demand then train in that direction.
I will give you a hint, no matter what business you are in, they all suck when you squeeze them down to work. You may as well pick one that makes money and is in demand.
A little bit of background. I am a 51 year old business attorney with my private and instrument ticket. I love to fly too but even I have a a hard time lying to my wife that it makes ecomonic sense. Flying and dirtbikes are a lot more fun when you can afford them.
I raced dirtbikes and was generally a fuck-off through high school. After high school I had a job digging underground cable tv lines. Some punk fresh out of college came on to a job site and started pointing where I should dig with my shovel. I knew it was the wrong place and it ended up looking like caddyshack, but he was the boss. When I quit and went to school., I spent my own money on a finance/math degree and then my law degree with a tax concentration. My girlfriend at that time was a psych major and asked me how I could stand to study something so boring. She went on to a retail position at the local department store.
I made some money and now have two spoiled brats that race moto and are homeschooled.
I'm jus' sayin'...
My advice.....go to school, get your degree and spend your summers networking and interning in the moto industry or anywhere you can. By the time you get done you should know if there is someone desperate for you knowledge or if you have an opportunity to start you own business.
Good luck!
PS. A good start would be to go talk to Marshall Plumb and sweep his floors for free while at OSU.
Hanging out and riding with you guys was the best part of my time there....almost wish I was still doing just that today!
Bill you are still a topic of conversation once in a while between me and Rod. Oh and your favorite buddy Damon comes up too. Good times! I'll find out about Adam, Casey is less than two miles from me and i have not seen him in almost two years. And he works for my wife!
I went on a training course, " Focusing Creativity" and said I was probably too specialised in motocross and needed to widen my portfolio to incompass landscapes etc.
Creative Industry guru David Parrish said my key strength was my niche market and just concentrate on trying to become the "best moto artist there is!", rather than dilluting my
work and just becoming another struggling artist.
Got to admit these past 4 years haven't been easy, plenty of times I've thought of getting a "proper Job again" when commissions have dried up, but I've stuck at it and it's now pretty successful. Just accepted two major commissions from Honda and have another 4 commssions booked!
I don't think anyone working in the industry is looking at job security or big $$$ earnings, Just doing something you love, earning a crust or 2 along the way and having people appreciate my art is reward enough!
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