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Speeddemon73
6/8/2021 8:41am
6/8/2021 8:41am
Hey All,
Looking for some advice on searching for engineering/ CAD Design / r&d jobs in the motocross industry. My educational background consists of a bachelor's in Product Design Engineering Technology, an associate's degree in Mechanical Design & Drafting, a couple of CAD certifications & departmental awards, my senior capstone project in college was motocross related. My current approach has been keeping an eye on the major motorcycle brand career pages, but it doesn't appear that race shop or race team-specific jobs are posted on the general careers pages. Other motorsports, namely formula one, has separate career pages for race team jobs and generic public type positions. I have also posted my resume on the "Motorcycle Industry Jobs" website, but no luck on there either as the main focus of that site appears to be more dealership technician/mechanic type positions. Most of the main engineering jobs for the major manufacturers are located in their home countries. Hoping these types of jobs aren't those "word of mouth" or based on "who you know" type positions. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Looking for some advice on searching for engineering/ CAD Design / r&d jobs in the motocross industry. My educational background consists of a bachelor's in Product Design Engineering Technology, an associate's degree in Mechanical Design & Drafting, a couple of CAD certifications & departmental awards, my senior capstone project in college was motocross related. My current approach has been keeping an eye on the major motorcycle brand career pages, but it doesn't appear that race shop or race team-specific jobs are posted on the general careers pages. Other motorsports, namely formula one, has separate career pages for race team jobs and generic public type positions. I have also posted my resume on the "Motorcycle Industry Jobs" website, but no luck on there either as the main focus of that site appears to be more dealership technician/mechanic type positions. Most of the main engineering jobs for the major manufacturers are located in their home countries. Hoping these types of jobs aren't those "word of mouth" or based on "who you know" type positions. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Bachelors in industrial engineering, minor in industrial management.
Associates in computer integrated machining.
How many years of experience do you have?
If you are coming fresh out of college go get an engineering job with a normal company and learn the ins and outs of the job. 3-5 years. I promise it is nothing like they have taught you in school.
These places in the motocross industry that would hire someone with your degree are looking for someone who is self sufficient and doesn’t need training, because they dont hire multiple people to the same positions like a big company would. Get what I’m saying? With a small company you are “the guy” so you better know what you are doing.
The Shop
Also, 100% correct.
OP, if you really want to work in the industry as an R&D person, you may have to move to the local area for an OEM. I know Polaris and Harley-Davidson are (relatively) near you. You'll probably have to take an entry-level job and then move into the product development part of the company.
For motocross, you'll have to move to Japan or Austria to do R&D. (Or get a job at an aftermarket company.)
It is most definitely a "who you know" and "word of mouth" type of position in many cases. Good luck!
Harley Davidson - always hiring (if you like that kind of market)
Polaris (Indian MC & Powersports division) has frequent postings
KTM AG (lots of engineering postings, but seems VERY difficult to even get an interview)
KTM NA - very rare
Yamaha Motors will occasionally post an engineering for Powersports
Occasionally I will see postings for Ducati, Triumph, etc.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC has been hiring design engineers recently - seems like they are growing quite a bit
Honda...rare to see an open. Have to search both HPD and Honda of America job postings.
Suzuki, Kawasaki....hardly ever see anything stateside.
Keep an eye on motorcycleindustryjobs.com as well as LinkedIn (keyword job search motorcycle)
I am in a similar career as you, but it sounds like I'm about 30 years ahead of you. I work in product development for a huge international company in the auto industry. Being on Vital, I am also a huge fan of MX and off-road riding and racing.
My recommendation would be to get as much experience as possible in many different disciplines of product development and all of the related activities. Nobody wants a guy who makes CAD models all day, you have to be a jack-of-all trades and make yourself marketable. Learn testing - validation, FEA, destructive, field returns, etc.. Learn how parts and materials fail under all conditions. Learn project management and become good at dealing with idiots. Be flexible and be willing to learn, even if it's not exactly what you want to be doing. Move to Detroit and get experience working in the fast-paced auto industry, or move to Charlotte NC and get a job in the motosports industry (there used to be a ton of cool jobs in NASCAR but I would guess they are harder to come by now). #1 thing is to Network... be cool and put in the work and the people you cross paths with will come to you with future opportunities. Be "that guy" that someone knows that can get you the job.
If you really want a job in the motorcycle industry, you will eventually get one if you keep at it ... just be sure that's what you really want! As others have mentioned, the pay will usually be lower and you will have to travel and do a lot of work (weekends) so your passion for the sport may suffer. Also if you have a family, the travel will get old after a while.
Get a good job in the auto industry (or similar) with good demand and decent pay and decent vacation, then travel on your own time and enjoy your passion on the weekends.
Do whatever you want- if you want a job in the motorcycle industry go do it. Don’t solely focus on money, also focus on professional and personal experience. This is what will make you valuable to a company..
Out of college I did what I wanted- went to work for snowmobile manufacturer as a Test Engineer because I loved snowmobiles (and still do). It was a great experience and led me exactly to where I am today.
Point is the novelty wears off when you do it all the time.
I guess I am the opposite- For me I can’t imagine a career not related to something I love..That would be horrible..
Pit Row
Don't be wrong with what I am trying to say, but the goal for you is "just" to be an expert in whatever field you are in. By expert, I mean world class, 8 to 10pm, for a few years, and not just working, think Osborne or Ferrandis type of commitment, training hard and learning as much as you can, work is only 3 or 4 hours a day when you are totally efficient, the rest is learning. Then, actually once you get gold in hand, the OEM may look after you more than you look after them, because you will be worth more than what they can propose, and you may actually continue in what you are working on because the MX OEM may probably (for sure) never match what you can earn if you have totally developped your skillset, nor they will offer you any development or career opportunities like you could get in the "big league". MX is so small you may use right now machine that you will never use again in the next 20 years.
That is the moment you will be able to choose between mx and other industries, between "stepping down" because of your passion, or continuing the "rat race" for fun, or (what I encourage anybody to do) making your own business because no bosses want to value what you build ; in all cases, be super patient, ultra patient, more than what i have been (I was moving up every 6 months in average), because you look committed, so it will come sooner than later.
I'd start my own business and offer my services to all the various co's, teams and OEMs out there. I use a coupl'a guy as "guns for hire"...A LOT! Tehy make pretty damn good $$$
I'm jus' payin'...
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