Hello, I am trying to get some advice from experienced electricians and engineer workers on what jobs could be a good fit for my experience and skill sets. As well as advice on how to do a better job picking work that won’t screw me over.
I am a nationally certified (NOCTI) Electromechanical Engineer. I got mentally/emotionally chewed up and spit out after working as a maintenance technician for a couple years as a young 'n dumb kid right out of school. I have kept my electrical skills sharp enough to wire up my own offgrid solar DC systems. I remember enough theory to do calculations and read schematics. My maintenance days have me somewhat familiar with electrical wiring, air duct systems, mechanical drives, pneumatic/hydraulic systems, PLC automation, and repairing broken parts with all manner of tools. I enjoy the feelings of satisfaction and capability that comes from successfully putting together and maintaining an efficient functioning system.
But im kind of scared to get back into the career field knowing how dangerous it can be (Ive mainly worked on 480v systems) and how little money I was paid before. On one hand I feel like I should use my highly technical skills and further a real career. However on the other hand every company i’ve ever worked for has screwed me over with promised training that never happened, severely understaffed stressed out maintenance teams who didn’t have the time or energy to spend teaching a newbie, and OSHA violations so egregious the inspectors were surely bribed.
I guess im trying to ask where I went wrong. What job paths are a better use of my skills that isn’t so mentally and physically taxing? What are some red flags to look out for? What is contracting work like? Should I try to get into a union? I really don’t know if I want to get back into this career field and I don’t know if I want to commit to a 2 year apprenticeship contract.
Im kind of an environment guy who cares about clean energy and would love to be helping out the planet a little through my work sometimes I fantasize about working on solar arrays and renewable energy stuff.
Im pretty good with computers and IT, I use linux daily, can ssh into a remote server, port forward, and have set up some local services on my own network. I am a main developer of an open source project decently familiar with the basics of programming in lua and commiting with git. A lot of the older guys have appreciated my help navigating companies old poorly organized intranets for schematic scans and work orders.
I am in my mid 20s, single and from the US but willing to travel.
Electromechanical with certs, good with tech? You gotta get away from “technician” roles if you want to stop being shit on.
Seems like industrial automation would be up your alley. A lot better chances to find a decent salaried position as an engineer fitting your title where you won’t be abused. Tons of room to stretch technically and career-wide, good application of mechanical/dynamics and required electrical along with digital computer controls.
However, downside is you’ll likely end up in a manufacturing role, where on-call work when a production line is down will be mandatory. And it’s not exactly clean energy, if anything manufacturing will always be a polluter.I agree with this commenter. To further make yourself an appealing candidate learn the basics of ladder logic and PLCs.
I have programmed PLCs with ladder logic before specifically allan-bradley SLC 500 and still have my certs for it. In industrial work we would keep a cleanly programmed plc on hand and reflash the program onto a malfunctioning PLC as needed. Sometimes I would pay attention to the input-output lights and look at the ladder logic schematics to troubleshoot a faulty sensor. Is it a big deal to know how to work with PLCs? Should I market that skill a little more in my resume?
I’m a welding engineer and in 10 years of working in automotive manufacturing all of the controls engineers I worked with were electrical engineers who did basically ladder logic on PLCs all day every day. PLCs and ladder logic are the back bone of pretty much all industrial automation, of which the automotive world uses extensively
It’s certainly worth mentioning, especially if you’re talking about industrial automation.
This is very useful. SLC500s are very old though and I would recommend learning some of their newer lines. Studio 5000 Logix designer is their newest software. RSLogix 5000 would also be useful and is the same thing just older.
Experience with ladder logic is transferrable. It’s just learning the syntax and quirks of different manufacturers after you understand the concept
Thank you very much this advice helps a lot.
You’re welcome! Good luck with the job search; you’ll need it.
You may be able to get in at an electric utility, preferably public power or a co-op. They tend to need both low and high voltage electricians and engineers.
Ibew is actually a pretty decent union, of you want the more hands on work.
I’m non-union, but yeah, IBEW is your best bet.
A good friend of mine got involved in switchboard manufacture. Mostly 9 to 5, mostly in the same building every day, mostly safe and predictable.
Have you looked into becoming an Instrument Technician? It’s halfway between electrician and engineer. You can start with a contractor and if you’re any good at all a manufacturing company will “poach” you from the contractor. If you’re good at that, it’s a straight shot to Maintenance Planner, then Maintenance Manager. I’d expect that trajectory to take several years, but you’re pretty quickly out of the bull work and your tool bag will be much lighter.
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