Jobs for Engineering Undergradauates
Discussion
I'm an automobile engineering undergrad from Coventry University with the following job expereience
9 months as a process Engineer in a Diesel Injector manufacturing plant ( Delphi Diesel, Suffolk )
4.5 months as a Porsche technician in a Central London Independent (RGA Porsche )
I am looking for a job in Excel based Data Analysis , or CAD Design. The plan is to do this for a year, and then complete my course with an engine -related project in Stuttgart or Vienna ( Wien ) University.
So far, I have had no luck with the biggies - JLR , Cosworth, Ricardo and Prodrive.
Does anyone know of
a) Any agencies specialising in Office recriutment ?
b ) An engineering consultancy that requires CAD people ?
c) Any other companies that might require people with my skill set ?
Thanks
revvedup said:
I'm an automobile engineering undergrad from Coventry University with the following job expereience
9 months as a process Engineer in a Diesel Injector manufacturing plant ( Delphi Diesel, Suffolk )
4.5 months as a Porsche technician in a Central London Independent (RGA Porsche )
I am looking for a job in Excel based Data Analysis , or CAD Design. The plan is to do this for a year, and then complete my course with an engine -related project in Stuttgart or Vienna ( Wien ) University.
So far, I have had no luck with the biggies - JLR , Cosworth, Ricardo and Prodrive.
Does anyone know of
a) Any agencies specialising in Office recriutment ? Try Jonathan Lee Technical Recruitment
b ) An engineering consultancy that requires CAD people ? Lotus Engineering, JCB, Ricardo at Shoreham. Powertrain Technology, Shoreham, AVL, Graz
c) Any other companies that might require people with my skill set?
Thanks
Most design analysis is done using specialised software, not Excel. 9 months as a process Engineer in a Diesel Injector manufacturing plant ( Delphi Diesel, Suffolk )
4.5 months as a Porsche technician in a Central London Independent (RGA Porsche )
I am looking for a job in Excel based Data Analysis , or CAD Design. The plan is to do this for a year, and then complete my course with an engine -related project in Stuttgart or Vienna ( Wien ) University.
So far, I have had no luck with the biggies - JLR , Cosworth, Ricardo and Prodrive.
Does anyone know of
a) Any agencies specialising in Office recriutment ? Try Jonathan Lee Technical Recruitment
b ) An engineering consultancy that requires CAD people ? Lotus Engineering, JCB, Ricardo at Shoreham. Powertrain Technology, Shoreham, AVL, Graz
c) Any other companies that might require people with my skill set?
Thanks
When I was at Ricardo / Lotus both had developed their own software for Base Engine work, and using std CFD packages for cylinder head work, water jackets etc. Engine performance was also on bespoke software.
Per the yes I've used many CAD packages industry std these days is Pro/e, unigraphics and Catia, try getting some experience with these.
Thanks wobert, I have applied for a job with Jonathan Lee Recruitment. Let's see how it goes !
I will try and get in touch with all the comapnies you have mentioned this week and see if they have any projects for me. I will also give Perkins a bell, to see if they have anything available .
Which area did you work in ? How many people in how many departments are normally involved at a time for designing an engine ?
From my expereience so far, what I have found is that any car manufacturing company that can afford a CATIA CAD licence won't take me ( somebody who only designed one tow bar carrier with it as Uni Design project )as CAD apprentice or trainee to allow me to gain Design expereience.
Do you think the architects could be of any help http://www.istructe.org/ for gaining basic stress analysis expereience with CAD ?
Currently, I'm doing some work expereience on the engine re- manufacturing side of things - boring out blocks, grinding cranks and polishing heads. To be able to add to this with Design Expereience would be ideal.
Although I still don't know why my university never taught me how to work with metal in an engineering course.
I will try and get in touch with all the comapnies you have mentioned this week and see if they have any projects for me. I will also give Perkins a bell, to see if they have anything available .
Which area did you work in ? How many people in how many departments are normally involved at a time for designing an engine ?
From my expereience so far, what I have found is that any car manufacturing company that can afford a CATIA CAD licence won't take me ( somebody who only designed one tow bar carrier with it as Uni Design project )as CAD apprentice or trainee to allow me to gain Design expereience.
Do you think the architects could be of any help http://www.istructe.org/ for gaining basic stress analysis expereience with CAD ?
Currently, I'm doing some work expereience on the engine re- manufacturing side of things - boring out blocks, grinding cranks and polishing heads. To be able to add to this with Design Expereience would be ideal.
Although I still don't know why my university never taught me how to work with metal in an engineering course.
Edited by revvedup on Monday 20th August 00:20
Edited by revvedup on Monday 20th August 00:23
At the time I was at Lotus, the engine design dept was split into project teams, each focussed on one specific project. At the time this included many external clients (GM being the biggest in the early 90's) and also internal projects for Lotus cars.
The 618 project for the Lotus V8 was manned by one project amanger and 4 design engineers.
The design analysis group (DAG) were assigned work as and when required for each base engine team working on each project.
I was on base-engine design, so worked on anything from concept layouts to full production intent designs. My area of specialism was / is castings, specifically heads and blocks. The last project I worked on at LE was the L850 world engine for GM, it ended up in the Astra, the Vectra, the VX220 and other smaller model ranges of the GM empire.
The re-man stuff you are doing will be entirely applicable to what you want to do, as you need skills beyond just analysis / design work. Knowing the processes employed in manufacturing engine components will stand you in good stead, more so than architectural expeience on FE related things.
Since leaving LE I moved over into transmissions, both automotive and off-highway, until I was head-hunted by my current company in 2004 working in hydraulics. Since then I've moved into sales, with the benefit of 20 years powertrain design behind me.....which is nice and relevant!
If you contact Powertrain Technology, speak to Ian Gilbert, the MD, I used to work with him at Ricardo at Shoreham.
The 618 project for the Lotus V8 was manned by one project amanger and 4 design engineers.
The design analysis group (DAG) were assigned work as and when required for each base engine team working on each project.
I was on base-engine design, so worked on anything from concept layouts to full production intent designs. My area of specialism was / is castings, specifically heads and blocks. The last project I worked on at LE was the L850 world engine for GM, it ended up in the Astra, the Vectra, the VX220 and other smaller model ranges of the GM empire.
The re-man stuff you are doing will be entirely applicable to what you want to do, as you need skills beyond just analysis / design work. Knowing the processes employed in manufacturing engine components will stand you in good stead, more so than architectural expeience on FE related things.
Since leaving LE I moved over into transmissions, both automotive and off-highway, until I was head-hunted by my current company in 2004 working in hydraulics. Since then I've moved into sales, with the benefit of 20 years powertrain design behind me.....which is nice and relevant!
If you contact Powertrain Technology, speak to Ian Gilbert, the MD, I used to work with him at Ricardo at Shoreham.
Thanks Wobert
Your insight into the world of engine design is most appreciated. What would base engine design encompass, like what would you be responsible for drawing and analyzing ? Only castings ? I'm assuming the component manufacturers send you the CAD drawings of their respective parts for packaging into the assembly ?
What was the first engine part you drew on a CAD package ?
Say for example with an injector, would you just state your requirements to the respective OEM ?
Finally got through to Mr. Gilbert, and asked him if he had any projects to do. He said that they were a small company, and they don't take any students or give them any projects.
Your insight into the world of engine design is most appreciated. What would base engine design encompass, like what would you be responsible for drawing and analyzing ? Only castings ? I'm assuming the component manufacturers send you the CAD drawings of their respective parts for packaging into the assembly ?
What was the first engine part you drew on a CAD package ?
Say for example with an injector, would you just state your requirements to the respective OEM ?
Finally got through to Mr. Gilbert, and asked him if he had any projects to do. He said that they were a small company, and they don't take any students or give them any projects.
I now work as a draughtsperson at Newman Camshafts, which has allowed me to get some insight into the world of camshaft design. And it has also finally allowed us to think of camshafts in terms of firing order too.
Hopefully, my learnings and experience should help open doors to the world of engine design .
Hopefully, my learnings and experience should help open doors to the world of engine design .
CupraAndy said:
Im a CAD engineer Naval Architect about to be made redundant! crap! need to start the job hunting! im very proficient of Solidworkds and FEA. Need to get into motorsport 
I know it's a long way from your profile location but you could try Rolls Royce. They don't use Solidworks (but will still value the experience) but they do have a constant demand for good FEA skills (Abaqus, Nastran and their in house SC03).I don't know if 3D Engineers is a one man band or not but check out their "Mitchell Special". A very PH company indeed.
revvedup said:
I now work as a draughtsperson at Newman Camshafts, which has allowed me to get some insight into the world of camshaft design. And it has also finally allowed us to think of camshafts in terms of firing order too.
Hopefully, my learnings and experience should help open doors to the world of engine design .
Following eight weeks of CAD, my tenure at Newman's has finally come to an end. Working here has given me a first hand insight into the design of different pulleys, followers, a Bugatti type 59 rocker arm and camshafts ranging from the Austin A- series to the BMW S1000 RR. The most interesting part though was being able to design and manufacture a camshaft of my own design that fits a variable timing pulley. Hopefully, my learnings and experience should help open doors to the world of engine design .
There have been several important things that I have learnt here, but the most important learnings have been
1. A draughtsperson is not half as important as the bloke who programs the machines that make it. You can make the most wonderful contraption in CAD, but it is of no utility untill it gets machined into a tangible metal part whose function can be tested. I have heard of integerated CAD/CAM, but have never seen it in action and hence don't understand how it works.
2. Computer Aided Engineering tools like FEA become completeley useless if the boss already has decades of expereience in how metals stress out, and if what you are analyzing is a camshaft.
3. If you are a drughtsperson and you draw something simple like a camshaft, than you might be asked to transfer your skills to the existing workforce and be given a limited contract.
Its no. 3 that puts me into a quandry of sorts. Now I can draw a decent range of a parts in CATIA and AutoCAD inventor and have a portfolio full of camshaft and follower drawings alongwith a few university drawings and FEA analyses
Nows as long as I have a part and an appropriate tool to measure all the dimensions, I can make it on Inventor. There are two questions, whose answers I seek though
A) How do I convince an employer who uses a different CAD package and does entirely different parts, that I'm capable of drawing the parts he manufactures ?Especially , when I have never measued the parts in question or know the metrics involved ?
B) So far I have applied to positions with Studentgems, com, solidpeople.co.uk, Integeral Powertrain, Cambustion, AER and made enquiries with Omega Pistons, Mechadyne, Arrow Connecting rods, Allens Crankshafts, G and S valves, Kent and Piper Cams, Docking engineering, Quaife, Grainger and Worrall and a few companies that manufacture engine parts. Are threre otherany other engine part companies where one could apply, which I have missed ?
Edited by revvedup on Friday 2nd November 00:29
Edited by revvedup on Friday 2nd November 00:32
revvedup said:
A) How do I convince an employer who uses a different CAD package and does entirely different parts, that I'm capable of drawing the parts he manufactures ?Especially , when I have never measued the parts in question or know the metrics involved ?
B) So far I have applied to positions with Studentgems, com, solidpeople.co.uk, Integeral Powertrain, Cambustion, AER and made enquiries with Omega Pistons, Mechadyne, Arrow Connecting rods, Allens Crankshafts, G and S valves, Kent and Piper Cams, Docking engineering, Quaife, Grainger and Worrall and a few companies that manufacture engine parts. Are threre otherany other engine part companies where one could apply, which I have missed ?
A) In a lot of larger companies you generally don't do the measuring. Generally new drawings are based off old ones, or formatted in a similar way. If you're doing CAD for a design engineer, it should be up to them to determine what tolerances etc should be on the part print. Some form of qualification and experience in the software they use (which you've started getting) is very helpful. Catia V5 is used in about 60% of the industry, so it's a good place to start.B) So far I have applied to positions with Studentgems, com, solidpeople.co.uk, Integeral Powertrain, Cambustion, AER and made enquiries with Omega Pistons, Mechadyne, Arrow Connecting rods, Allens Crankshafts, G and S valves, Kent and Piper Cams, Docking engineering, Quaife, Grainger and Worrall and a few companies that manufacture engine parts. Are threre otherany other engine part companies where one could apply, which I have missed ?
Edited by revvedup on Friday 2nd November 00:29
Edited by revvedup on Friday 2nd November 00:32
B) Are you determined to stay in the UK? If not the list is, frankly, massive. Some other companies who do engine parts: Walsall pressings, Cooper's Standard, Magna Powertrain, Winklemann, INA Schaeffler, Koyo Jtekt Bearings, Kolben Schmidt, Federal Mogul, Metaldyne, Mahle Powertrain. I'll add more if I think of any. Best of luck!
Sounds like me Revvedup! I'm another graduate from Coventry University Automotive Engineering course, but I graduated in 2010
Truth is, its hard work getting your first job. Out of a dozen very good mates of mine only 3-4 of us actually got jobs upon graduating. Of them 2 of them went back to the companies they did placement years with (only 2 to get placements...), and 2 of us just fought harder for the jobs.
Those that didn't get jobs went on to do masters degrees, and from there got jobs more or less straight away (within reason..). All of us I would class as 'top tier' students/grads - well educated, smart and importantly very personable people.
My personnel experience was applying for 30-35 companies after university (gradcracker.com found me the companies and I sent off INDIVIDUAL covering letters & CVS or did their online application forms.)
From those 30-35 Maybe 2/3 of them I was put through to a f
king hateful psychometric testing phase which I was _no good_ at - at all.
From there I failed pretty much everyone of them but got lucky and managed to luck one for a company called Thales UK. Got to the interview stage and walked through it into the job for a September start.
I lasted a year there doing a job I hated (beggars can't be choosers....) before putting my CV online with 1 years experience. Within a week I was snapped up by one of the companies you listed above...and blagged a 25% payrise to £33,000 on top of it.
Sadly a week ago I was made redundant from said company (I took the large pay rise/experience over their grad scheme & the job security that goes with it) due to some big contracts falling through and our workload falling through the floor. I am hopefully that with 2 years experience finding the next job wont be as hard as finding the first...and I dont want to say any more in case I jinx it...but give me 2 weeks and I will let you know!
PM me for any specific details (except my current employer as I am here for another week) or advise! I've been there, done that and have (HAD...fk) the impressive salary! 
Truth is, its hard work getting your first job. Out of a dozen very good mates of mine only 3-4 of us actually got jobs upon graduating. Of them 2 of them went back to the companies they did placement years with (only 2 to get placements...), and 2 of us just fought harder for the jobs.
Those that didn't get jobs went on to do masters degrees, and from there got jobs more or less straight away (within reason..). All of us I would class as 'top tier' students/grads - well educated, smart and importantly very personable people.
My personnel experience was applying for 30-35 companies after university (gradcracker.com found me the companies and I sent off INDIVIDUAL covering letters & CVS or did their online application forms.)
From those 30-35 Maybe 2/3 of them I was put through to a f
king hateful psychometric testing phase which I was _no good_ at - at all.From there I failed pretty much everyone of them but got lucky and managed to luck one for a company called Thales UK. Got to the interview stage and walked through it into the job for a September start.
I lasted a year there doing a job I hated (beggars can't be choosers....) before putting my CV online with 1 years experience. Within a week I was snapped up by one of the companies you listed above...and blagged a 25% payrise to £33,000 on top of it.
Sadly a week ago I was made redundant from said company (I took the large pay rise/experience over their grad scheme & the job security that goes with it) due to some big contracts falling through and our workload falling through the floor. I am hopefully that with 2 years experience finding the next job wont be as hard as finding the first...and I dont want to say any more in case I jinx it...but give me 2 weeks and I will let you know!
PM me for any specific details (except my current employer as I am here for another week) or advise! I've been there, done that and have (HAD...f
k) the impressive salary! Edited by Andehh on Friday 9th November 10:26
Sponsorships are a lot rarer than they used to be, were mostly for undergraduates anyway.
A lot of German companies list student work placements on their careers websites as I believe it's still a requirement for a lot of German degrees. You could apply for those, but might be difficult as they're probably more set up for German/Swiss/Austrian university students and again, probably more for undergraduates.
A lot of German companies list student work placements on their careers websites as I believe it's still a requirement for a lot of German degrees. You could apply for those, but might be difficult as they're probably more set up for German/Swiss/Austrian university students and again, probably more for undergraduates.
Sponsorships are a lot rarer than they used to be, were mostly for undergraduates anyway.
A lot of German companies list student work placements on their careers websites as I believe it's still a requirement for a lot of German degrees. You could apply for those, but might be difficult as they're probably more set up for German/Swiss/Austrian university students and again, probably more for undergraduates.
A lot of German companies list student work placements on their careers websites as I believe it's still a requirement for a lot of German degrees. You could apply for those, but might be difficult as they're probably more set up for German/Swiss/Austrian university students and again, probably more for undergraduates.
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