h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello there!
I'm 25, female and work as a document controller for a firm in the electricity transmission segment. Looking for advice on possibly moving into Engineering. I don't want to be an electrical engineer (at least I don't think so, but tell me more if you are one!) but what has caught my interest is a role we call Layout Engineering. This entails producing CAD layouts of civil requirements, equipment, earthing, conductors etc, detail drawings of connectors, earth bonds, mechanical interlocking, foundations etc. etc.
I was wondering what kind of qualifications I might need to do something like this, and whether this type of role exists elsewhere. I know, I could ask at work but I don't want to yet, as I'm just pondering at the moment. Also I don't think they're v. keen on people making that kind of a shift (and there'd be no-one to do the photocopying, filing, calming down of site engineers and running round picking up the pieces!)
Any constructive advice would be most helpful & greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys

H

I'll keep this brief cos I've got to go. But I'll add more tomorrow.

In a nutshell yes the job exists. Lots of draughting firms have a mechanical layout designer. You would benefit from a least an HNC in engineering and some CAD training. There's lots places to do both of those.

As I said, just brief.

Liam.

Thanks for that Liam, a good start! I take it I'd probably need to look @ mechanical engineering or general engineering? Would you know what kind of existing qualifications I'd need, eg A-levels etc? I guess that a National Certificate first would be the way to go?
Sorry, lots of questions! Thanks ever so much, it's good to know the job does actually exist in the real world!
So what do you do?



H

Anybody else like to offer anything?



xHx

Well I just bunged engineering design into the OU (Open University) search engine and got info on their Engineering course which includes a design module at level two. Dunno your financial / educational cuircumstances so dunno if the OU is completely out of the question but if they do then I'm sure many other places do. Try your local college, get a list of their courses and see what they do. Talk to them to see what they would recomend you take. They should know after all!

Ta Ictoan, I've been looking @ my local colleges but their websites are a bit pants so I guess I'll have to venture out into RW for a bit!



xHx

Speaking as an engineer, my advice would be: consider accountancy. It's easier to qualify, the work is easier, the working conditions are better, it's *much* better paid, less misunderstood, you can work *anywhere* (engineering is quite location specific) and you'll never find yourself on a windswept site explaining the details of your design to someone who barely speaks your language.

So why, given the above, am I still in engineering? Because I love it. Because "engineer" isn't a description of something you *do*, it's a description of something you *are*. And if it isn't - consider accountancy.



OK, on a more practical note: everywhere I've ever worked, there've been people doing the job you describe. "Layout engineer" is a fancy title I've never heard. "Draffie" is more like it. The other thing I'd point out is that in almost every single case, the "draffie" is NOT an employee, but a contractor. This means they don't get the paid holidays, sick leave, pension, share schemes, and many other benefits of being an employee. It additionally means that they work on a week's notice rather than the employee's two or three months, and often get treated like s**t by employees, particularly managers. It does mean they get paid large hourly rates which are intended to compensate for all that...

Good luck.

H.

I was tempted to respond earlier, but all of my experience with engineering is in the USA where things are different enough to be confusing. In my own terminology, it sounds like you're interested in drafting, both CAD and the manual type. Trade schools exist all over the place in the US and are excellent ways to get affordable education in the sort of technical skills needed to be a good CAD person. Having said that, there's quite a lot of stiff competition coming out of those school because of their affordability and ready availability. In my experience with the technical trade degrees (what we would call Associate's degrees, as opposed to Bachelor's of Science degrees), it helps immensely to have something lined up prior to engaging in school, perhaps a learn-as-you-go type of education program with a firm that is willing to pay for your education as long as you get excellent grades and commit to working for them afterwards. Obviously that's a luxury that most people won't have ...

There is a big job market for people with drafting skills. We use what we call A&E firms (Architecture and Engineering) that provide most of our drafting needs, of which we have a lot (I work at a Government Research Laboratory). Maybe finding employment with an A&E firm is your in-road to that career, or at least lining up a few that might be interested in your skills when you graduate.

- JD

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your advice. Will mull it over. Accountancy??!? I hope you're kidding! I couldn't think of anything more utterly boring! I actually like going out on sites, I think it's great even though there's a small risk of being fried by a high voltage cable, or blown to bits by an exploding circuit breaker (this does happen. )
I think you're all correct, draughting (or drafting for our American friend!)is probably the way to go. Unfortunately we use MicroStation rather than AutoCad so finding a course is a bit tricky but I think I'll just go & learn AutoCad.
Thankyou all so much for your advice, I really appreciate it!




xHx

Accountancy - I wasn't kidding. Unless you're sure you're going to LOVE engineering, then do something else that pays better and doesn't require long hours and antisocial conditions. Like I say - I enjoy my job, and I count myself lucky that I can say that - but I know plenty of ex-engineers who are glad they are not engineers any more.

AutoCAD - definitely a must-have.

Good luck.

H.

It all depends on the particular branch of engineering you're after. I used to work in IC design and the company had a specialised layout department for that, not quite the same as laying out a transformer substation.
As for MicroStation, if you can get your firm to send you on a proper course for it (if you haven't already) then it'll do you and your employability loads of good. Not everyone uses AutoCAD (hough many, many people do ) a brother in law of mine has been using MicroStation since he was doing his degree in Architecture and still uses it now.