Where can I go with Mechatronic Engineering (geographically and career-wise)?
January 3, 2011 6:48 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for advice and stories of experiences from other engineers, particularly if you've lived and worked overseas.
I'm currently in my final year(s) of a dual degree: Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts. I'm majoring in 'Mechatronic' Engineering, which AFAIK doesn't exist in the US yet, but its an official major here in Australia, as well as in Japan, and I think the UK. My Arts major is Japanese and Cognitive Science.
'Mechatronics' is the combination of Mechanical and Electronic engineering, with some software thrown in and a lot of project management stuff. Essentially most people see mechatronic engineers as 'robot' specialists, but most seem to end up working in control systems and automation - or anywhere the integration of mechanical systems and electrical systems is important.
I just returned from a year long exchange study program in Japan where I had an absolute blast and now want to go back ASAP. I still have another 2 years remaining of my degree (6 years in total), but after that I'm wondering where I can go and how much space I'll have to move around.
I'd also like to live in other countries, I find it much more rewarding to immerse myself in a culture as a resident rather than as a tourist.
On the other hand, Japanese companies are known for torturous overwork, and fresh graduates are paid very little.
So my question is this:
What kind of possibilities are there to work for a company that sends me overseas to live for medium-long term contracts, and how likely am I to land something like this as a 'junior' engineer/fresh graduate? Can you suggest any such companies?
I'd love to hear experiences from any engineers. Do you enjoy your work? Have you been able to move between companies/roles fairly easily?
Maybe I'm setting my goals too high, but I think being able to visualize a dream job would help me get through these last two years :D
Thanks for taking the time :)
I'm currently in my final year(s) of a dual degree: Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts. I'm majoring in 'Mechatronic' Engineering, which AFAIK doesn't exist in the US yet, but its an official major here in Australia, as well as in Japan, and I think the UK. My Arts major is Japanese and Cognitive Science.
'Mechatronics' is the combination of Mechanical and Electronic engineering, with some software thrown in and a lot of project management stuff. Essentially most people see mechatronic engineers as 'robot' specialists, but most seem to end up working in control systems and automation - or anywhere the integration of mechanical systems and electrical systems is important.
I just returned from a year long exchange study program in Japan where I had an absolute blast and now want to go back ASAP. I still have another 2 years remaining of my degree (6 years in total), but after that I'm wondering where I can go and how much space I'll have to move around.
I'd also like to live in other countries, I find it much more rewarding to immerse myself in a culture as a resident rather than as a tourist.
On the other hand, Japanese companies are known for torturous overwork, and fresh graduates are paid very little.
So my question is this:
What kind of possibilities are there to work for a company that sends me overseas to live for medium-long term contracts, and how likely am I to land something like this as a 'junior' engineer/fresh graduate? Can you suggest any such companies?
I'd love to hear experiences from any engineers. Do you enjoy your work? Have you been able to move between companies/roles fairly easily?
Maybe I'm setting my goals too high, but I think being able to visualize a dream job would help me get through these last two years :D
Thanks for taking the time :)
Which seas are you talking about? Does "anywhere but Australia" count as overseas, given that it's an island?
posted by schmod at 7:05 AM on January 3, 2011
posted by schmod at 7:05 AM on January 3, 2011
I went to Japan shortly after finishing my EE at an American university, and stayed there for 8 years. I coded for a Japanese software company founded by a high-school dropout (literally), built network infrastructure for an Australian who was doing technical translation for Japanese electronics companies, and as a "technical liaison" for an American company selling network equipment into Japan. (This was all at least 15 years ago, and Japan's economy has been in the toilet for most of the time I've been gone.)
It'll probably be hard to find a company that will send you overseas as a rank newbie, but if you have some experience or skills somehow, you may have better luck going where you want to go, then applying for a position there. In Japan (and probably a lot of Asia) the tried-and-true method is to go as an English teacher, then wangle a tech job. Again, in Japan, if you're white and college-educated, it wasn't uncommon for the visa rules to be bent or interpreted differently so that you could stay.
The Japanese engineers I knew & worked with were paid poorly and worked long hours, and it's rare enough for a Japanese engineer to advance significantly in his company. I wouldn't recommend that track for a round-eye engineer starting out. Other countries may work differently (in particular, I suspect that companies in Europe would offer a fairer chance for a foreign engineer).
Staying in-country is a great experience, but (IME) avoid the ex-pat community wherever you go. You'll find a bunch of people who should've just stayed home, drinking and griping about the people and the country where they are.
posted by spacewrench at 7:39 AM on January 3, 2011
It'll probably be hard to find a company that will send you overseas as a rank newbie, but if you have some experience or skills somehow, you may have better luck going where you want to go, then applying for a position there. In Japan (and probably a lot of Asia) the tried-and-true method is to go as an English teacher, then wangle a tech job. Again, in Japan, if you're white and college-educated, it wasn't uncommon for the visa rules to be bent or interpreted differently so that you could stay.
The Japanese engineers I knew & worked with were paid poorly and worked long hours, and it's rare enough for a Japanese engineer to advance significantly in his company. I wouldn't recommend that track for a round-eye engineer starting out. Other countries may work differently (in particular, I suspect that companies in Europe would offer a fairer chance for a foreign engineer).
Staying in-country is a great experience, but (IME) avoid the ex-pat community wherever you go. You'll find a bunch of people who should've just stayed home, drinking and griping about the people and the country where they are.
posted by spacewrench at 7:39 AM on January 3, 2011
Have you considered the Middle East? Aside from the high-profile doings in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, etc., there's lots and lots and lots going on with stuff that doesn't attract media attention, that could well have needs for people with your background. Bayt.com is a good place to start.
I'm not an engineer, but I have worked in the region and worked with and met a good number of engineers there. Feel free to MeMail me if you want more information.
posted by ambient2 at 10:32 AM on January 3, 2011
I'm not an engineer, but I have worked in the region and worked with and met a good number of engineers there. Feel free to MeMail me if you want more information.
posted by ambient2 at 10:32 AM on January 3, 2011
My experience at an engineering firm is that travel, especially long term travel, is difficult to get anyone except someone relatively young to volunteer for. Family and other commitments make the more experienced guys try to shy away from it.
posted by garlic at 11:39 AM on January 3, 2011
posted by garlic at 11:39 AM on January 3, 2011
I went to school in California, and my university has a mechatronics concentration as part of the mechanical engineering program. I have a degree in mechanical engineering with an extra line saying "mechatronics concentration." In addition to the usual thermo, design, statics, and dynamics, we had to take controls, an electrical engineering assembly class, and two mechatronics design classes. From how you describe it, your degree program is much more focused on mechatronics than my experience.
I actually ended up going to work in the air conditioning controls industry. The experience I got in mechatronics classes directly translated into AC controls, although I don't recommend going into this field if you're looking to work with the latest technology or the brightest engineers.
As for your main question, I don't have a good answer. In my experience, the companies I worked for did, in fact send me to travel, but it was mostly within the US for short-term (less than 1 month) jobs that needed an engineer's attention. If you do go into the AC controls field, and wish to travel overseas, a large multinational corporation like Siemens or Johnson Controls might have a position like that. In the US, an applications engineer out of college can probably expect a $50-$60k salary.
posted by zompus at 4:35 PM on January 3, 2011
I actually ended up going to work in the air conditioning controls industry. The experience I got in mechatronics classes directly translated into AC controls, although I don't recommend going into this field if you're looking to work with the latest technology or the brightest engineers.
As for your main question, I don't have a good answer. In my experience, the companies I worked for did, in fact send me to travel, but it was mostly within the US for short-term (less than 1 month) jobs that needed an engineer's attention. If you do go into the AC controls field, and wish to travel overseas, a large multinational corporation like Siemens or Johnson Controls might have a position like that. In the US, an applications engineer out of college can probably expect a $50-$60k salary.
posted by zompus at 4:35 PM on January 3, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
I live in Norway, BTW, where the work environment is much more humane than many other places (including both Japan and the US). If you can swing a work visa, why not come over for at least a couple of years? Use your five weeks of vacation to see the rest of Europe, and come home to Oz later and market your extensive experience from abroad.
BTW, mechatronics is a real field up here as well.
posted by Harald74 at 7:04 AM on January 3, 2011