Mechanical Engineering

pmc-drifter

I am doing my leaving cert this year and I hope to do mechanical engineering next year and I am just wondering has anybody finished this course and entered into the automotive side of this engineering because this is the area I would like to go in...

enda1

Yes, I have.

Go for it!

Jaguar are back hiring grads.
I'd look into some of the tier 1 suppliers too, not just the OEM's, cause that's where a lot of the business is going these days, companies such as Italdesign, Magner/Steyer, Edag, etc. etc.

Good luck.

pmc-drifter

enda1 wrote: »

Yes, I have.

Go for it!

Jaguar are back hiring grads.
I'd look into some of the tier 1 suppliers too, not just the OEM's, cause that's where a lot of the business is going these days, companies such as Italdesign, Magner/Steyer, Edag, etc. etc.

Good luck.

So what exactly have you worked as?

enda1

Working in CAE for an OEM.

The developement is excelent that I am provided so don't worry about toyur degree being "not very practical" like you hear people talking about in school. College is meant to provide a theoretical background whereas you pick up the practical side in work/internships.

So go for it!

pmc-drifter

But I am also thinking that i might do automobile engineering...

Timmaay

My friend who did mech with me is now working with Toyota in Belguim. He's going to be transferred to the uk for a few months soon, he'll get 6months in Japan also. He started a gradute program with them last sept, he said there was over 30 other gradutes starting then also. I'd say go for it also.

Although I wouldn't limit myself to an automotive degree, a mech degree is much more general, and come 4 years time who knows where the car industry will be. Mech will allow far more job prospects, such as in the energy sector, biomechanics, HVAC, Aerospace etc.

pmc-drifter

So what exactly does your friend do with these companies?

Timmaay

His offical job title is Body evaluator! As far as I know, he's on the R&D side of things, looking at improving the strength of a specific car body, by cad analysis (he uses a very powerful cad program, Catia v5) and stress analysis etc. He's very happy with the work, the gradute program really gives him a soft landing in the real world, although he does get stupid work evaluations/presentations every so often.

I qualified with him last summer also, and am probably an example what the complete oppose to what he's doing. I still havn't got a proper mech job (my own choice, rather than lack of jobs, I dont really fancy the 9-5 office job with a silly commute to dublin.) I'm working part time at the min, but looking to being self employed next yr with this Building energy rating thing. I'm just saying this to show you the variaty of things you can do with a mech degree, I started out 4yrs ago thinking I'd definately get a job with a car company/motorsport, but I saw so many other sides to engineering since.

chris85

Timmaay wrote: »

His offical job title is Body evaluator! As far as I know, he's on the R&D side of things, looking at improving the strength of a specific car body, by cad analysis (he uses a very powerful cad program, Catia v5) and stress analysis etc. He's very happy with the work, the gradute program really gives him a soft landing in the real world, although he does get stupid work evaluations/presentations every so often.

I qualified with him last summer also, and am probably an example what the complete oppose to what he's doing. I still havn't got a proper mech job (my own choice, rather than lack of jobs, I dont really fancy the 9-5 office job with a silly commute to dublin.) I'm working part time at the min, but looking to being self employed next yr with this Building energy rating thing. I'm just saying this to show you the variaty of things you can do with a mech degree, I started out 4yrs ago thinking I'd definately get a job with a car company/motorsport, but I saw so many other sides to engineering since.

Think i know the guy in Belgium too! he graduated last year in UCD if im right? Ha ha.

Seriously OP, loads of jobs out there in all different areas all over the world. Go for the degree and the different subjects and the labs will give you an idea for what area you will really like.

Its a great degree to get in term of the diversity of jobs you can be doing

enda1

pmc-drifter wrote: »

But I am also thinking that i might do automobile engineering...

I really wouldn't bother.

Do an undergrad in Mech and then if you want, a masters in somewhere like Cranfield in the UK (which is really well respected in the car industry) in automotive.

I went to Trinity by the way in case your interested but I would recommend any of the Irish courses to be honest. I liked Trinity cause of the 2 common years though, cause no matter what job you do in future, the electronics/computer sciencs/structural etc. will still stand to you.

Good luck.