<p>It's been a while since I've logged onto this website. But this site was extremely helpful to me while researching colleges 5 years ago, so I figured it may be of help now that I'm graduating. Please feel free to provide any suggestions/guidance with regard to my question.</p>
<p>I will be graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in mechanical engineering. I don't have a stellar GPA, just barely hitting that 3.0 threshold. I'm exhausted to the bone from all the recruitment events and interviews I've been through this past year in college along with the classes I've loaded up my schedule with. So, I was thrilled to finally see a job offer materialize. I was even more excited to see that the offered base salary is nearly 10% higher than the average starting salary for mechanical engineers graduating from my college (with the added incentive of overtime pay equal to the estimate of hourly wage for every hour worked above 40 hours per week). I think I did my due diligence in researching how this offer compares to other companies, and I waited on other companies to respond, but as I began to receive even more rejections, I finally decided to accept the only offer I had. The offer is from a reputable EPCM company (in the Oil & Gas industry, for those of you who know this business) that is based out of Houston, TX. The position is that of an entry-level automation and controls systems engineer (as mentioned in the headline of this post). It mainly deals with designing the layout, configuration, and installation of automation and control systems (DCS and PLC work) for chemical refineries. From what I have been told, the systems oversee mechanical equipment such as valves, compressors, turbines, pumps, etc. </p>
<p>So, now my question for all of you kind and helpful folks is: Having no knowledge of automation & control systems, how can I gain relevant information? I want to get as ahead of the other entry-level hires as possible, because I definitely don't want to fall behind. I've learned the hard way in school what happens to the engineers who fall behind early. I also suspect I won't be getting a whole lot of relevant training from this firm, because their answers to my training related questions have been vague at best. So, I would like to seek out my own training resources. Also, I would like to know more about the automation & controls engineering sector, in general (reputation, level of difficulty, potential for growth, etc.). </p>
<p>Any links, suggestions, or comments would be highly appreciated!</p>
<p>I can’t answer your question, but congrats on the job! You are really lucky to get overtime pay for more than 40 hours! </p>
<p>I took Control Systems and I thought it’s usually taught for EE major.
But we have the internet now, there is a lot of information online and you can get a lot of help. MIT open courseware has something that might help for example the following course.</p>
<p><a href=“Syllabus | Human Supervisory Control of Automated Systems | Aeronautics and Astronautics | MIT OpenCourseWare”>http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/aeronautics-and-astronautics/16-422-human-supervisory-control-of-automated-systems-spring-2004/syllabus/</a></p>
<p>Congrats on finishing and getting a wonderful end result - a job! Good luck!</p>
<p>Most controls work is done by EE’s or ChemE’s. However, ME being versatile as it is, is a good base nonetheless. Most of the knowledge you need will be taught to you by your employer through training and mentorship. This will include short courses at vendors or external seminars. Your employer being a top EPCM has gone through this before and likely has as an amazing training program for graduates. </p>
<p>As you are on the bottom of a steep learning curve, YOU will need to work very hard to succeed in this position. This will include many many hours in the field when the time comes for start-up and commissioning . This is where you will really learn the business and make your mark so make the most of this time and recognize this as extremely important for a young engineer. Before you know it, YOU will be leading and teaching the new grads as senior engineers have done for you. </p>
<p>Another point: You will need to focus on field-oriented functional practical solutions which blend theory and practise. Be aware of Ph.D. types in the office trying to convince you on the benefits of “model based control” or “level 2 control” or still “advanced control with matrix dynamics” or some other variant which reeks of academia. Given half a chance, these obviously very bright people will go on with differential equations and tensor matrices and how this applies to control and makes heaps of money for clients. These people love to talk theory because they tend not be terribly busy with projects and instead love to attend conferences and write mind-blowing complicated papers that have limited application in real life. In practise, this stuff is really icing on the cake, maybe the last 5%. </p>
<p>Most of the value comes from delivering realistic, practical and field-oriented solutions and being able to trouble shoot and solve the client’s problems in a timely and cost-effective manner. </p>
<p>They’re not going to throw you in and ask you to program the next refinery process flow… As the fellow poster above mentioned, being a large company they will have a good training program. Head over to the Chem E or EE building and ask some lab dude or professor for a good background reference material to get the gist of what’s coming. Also check the web for info.</p>
<p>At my very first job out of college, I asked an older engineer how long it would take before I felt like I knew what I was doing. He thought about it and said, “Around five years.” He was right!</p>
<p>that number is significant because this is around 10,000 hours - 2,000 x 5. this is the number pyschologists say are need to master complex tasks and concepts. ever wonder why most medical residencies are around 5 years? same reason. </p>
<p>My guess is the system will be often called a SCADA. You will probably be monitoring parts of the SCADA and the equipment that integrates with the SCADA ie PLCS,RTUS,…Every SCADA is different but the equipment may be industry standard and also the protocols I.E. DNP,Modbus,…</p>
<p>Thanks for the reassurances everyone! I guess I’m looking at 5 years of learning before I feel comfortable with what I’m doing. I suppose I’m fine with that. </p>
<p>Congrats! Seems like an odd job for a mechE, but I’m sure the company knows what they’re doing.</p>
<p>That’s not an odd job for a mechanical engineer at all.</p>