 |
|
My former life as an engineer
James Pate, 2001
As I approached graduation from college, it was very
important for me to find a job that not only paid well, but that was also
interesting and challenging. Evans
& Sutherland was one of many other companies that I considered for potential
employment, though it really caught my attention.
The idea of designing high-tech flight simulators sounded exciting and
impressive. Also, the company was
large enough to be a leader in its industry and to be at the cutting edge of
technology, but small enough that I wouldn’t end up feeling like just a cog in
a large machine. It was just the
type of company that I wanted to work for. Two
interviews later, I was an employee.
I am a mechanical engineer and I have been working in the Display Systems branch of E&S since 1999. Since I have been here, I have designed mechanical components for both the H-60 and the S3B programs. I have worked with a team of engineers and designers that consists of only about 5-6 individuals. I really enjoy my job and the team that I work with. Here are a few of the reasons why:
My group is small enough that I really feel like part of the team. Not only are we dependent on and count on each other, but there is also lot of camaraderie among us. At the beginning of each program, we spent a lot of time together discussing the situation and brainstorming to map out the directions we wanted to explore and the tasks that needed to be accomplished. We then continued to work together to accomplish those tasks, helping each other to hurdle sometimes-difficult obstacles.
Instead of working on a just a very small part, I get to be involved in the big picture of our projects. There is a lot of variety in what I do. Since each program is a unique design, I have had the opportunity and flexibility to come up with my own concepts and designs to solve new engineering needs. I have designed many different parts and components and I continue to leave my “fingerprints” everywhere. It is satisfying to be able to look at one of our flight simulator trainers and to be able to say, “I designed that, and that, and that…”
Finally, I really enjoy my job because of the scope of tasks I have. I do not spend all my time looking for ways to perfect one previously designed part or to simplify its manufacture. Instead, I have had the opportunity to be involved in just about every aspect of the mechanical engineering design process: initial concept brainstorming and design, detailed design, computational and FE analysis, construction of solid models and assemblies, documentation, manufacturing, quality control, and site installation. This has made me well rounded and helps me in the design process because I have learned from my own experience where problems can arise. And that makes me a better engineer.
