UK Engineer in the USA
#1
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Joined: Jun 2010
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UK Engineer in the USA
Hi folks,
In the shadow of my last thread comes this one! Without repeating too much; currently me moving to the USA is the course of action being pursued by my USC wife and I.
My reason for starting this thread is simply to find out what I need to know about getting an engineering job in the USA - ie how does my bachelors qualification and experience transfer, and will I be required to have in place any further US qualifications/certification etc before I am employable? If there are any expat engineers out there I would love to hear from you!
Cheers!
Tibbsey
Ok, some background: I have a bachelors in Electrical and Electronic engineering and have (or will have in the expected time for my visa to be processed) 3-3.5 years work experience as an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry. My main area of work is in the design, development and installation of electrical modifications and improvements. My involvement varies depending on the work, but being site based I am most often concerned with the installation aspects of projects - looking at the interface between new and old plant, updating drawings, writing installation and commissioning procedures, drawing up bills of materials and then overseeing the final installation. I do very much enjoy the technical side of my job and will be sad to leave it... but unfortunately family comes first and I have one to start!!!
In the shadow of my last thread comes this one! Without repeating too much; currently me moving to the USA is the course of action being pursued by my USC wife and I.
My reason for starting this thread is simply to find out what I need to know about getting an engineering job in the USA - ie how does my bachelors qualification and experience transfer, and will I be required to have in place any further US qualifications/certification etc before I am employable? If there are any expat engineers out there I would love to hear from you!
Cheers!
Tibbsey
Ok, some background: I have a bachelors in Electrical and Electronic engineering and have (or will have in the expected time for my visa to be processed) 3-3.5 years work experience as an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry. My main area of work is in the design, development and installation of electrical modifications and improvements. My involvement varies depending on the work, but being site based I am most often concerned with the installation aspects of projects - looking at the interface between new and old plant, updating drawings, writing installation and commissioning procedures, drawing up bills of materials and then overseeing the final installation. I do very much enjoy the technical side of my job and will be sad to leave it... but unfortunately family comes first and I have one to start!!!
#2
The Seldom Seen Kid
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Congrats on getting a visa.
I'd advise using your UK contacts, I recently moved into Nuclear from Oil n Gas and there's loads of guys who have worked over there you could speak to. I suggest that would be your best in.
Bechtel, Westinghouse are big players over there plus there's the Savannah River Facility (America's Sellafield).
In terms of being a Registered Engineer for the State, its not usually a problem someone else will sign the forms that required that sort of stuff.
Best of luck.
I'd advise using your UK contacts, I recently moved into Nuclear from Oil n Gas and there's loads of guys who have worked over there you could speak to. I suggest that would be your best in.
Bechtel, Westinghouse are big players over there plus there's the Savannah River Facility (America's Sellafield).
In terms of being a Registered Engineer for the State, its not usually a problem someone else will sign the forms that required that sort of stuff.
Best of luck.
#3
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
In my experience as an Electrical Engineer relocated from UK to Louisiana, I didn't have too much trouble finding a decent job. My qualifications have never been questioned - I guess a Bachelors degree is widely recognised wherever you got it from. I am a Chartered Engineer in the UK, and that is recognised by some companies over here, although becoming a PE in the US may be advantageous if you want to work in the public sector.
#4
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Join IEEE (and nuclear equivalent if you want to work in that industry) if you aren't a member already. Go to the conferences and network like crazy.
I would seriously consider getting certified and doing any and all exams this involves. It may not be essential for all jobs. But in this current economic climate there are a dozen job applicants who will be certified thus consigning your application to the round file.
I would seriously consider getting certified and doing any and all exams this involves. It may not be essential for all jobs. But in this current economic climate there are a dozen job applicants who will be certified thus consigning your application to the round file.
#5
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Join IEEE (and nuclear equivalent if you want to work in that industry) if you aren't a member already. Go to the conferences and network like crazy.
I would seriously consider getting certified and doing any and all exams this involves. It may not be essential for all jobs. But in this current economic climate there are a dozen job applicants who will be certified thus consigning your application to the round file.
I would seriously consider getting certified and doing any and all exams this involves. It may not be essential for all jobs. But in this current economic climate there are a dozen job applicants who will be certified thus consigning your application to the round file.
As an EE Tibbsey, it's not really necessary to become a PE, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. I would follow the suggestion of joining IEEE and probably even LinkedIn to start doing some networking. You shouldn't have any issues with a BS and not any other certs. I don't know what kinds of certs are out there for an EE, but they could prove worthy of pursuing if those certs are useful and could help you stand out from other applicants.
Last edited by Bluegrass Lass; Jul 2nd 2010 at 5:24 pm.
#6
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Thanks for all the useful replies folks, it has both got me thinking and set my mind to rest. Its comforting to know that there are people to hand that have gone through the same thing. The reason for the question was just because a friend of mine who is married to a Canadian asked very much the same question and made it sound like certification was a necessity. I thought that if there are requirements I would like to head them off at the pass whilst going through the visa application process.
Professional membership is a good call, I had overlooked that one - I am a member of the IET which I would have thought a good place to look for some clues, and a look at the IEEE definitely is in order
Job wise, I will be somewhat limited I think by geography, in that now I will be moving because the wife potentially has the better job - hence it currently looks like northern California, so nuclear power is out.
Thanks for the congrats Buchan, though unfortunately they are premature if warranted at all - its something I/we have just started on the road towards, so by the sounds of it its all still a year or so off
#7
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,059
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Aha... Canada is very strict about who is allowed to call himself an engineer. I believe that certification IS necessary there in order to use that title.
#8
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Joined: May 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 439
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Shame, I was about to quote it, no wonder doing so was confusing my browser, hey ho!
Thanks for all the useful replies folks, it has both got me thinking and set my mind to rest. Its comforting to know that there are people to hand that have gone through the same thing. The reason for the question was just because a friend of mine who is married to a Canadian asked very much the same question and made it sound like certification was a necessity. I thought that if there are requirements I would like to head them off at the pass whilst going through the visa application process.
Professional membership is a good call, I had overlooked that one - I am a member of the IET which I would have thought a good place to look for some clues, and a look at the IEEE definitely is in order
Job wise, I will be somewhat limited I think by geography, in that now I will be moving because the wife potentially has the better job - hence it currently looks like northern California, so nuclear power is out.
Thanks for the congrats Buchan, though unfortunately they are premature if warranted at all - its something I/we have just started on the road towards, so by the sounds of it its all still a year or so off
Thanks for all the useful replies folks, it has both got me thinking and set my mind to rest. Its comforting to know that there are people to hand that have gone through the same thing. The reason for the question was just because a friend of mine who is married to a Canadian asked very much the same question and made it sound like certification was a necessity. I thought that if there are requirements I would like to head them off at the pass whilst going through the visa application process.
Professional membership is a good call, I had overlooked that one - I am a member of the IET which I would have thought a good place to look for some clues, and a look at the IEEE definitely is in order
Job wise, I will be somewhat limited I think by geography, in that now I will be moving because the wife potentially has the better job - hence it currently looks like northern California, so nuclear power is out.
Thanks for the congrats Buchan, though unfortunately they are premature if warranted at all - its something I/we have just started on the road towards, so by the sounds of it its all still a year or so off
#9
The Seldom Seen Kid
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
opposed to say the regional utilities who will always go for home grown good ol boys
Last edited by Buchan6; Jul 2nd 2010 at 8:07 pm.
#10
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Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Is becoming a PE a little like obtaining chartership?
Originally Posted by Buchan6
an market sector that is truly internationally minded eg Engineering contractors which will have less issues on where you were educated
#11
The Seldom Seen Kid
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Is becoming a PE a little like obtaining chartership?In a way yes because it is suited towards a particular education / work eperiejce level.
True, plus my opinion is that working for a company who has contracts all over (like I do now) potentially offers a greater variety of work and potential career opportunities. Though it does require greater flexibility geographically speaking.[/QUOTE] Agreed plus it's a premiership name on your cv in my opinion. Given your locations quessing your at BE or M ?? Drop me a PM sometime be good to cut further.
True, plus my opinion is that working for a company who has contracts all over (like I do now) potentially offers a greater variety of work and potential career opportunities. Though it does require greater flexibility geographically speaking.[/QUOTE] Agreed plus it's a premiership name on your cv in my opinion. Given your locations quessing your at BE or M ?? Drop me a PM sometime be good to cut further.
Last edited by Buchan6; Jul 3rd 2010 at 12:07 pm. Reason: Added text
#12
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
If you are going to be working in the silicon valley, very few engineering jobs requires any sort of qualifications/certification.
#13
Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Hi folks,
....some background: I have a bachelors in Electrical and Electronic engineering and have (or will have in the expected time for my visa to be processed) 3-3.5 years work experience as an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry. My main area of work is in the design, development and installation of electrical modifications and improvements. My involvement varies depending on the work, but being site based I am most often concerned with the installation aspects of projects - looking at the interface between new and old plant, updating drawings, writing installation and commissioning procedures, drawing up bills of materials and then overseeing the final installation. I do very much enjoy the technical side of my job and will be sad to leave it... but unfortunately family comes first and I have one to start!!!
....some background: I have a bachelors in Electrical and Electronic engineering and have (or will have in the expected time for my visa to be processed) 3-3.5 years work experience as an electrical engineer in the nuclear power industry. My main area of work is in the design, development and installation of electrical modifications and improvements. My involvement varies depending on the work, but being site based I am most often concerned with the installation aspects of projects - looking at the interface between new and old plant, updating drawings, writing installation and commissioning procedures, drawing up bills of materials and then overseeing the final installation. I do very much enjoy the technical side of my job and will be sad to leave it... but unfortunately family comes first and I have one to start!!!
Joining an American professional organisation and adding this to your resume will deffo help to make it look less foreign. Suggest you re-write your res in American terms and verbage and change the format from CV to resume.
Do some research on what to (not) expect from US companies when job hunting - there's stuff on that on this site. Be aware of the differences in workplace "rights" over here.
Good luck.
#15
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Re: UK Engineer in the USA
Thanks again folks, this thread has definitely set my mind to rest on some things and weeded out some more things I need to think about
Although I do find the nuclear industry an interesting setting for engineering, and its something I have always wanted to get into, I am happy to move on - and accept that the western USA isn't really the best place for nuclear power jobs! I do fancy working in and around hydro plants, but realistically I will just have to see what's available
Although I do find the nuclear industry an interesting setting for engineering, and its something I have always wanted to get into, I am happy to move on - and accept that the western USA isn't really the best place for nuclear power jobs! I do fancy working in and around hydro plants, but realistically I will just have to see what's available