Job Responsibilities
Current job responsibilities involve designing mechanical sub-
structure components such as one way clutches, hubs, & shells
within the automatic transmission. I'm normally in a couple of
meetings daily regarding design changes for current or future
transmission product programs.Typically 60% of my time is spent
verifying failure modes on components. This could be reduced if
management were not pushing for a redesign to fix a failure.
Nothing wrong with fixing design or manufacturing flaws, but
there is something fundamentally wrong with fixing a problem you
don't understand. Middle management is willing to waste six to
seven figures in dollars to solve a problem only to end up at
square one. Once they get on a path or make a promise to higher
ups to have an in vehicle fix in 3 months, they are willing to
implement the so called fix, even if it puts the transmission in
a position to have a more catastrophic failure. A lot of these
unknown failure modes could have been discovered by proper
design & production verification testing.
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Job Requirements
A BS in engineering is required for a position in Component
Design. This particular job typically is a requirement to move
up in engineering management. You normally have a stint as a
Design & Release Engineer from as short has 12 months to as long
as 4 years if you want to get on the engineering management
career path.
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Uppers
The benefits of this type of position are that you are not under constant stress
as when you work in a plant during launch or for maintenance. You typically have
some time & a bit more latitude when speaking to management about how to solve
design issues. Typically, the atmosphere in the office tends to be relaxed except
with looming layoffs on the horizon. The last round definitely woke people up
when they witnessed people they've worked with for years shown the "Way out the
door" courtesy of the "Way Forward Plan".
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Downers
The last round definitely woke people up when they witnessed
people they've worked with for years shown the "Way out the
door" courtesy of the "Way Forward Plan". As far as skills,
there are cutbacks happening in all areas of the company,
limiting the training that used to be readily available. With
global competition becoming extremely competitive, our vehicle
offerings combined with shrinking market share is forcing the
company to shrink. With that in mind, many older engineers are
finding themselves in the cross hairs of the company's target
for operating cost reduction. As younger engineers with less
than 6 years at the company watch, they realize that the company
has no loyalty towards the employees.
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Lifestyle
In my current position, business travel has been no existent. Every opportunity
I have to visit a supplier, the trip is deep sixed because we can't send more
than two people. Being that I am the least senior in the group, I normally get
bumped. Work is typically around 40 hours a week since the since of urgency to
get things done is at a much lower level. Diversity is an interesting topic. I've
been at the company since 2000 & for the last 5 years, I have only worked with
two other African American engineers in their mid twenties in an organization
with well over 800 people. The numbers are not that bad around other areas of the
company, but it lets you know how few of a particular race is represented in
engineering.
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Compensation
$76,000 with no bonuses. Healthcare has been good, but will rise
30% over current prices effective this June. When overtime is
given (typically just during product launches at the plant or
during development work at the proving grounds), if your hourly
rate is above $30/hr., you will be paid $30/hr straight pay for
overtime. Also, 40lk matching has been suspended since June
2005. With profit sharing & 401k matching gone, it makes it hard
to be content when your friends at other companies are getting
as much as $15k more annually & still get all the other perks.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Evaluate your job offer carefully. Above all, you must be happy
with what you do. The job outlook does not look good unless you
are willing to move & you're also willing to do international
assignments. Having a job that gives you international exposure
is definitely something that is sought after by other employers.
If your job offer cannot give you good pay, training,
international assignments, & the opportunity to move up, then it
may be best to look elsewhere.
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