How to become a better Engineer

[Julio Chadrone]

Sign up at a local university to teach a class. That's what I did and the preparation and interaction with the students was a learning experience for me.

That sounds interesting but considering I myself am a recent~ish grad I don't think I would be accepted for a while.

the "big wire" electrician

I am not familiar with that term or is it a book. But look into electricians and the other more hands-on side of engineering, for feedback and ways to innovate. Something my boss really pushed for, but I didn't fully appreciate to later on is when he would push for the guys on the floor to review new projects early one in the process

 

[ggunn]

Electricians have certainly learned that engineers love putting switchgear w/4" pipes out of the top DIRECTLY below girders and beams... my favorite!
Oh, and buss ducts...

Let's not turn this into an engineer vs. electrician thread, OK? The best results come from cooperation and collaboration between disciplines.

 

[zbang]

The "big wire" and power transmission folks are regularly dealing with, well, big wires, like 4/0 and larger; the mechanical considerations are waaayyyy different from a bunch of 20 amp circuits or transducer wiring. (Then you get to impedances on a while different scale than small-signal).

 

[Strathead]

Let's not turn this into an engineer vs. electrician thread, OK? The best results come from cooperation and collaboration between disciplines.

Agreed, I hope that my post didn't in any way imply.

 

[Strathead]

What I meant by "Big Wire" is not a standard term. But meant to imply an electrician that is expert in large gear, large feeders, etc.

 

[Carl Johnson]

I recently graduated a year, ago and am currently at a job I enjoy. I for a while was the only electrical engineer and was nervous about having so much responsibility as a fresh graduate even though I interned here. I got a huge ego about my skills since once I was given more responsibilities (I was interning under an engineer I was given very little to do) I go to learn a lot about practical engineering. Like dealing with cost efficiency, how important connections to both suppliers and clients are, and the actual engineering aspect.

Then my company finally hired an old veteran since they were looking for senior engineer and he has been a total joy to work with an being decades old veteran just blows me away at how just how much background knowledge he has about everything. He has a lot of connections and more importantly he can look at a process that my company is doing and instantly knows how to improve it. Not instantly but I digress he has great ideas.

I see the amount of respect and trust my boss has for him, and I love that for him, and it inspires me to improve. I always wanted to get much better at my craft even without him but know that I have a measuring stick to compare myself to I can see how much more I can improve.

My real dilemma is I have no idea how to do it. If it comes to designing a panel a customer brings to me, I am good at providing them what they need, but when it comes to ideas of my old, I am drawing a blank. Like do I just look up conferences for electrical engineers in my area and rub elbows is that how people improve? or do I just job hop to job hop when I think I learned enough. I enjoy my job they are very open to engineers starting their own ideas if they can pitch it well enough.

TLDR Engineers how did you improve as an engineer to a point where you felt comfortable in a senior role?

I have worked in the engineering, construction and maintenance electrical disciplines. If it is possible to contact or observe them, you can get good feedback from the contractors who install your designs and the maintenance personnel who maintain the equipment. Evaluate their feedback carefully, sometimes you have to "throw out the high and low scores". Their feedback can help sharpen your design skills. Additionally serving on a NFPA or UL, etc. code panel can be helpful. I have been blessed to serve with some very smart people.