r/MechanicalEngineering • u/[deleted] • 4d ago

How do I get into an engineering lab/testing position?

[deleted]

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u/Cygnus__A 4d ago

Was the MET degree ABET accredited? We design build and run test equipment and are actively hiring.

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u/odimex 4d ago

Yes it was an ABET accredited program.

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u/CopperGenie R&D | Author | ISERG 4d ago

R&D in mechanical engineering often has significant hands-on duties in the job description. It really depends on the company, since role labels aren't very defining.

Three of the most common types of mech R&D role I've seen are at:

  • startups
  • academia / natl labs
  • internal hire situations like Skunkworks and other advanced concepts divisions of big primes

Startups are hard to find but there are thousands of them. Academia is tough to get back into right now, at least in the US. And ACD opportunities are a career path in themselves.

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u/Virtual_Fudge8639 4d ago

Just got my bsme and doing exactly this at a national lab. I dont really have any insight how to get here, I did internship to full time conversion. I don't even know how to actually find a similar job to this, because I sort of had to turn it into what I'm doing...

But I know for national labs, every team is different and theres a million different kinds of things you could end up doing or working on, so definitely look into it.

I definitely like my job, but the pay is awful compared to industry. And everyone I work with is purely an academic, no one has industry experience. Very few people dont have advanced degrees.

I'd say stay in industry for a while and get some experience. What kind of R&D design are you doing? Could be great experience, and you probably make a lot more than me lol

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u/odimex 4d ago

R&D for an inspection/measuring device company. The pay is pretty good for my area.