Hi Tim,

Might be useful to know what job you did for the diesel engine manufacturer, and what type of companies you have been applying for. Are you looking at marine control and automoation, or is it wider, or actually avoiding marine ? I think your idea of going for multiskilled maintenance engineer might be a good one - but might be worth narrowing down between manufacturing (usually logic based automation) or process (with might be more on feedback control - sensors, actuators, PI control). As you say working in a general industry would mean you are not as well trained / experienced as the employer might like, so it may be worth thinking about something that can make use of your navy, marine engineering or diesel engine experience. There are quite a lot of specialised marine equipment manufacturers in UK and they might like your background for supporting commissioning tasks. I'm sure you'll be able to find a trade body for that sector (or look at list of exhibitors in a relevant exhibition) that should give you some companies to look at. Some parts of that sector are quiet (with low oil and gas price), but in my recent experience some companies seem bouyant (pardon the pun).

Hope this helps,

Andy

Thanks Andy, very helpful.

I was an applications engineer for a diesel and gas engine manufacturer covering all applications (oil, gas, marine ,rail, CHP) which included work with engine ECUs, propulsion control systems, Deepsea, Comap controllers for generator sets etc..

I last applied for a company who manufacturered X-Ray machines for airports, which involved PLCs and drives, but I did have enough relevant experience.

Not specifically looking at marine, and given my understanding of processes as a marine engineer feel that side would be most appropriate as I can understand what is being controlled which would help me. I feel that limiting myself to a specific marine equipment manufacturer would mean I may long term loose interest, best perhaps as a contractor? One thing I liked at sea was the variety of equipment to operate and maintain.

At home I play with Arduinos and Raspberry Pis to learn more electronics and programming, and have partly built up my own AC motor controller for my DIY electric car, so I hope this can help also.

The most important thing for me is to be hands-on with enough of a technical challenge, hopefully using my degree which included control theory, Matlab and Labview experience. 

Cheers

Tim

Hi Tim Hadland‍ , I'll run this by our exec team for some further comments/advice.

Best wishes,

Joanne

Thanks Stewart!
Tim Hadland‍ do keep checking back for further comments from the exec team.

Thanks Stewart & Joanne

Plenty of food for thought.

Wouldnt mind going back to stage one if required. It may get me a  foundation for better understanding, then hopefully progress quickly using existing knowledge? 

Will take a look at some instrumentation roles.

cheers

Tim

Hi Tim


Based on your experience and desire for a more hands on role I would recommend a role within the Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Control Systems team working on gas turbines. This would involve a healthy balance of office, lab, assembly, test, installation, commissioning and support. 


Regards


David.

Thanks David, sounds ideal.

Just looking into this now. Wondering where this work is based?

cheers

Hi Tim


​I would not give up, there are companies out there that are looking for the right person, even though you may not have all the skills to hit the ground running.  Our comapny works within the logistics sector implementing automation systems.  You will surprised how much of the the day to day items you purchase are handled by automation.  There is currently a hugh growth in ecommerce and we are expanding such that we will see our Controls Department double in size to over a hundered people.


​Getting good Controls Engineers with the relevant experience is becoming a real challenge and not just in our industry sector.  To that end we have looked at other ways to bring in good engineers who can be trained in the required skills. We have ex-forces, maintenance engineers, graduates and apprentices, who are all on a development program that could see them start as Commissioning Engineers (compiling PLC code, emulating using 3d modelling and onsite commissioning) then progress to technical leads or development roles.


​The downside with a change in career direction usually means taking a step backwards in your current level of achievment, but if you go in with the mindset that you are coming in at a lower level of expertise to that you had gained in your current field with the passion to succeed then that goes a long way in potential employers eyes, like I said getting the right 'person' is so important as the technical skills can be taught.


If it is something you want to find out more about PM me and I can send you details of our company.


Regards


Paul.

Just another thought Tim Hadland‍ - keep checking our Events list for upcoming events - very useful networking sessions and you can usually make some good contacts.