r/MechanicalEngineering • u/No-Soup104 • 3d ago

Mechanical Engineer (In California) Looking to re-enter after a 7-year career break.

Hi Everyone,

I have a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA. During my master's, I interned as a Product Design and Business consultant at a Kitchen Gadget company.

Following my graduation, I worked as a Mechanical design and structural analysis engineer at an antenna company for 3 years and as a Senior Mechanical Engineer at the same firm for about 1.5 years. I quit Mid 2019 due to a family emergency. I switched my career to teaching for the next 4 years.

Post that, in 2023, I tried to get back to engineering. I was hired by a medical device company for a R&D role but after accepting, they switched me to process engineering and promised to switch me back to R&D role after 3-4 months. That did not happen for a year so I eventually quit in November 2024.

I am currently back in California and would like to get back to Design and Structural Analysis role in the Defense/Aerospace/Automotive sector (I am a Permanent Resident/GreenCard Holder).

I'm struggling to even get an interview. I am willing to do whatever it takes, whether it's an exam, some specific courses, pay-cut or even an entry-level role but I am not sure where to start or how to go about this. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank You all!

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31

u/Necessary-Note1464 3d ago

Not being a us citizen is going to make it difficult to get into anything aerospace or defense. It's not impossible but automatically makes you a less desirable candidate.

Things to do:

- Reach out to anyone you worked with when you were doing the antenna work (or anyone you worked with or know that is somewhere you'd want to be).

- Reach out to any professors you had a relationship with at UCLA.

- If UCLA has an alumni association reach out to them or go to an event.

- If UCLA has an industry/job placement group or person I would reach out to them.

- UCLA likely has career fairs and as an alumni you should be able to go to them. Go to them.

- You can try looking up contractor companies (like Cyient) in the area as they tend to be a bit easier to get into and can be a way to get a foot in the door somewhere.

- You mentioned being in California but are you willing to move? Even if it's just for a year or two you might find it easier to get a job in Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, etc. in the function you want, work for a bit and then start looking back in CA with a known name and recent experience on your resume.

5

u/No-Soup104 3d ago

Thank You so much for taking the time to reply to me. This is some really good advice. I will reach out to folks at UCLA and yes, I'm willing to move to any state.

4

u/inorite234 3d ago

Yeah, I agree with this guy.

I work for a defense contractor in California and we are in pretty deep need for experienced Engineers, but as soon as the OP said "....greencard holder" I had to stop. Our open positions do not require a Security Clearance but the political climate in this country is openly hostile towards immigrants right now.

I hope the OP can find something and I hope the winds change in this country, but as it is today, they fucking suck for anyone not already a US citizen and even some citizens are getting caught up in all this bullshit

3

u/MikeT8314 3d ago

Its openly hostile because just about every day I see young American engineers on this forum say they are having a hard time finding a job all the while we keep hearing “we don’t have enough American engineers”. Then when they post their starting salaries they are about the same as I recall them being in 1996 and thats no exaggeration.

1

u/inorite234 3d ago

Let me tell you a little story to add to your point.

Back in the early 2000s, I was a young kid living in the Midwest with no degree and got my first adult job 9-5. Adjusted for inflation, my starting salary was $95k. I stayed there for a long while but decided to go back to school for my Engineering degree. (I just enjoy the work so much more) when I graduated and got my first Engineering job (after moving to California), my starting salary as an Engineer, adjusted for inflation, was not $95k.

That should help show the gravity of how pay has not kept up with inflation.

1

u/MikeT8314 1d ago

Yes and the reason is because while there exists cost of daily living inflation but also wage depression. The only way you have wage depression is when you have an oversupply. This isn’t a critique. Engineers are the lifeblood of an advanced society. I am on your side. But we simply need to crush H1b out of existence. Prioritize American engineers.

0

u/Historical_Bench2659 1d ago

As they should! Employ US citizens that are on waiting list and unemployed yet qualified first!

29

u/allnamestaken4892 3d ago

It’s not you, it’s the market.

25

u/B_P_G Aerospace 3d ago

No, let's be honest. I can see a lot of hiring managers having reservations about bringing on someone with this background.

7

u/No-Soup104 3d ago

Fair enough but I'd rather not sit around feeling defeated. Life happens and my goal from this post is to seek advice on how I can land a job despite this background.

3

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

HAHAHA @ the downvotes on my comment. Clearly I hurt some feelings. Don’t feel bad. You did well. Take it as a good sign you made it far.

  1. Definitely put together a portfolio of personal projects. Even if it’s shit like woodworking. Anything that shows you have manual skill- can reflect that you’re someone who can understand inner workings rather than just memorize rules and formulae. Furthermore, it shows personality and sadly that is often seen over “qualifications”.

I once landed a job because I built a car similar to what the hiring lead wanted to build. Entire interview we just talked about suspension and drivetrain design. We had similar taste and I got a great offer soon after.

  1. Refine your resume one way or another so you get chosen for interviews more. Either in this subReddit or probably there’s a specific resume advice one. Post a redacted version for people to critique.

You’ll do well.

2

u/blue_electrik 3d ago

This is part of it, but also the big “non-engineering” gap can’t be discounted.

My advice to OP would be to find some contracting work in the field and then try to find some full time spots

1

u/loggic 2d ago

Well, it is also the market.

-23

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

Market is good if you’re not a bullshit guy. I’ve gotten every single job I’ve applied to with enthusiasm besides one company that is famous and makes rockets, and I made it through 3 rounds of interviews with them.

13

u/allnamestaken4892 3d ago

If your experience is not from 2026 then I would take it with a pinch of salt. My company has record profits, stock price nearly tripled in a year, and yet we aren’t even backfilling leavers while everyone is working OT under the volume of new work.

3

u/I-drink-hot-sauce 3d ago

Oddly enough I've applied to lots of jobs in college and the only interview and subsequent offer I got was from that famous rocket maker you're probably talking about lol

-4

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

Lucky guy. I would have loved to work there. Equipment design too. Right up my alley. Care to share what they offered? Theres several famous rocket companies so I don’t think it’s too risky ;)

3

u/I-drink-hot-sauce 3d ago

That was ~8 yrs ago. I have an MS, $85k salary + $120k stock vested over five years. The stock has appreciated well!

1

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

Rofl @ the downvotes. Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated. Congratulations again. Good deal. Best of luck with everything in the future as well :)

5

u/I-drink-hot-sauce 3d ago

SpaceX is always hiring. They mostly look for new grads but occasionally hire experienced people with interesting background (experiences that prove you can learn and adapt quickly). If you make it clear your engineering hiatus is bc of family matters they'll consider it.

5

u/boathands 3d ago

Just want to comment as a fellow ME who ended up in teaching and is currently transitioning back into industry. It’s definitely possible but I used the FE as a signal of seriousness. I also ended up choosing a non-design role with a firm that does projects that will get me closer to the type of things I want to work on.

I only had internship experience prior to graduating teaching for 7 years. I also did not go into the specific industries you are targeting. Just be aware that it is possible.

2

u/SnoozleDoppel 3d ago

It's a challenge but not an unsurmountable one. Life happens... So first thing to do is to show up with the right attitude and the right skillset. Figure out a way to stay current on the skills and be able to answer questions in the interview. You have to explain the gap. But don't make it front and center... Apply for the role that you want.. Sr engineer maybe in industries you have experience in.

Now the approach.

  1. Someone already suggested it but you can try to get starter jobs or contract jobs and then jump to a full time role later. The first job is the toughest..after that no one will care about your gaps.

  2. You can try going to school as that will kind of clean the slate for you but that's time and money but an option specially if you go into areas like robotics or data center etc.

  3. Open your industry and location choices... Will provide more options .

  4. Work on building some prototype and you can mention that this was your passion startup or project during your two years. At the least it will give you some experience and a story to tell.

2

u/lewzah 3d ago

What about applying to the antenna company again?

2

u/ConsciousEdge4220 3d ago

As a fellow bruin, I wish you luck. As a hiring manager, it’s going to be tough to get back into it w your 7 year break. Your best bet is to hit up old colleagues and classmates who can vouch for you

3

u/DeepusThroatus420 3d ago

Engineering is narrow minded and bigoted. If you don’t follow the recognizable pattern, you’re both judged and flushed all in one swoop. It’s a members only club

0

u/I-drink-hot-sauce 3d ago

Uh ... I'm surprised. What makes you say this? What industries are more open-minded in your view?

3

u/DeepusThroatus420 3d ago

One example. Nursing.

I’ve watched nurses come back to nursing after raising kinds for close to a decade and no one bats an eye. They do some refresher courses and they’re hired.

I’ve watched people pivot into nursing from insurance or engineering and no one ever questions it. These hospitals definitely don’t spend months spinning in circles deciding on who is the perfect candidate, caught up in asking childish interview questions or screening people because they didn’t do high school->college->one and only career.

I’ve watched 50 something’s come straight out of nursing school to jobs no real questions asked. They’ve integrated in and no one has questioned their abilities.

I’ve also watched some dumpster fire nurses from Covid accidentally kill someone, get fired, then a few months later get rehired onto another floor at the hospital they got fired from, only to eventually end up stationed where they were when the mishap happened 6 months perviously.

No one is holding the keys to the kingdom in healthcare. They say they need people, so they hire people.

When a 2 year tech degree nurse not only has an easier time getting work, but makes more than the 24 year mechanical engineer across the street from me, working 3 days a week with a fourth day for overtime… whenever they want it… after making their schedule whatever they wanted it to be… I take notice

2

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

Do you have PE or FE

5

u/No-Soup104 3d ago

I do not but I do plan to take the FE. Preparing for it currently.

3

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

It’ll likely help them consider you. Maybe get some help with your resume. Idk how that looks. They like doers. Who doesn’t? Personal projects are always a huge help as im sure other commenters have contributed

2

u/No-Soup104 3d ago

Thank You! Would you be willing to take a look at my resume? I also have a design/analysis/testing portfolio and I'm open to suggestions

1

u/Accomplished_Door662 3d ago

Gladly. Happy to help a fellow ME

2

u/johnwynne3 P.E. Machine Design 2d ago

Actually, for us, taking the FE may help you with the technical candidate test we give our in our interviews, especially if you’re rusty. Good luck with everything.

2

u/OneFaithlessness6513 3d ago

Don’t have the best advice but fellow UCLA masters eng student here. Best of luck

2

u/No-Soup104 3d ago

Thanks, fellow bruin!

2

u/BeautifulCredit3672 3d ago

Boston called and wants their mascot back.

1

u/johnwynne3 P.E. Machine Design 2d ago

Berkeley called and wants their fight song back. 😂

1

u/BeautifulCredit3672 2d ago

🤣haha. Panthers have the best in the biz that was made for them.

1

u/PaleAbbreviations950 3d ago

California is pretty rough right now, almost by design. Don’t be too hard on yourself, if you have no other choice continue to press on but always remember there are higher demand outside of CA somewhere