I am an engineer. I do propulsion systems (engines). I have worked on some cool things, The F-18 Hornet, attack helicopters, the V-22, and for the last few years I have been doing unmanned aerial vehicles.
Now it looks like I have at least a fair chance at what I would consider to be the most desirable engineering position in the country for solid rocket propulsion.
That should be great, but I am scared to pull the trigger and go for it. It would require a move from Maryland to California and for the first time in my life the unknowns associated with that seem to intimidate me a little.
My career has taken me through California once before (6 years) and I liked it, I have also done Florida, Texas, and Maryland.
The top engineers I know have one thing in common its that they follow the top programs and challenges.
My wife has been good, she was with me in Florida, Texas, and now Maryland, but I am not getting any younger and my current industry segment will probably be in a growth mode until I retire decades from now. Solid Rockets is a less stable career path, but has always seemed to me to be the top tier of things.
I am trying to decide to play it safe and stay where I am or to take the big risk and go after this job that I would have jumped at during any other point in my career. It seems too far away from family, but the opportunity temps me to take a shot at it.
I'd rather regret reaching for a bigger goal, than to regret never trying for it. You can always move back "down" to a lesser job if this one fizzles (is that appropriate for a rocket pun?).
How long has the company in CA been around for and what kind of reputation do they have? I say do it and if ain't for you, move back and get back into the same if not another company. The extra ride time would be nice... ask ND4
"Security is mostly a superstition, it does not exist in nature: avoiding danger in the long run is no safer than outright being exposed. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."-Helen Keller
umm.... is this even a question that needs to be asked?
Once in a lifetime job opportunity
+ Cali
+ Your love of motos
All i see is win!
HAVE YOU SEEN MY VIDS!?!?! i mean cmon....
what part of cali would you be moving to?
I will say cost of living will be a decent amount higher anywhere in the state. and i completely understand not wanting to uproot the family... but if they are all on board... i say do it man.
Tough choice. Sometimes with things this big I write out the pros and cons for each choice to get it all in front of me. I even assign weighted scores to them and tally them up. It helps having all the cards on the table. But ultimately, your gut instinct and your wife's will tip the scale one way over the other.
Tough choice. Sometimes with things this big I write out the pros and cons for each choice to get it all in front of me. I even assign weighted scores to them and tally them up. It helps having all the cards on the table. But ultimately, your gut instinct and your wife's will tip the scale one way over the other.
Good luck and keep us posted!
Once in a life job opp... + 100
Cali ... moto heaven.... + 1000
wife's dissaproval ... -1
I am an engineer. I do propulsion systems (engines).
I am trying to decide to play it safe and stay where I am or to take the big risk and go after this job that I would have jumped at during any other point in my career. It seems too far away from family, but the opportunity temps me to take a shot at it.
One engineer to another. You want to have some fun with the technology(s) that you like, learn new things, ... , or do you lack the backbone to do what you really want to do ?
Probably sounds a little cold, but that's about the size of it.
IMHO, there is more to a job then just the technology, pay, and other stuff. I'd take a lesser job if it were with people I enjoyed working with. Of course, I work in IT and have a team and a Director I need to work with on every project. I've passed over a couple jobs already because I enjoy my current team despite the issues that caused me to look elsewhere in the first place.
Oh, and the wife would be more then just a simple '-1' too.
How far are you away from retirement? You said decades... if that is the case, then you are still fairly young. If that IS the case, I would say go for it. Worst case scenario you do it for a couple years and have some pretty sweet experience for your resume.
If you are older, its a tougher call because if things don't work out, you may have a more difficult time finding something you enjoy as much as you do now. Engineering firms can always higher someone younger and cheaper then you.
I had a similar situation about a year back. The company I work for wanted me to move to China for a year or two to help get an engineering facility off the ground. Things didn't quite pan out due to issues with the Chinese government... a little disappointing, but it is what it is.
If you are older, its a tougher call because if things don't work out, you may have a more difficult time finding something you enjoy as much as you do now. Engineering firms can always higher someone younger and cheaper then you.
What I think I have seen (being in my mid 50's), is that an older engineer needs to always have recent experience/wins to stay competitive. It seems that once you stagnate, it gets really hard to find (or keep) a job.
Interesting, nine1nine. Five years ago, I uprooted my family from our hometown (Dallas, TX), left an ultra-stable job as a researcher in the rapid prototyping field, and moved out to the Mojave desert to work on design, hardware, and testing of pump-fed liquid propellant rocket engines. Is life a bit harsh out here? Yep. Would I have been a flight test engineer on a rocket-powered vehicle any other way? Doubtful.
I've learned more in five years than I learned in the 12 years before that - a LOT more. I can't imagine not doing what I do. It's been an incredible experience so far.
So yeah, I'm biased. If your heart is in it, GO FOR IT.
I just made the same move this year but I came from Cleveland OH. It's pretty nice to ride to Christmas dinner. California is pretty cool, expensive, but overall it's pretty nice.
"it's better to regret something you did than something you didnt do"
-Flea, quoting the butthole surfers.
I just made the same move this year but I came from Cleveland OH. It's pretty nice to ride to Christmas dinner. California is pretty cool, expensive, but overall it's pretty nice.
"it's better to regret something you did than something you didnt do"
-Flea, quoting the butthole surfers.
Cleveland SUX....
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