Rotating Equipment Engineering Versus Project Engineering?

Question

Hi,

I am trying to decide between taking a career path in rotating equipment engineering specialized in dealing with pumps, turbines, compressors and project engineering something that I am involved with at present.

I am a chemical engineer who graduated about 2.5 years prior and working since. Presently I am involved with maintenance projects for the oil and gas sector and work in an office environment for a EPC. I recently got an offer from a major pump manufacturing company as a site rotating equipment engineer where I would be involved working in a oil/upgrading plant troubleshooting and targeting problems with pumps and rotating equipment.

I wish to know what career path will help me grow and attain higher pay and better prospects in the future.

Thanks

Answer 1

That's a tough question...fortunately, there is no wrong answer!  It really depends on what your goals are. I can say that I have struggled with the same question; be a jack of all trades-expert in none or become a highly specialized expert.

I think you have a great opportunity with the pump people.  Pumps are everywhere, in every industry and they all need to be serviced and maintained.  On the other hand, project engineering exposes you to all sorts of things, a little bit of knowledge about everything can be pretty powerful too.  

Let's say you choose the pump people, spend a couple of years (~5) learning everything there is to know about pumps. Then you find a facility that has a whole bunch of the equipment you've become an an expert on, I'd say you could make today's $100k for the rest of your career running that facility's pump engineering department.  Maybe you get bored with that and open your own pump repair shop later on (if you're the entrepreneurial type)

Now let's look at the PE choice: project engineering can quickly lead to project management and project director positions, if you're into the politics of business and able to "get things done".   These jobs easily pay $100k ($250k if you want to go to Iraq)

In my experience, your going to make about the same amount, either route,  and the oportunities can be similar if your creative.  

You're an 20-something engineer (I assume) with a great foundation in heavy industry and the energy sector, the sky is the limit for you.  

Finally, don't forget to get your Prof. Eng. license.