What experience do you need in order to become a roller coaster engineer? How much do these people make?

Question

I am thinking about becoming a roller coaster engineer but unsure how and where to start. What kind of experience do you need in order to become one of these engineers. Is there a certain degree you need? How much do these people make? An answer would be highly appreciated, Thank you.

Answer 1

They get paid $1,000,000,000 Unicorn dollars a year.

That's about 10 cents American.

In reality they are architects and make a lot of money.  

Answer 2

Generally an engineering background will be needed.  Percy makes an important distinction between design/layout (structural) and mechanism (mechanical).  However, if you are interested in all kinds of amusement rides (not just specifically roller coasters), a number of other disciplines could be useful.  For "motion platform" type rides, hydraulics would be important.  For waterparks, hydrodynamics would be important.  If you are more interested in the artistic side, a design degree would be best.

I've done a small amount of work on such rides.  My background is in mechanical engineering.  Our company uses a multi-body dynamic simulation package.  So for me, the most important skills have been dymamics and hydraulics.

Because of the safety issues involved, a Professional Engineer (P.E.) designation would be important if you have to "sign off" on the safety of a ride.

Answer 3

According to a roller coaster engineer, "there is no university of roller coaster design. Anyone interested in employment with a ride manufacturer should major in engineering in college—structural engineering if a student is interested in ride layout design or the design of the structure to support a roller coaster; mechanical engineering if a student is interested in designing the vehicles or other mechanical components of a roller coaster."

The average salary for both mechanical engineers and structural engineers with 5-9 years experience is $65,000.

Generally, jobs in the entertainment industry pay slightly lower salaries than others because of more interest in the position -- this may or may not be true for amusement park design, which is a bit of an obscure section of the industry.  

Answer 4

Most likely a Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering or electrical as a minimum... Masters preferred.  Also, roller coaster engineering companies usually don't hire people fresh from college, unless they've had a previous internship with them (which is hard to get).  They look for people with years of experience as it is too risky too hire someone too fresh out of school.  The type of experience they are looking for is in finite element analysis (and tons of it), electronic systems, sensors & actuators, physics... and that kind of stuff.  If you want to get into this field, you must be good at what you do and nail an internship or similar position beforehand because if you try to jump through the door of the roller coaster engineering industry without any experience, you will get hosed.  

Just because you say you know how to use Solidworks won't get you the job.  That is totally blue collar and they'll get that image.