When you are starting out in your engineering career, it can be difficult to determine the route you wish to take. Even more so when your educational, trades or apprentice background offers so many options. For engineers and commissioning engineers, often you need to meet certain requirements to kick start your dream career path. Knowing these requirements ahead of time will help you prepare for that job. In this blog post, we’ve identified the differences between Electrical and Mechanical Commissioning Engineers at LotusWorks, in the hope that we can make your career path choice a little more straightforward.
What engineering career path should I take?
Commissioning Engineering is a dynamic field that can offer impactful, rewarding opportunities for those who thrive in a fast-paced, innovative, challenging but fulfilling environment. The role of a Commissioning Engineer is needed in almost every sector but is particularly vital in the commissioning of global manufacturing and mission critical facilities. LotusWorks’ experienced commissioning teams help design, deliver, operate, and maintain manufacturing and mission critical facilities.
Should you consider a career as a commissioning engineer?
Starting your career path as a commissioning engineer is a good choice if you are ambitious and love solving complex problems. Commissioning engineers are consistently ranked as one of the most sought-after engineering disciplines and the fast-paced, challenging nature of the role is what makes it so attractive to prospective candidates.
At LotusWorks our commissioning engineers predominately fall within two disciplines: Mechanical Commissioning Engineer and Electrical Commissioning. Whilst Electrical and Mechanical Engineering are similar fields it is important to understand the main differences between the two disciplines before you decide which engineering career path is best for you.
What does it take to become a commissioning engineer?
A commissioning engineer is a specialist role that requires a combination of technical knowledge and expertise, practical work and working collaboratively with multiple teams across a project. One of the most important aspects of a commissioning engineer’s role is ensuring that they are ‘safety conscious and have the ability to demonstrate this during the interview process.
- Safety conscious
- In-depth knowledge of local & national codes
- Knowledge of design specifications & best practice
- Good communication skills – third-party diplomacy
- Regimental in record keeping
- Ability to plan ahead and coordinate inspections
- Technical writing expertise
- Practical experience with industrial and commercial installations and operations
8 Differences Between a Mechanical and Electrical Commissioning Engineer
1. A Mechanical Commissioning Engineer deals with the moving parts of any machine, while an Electrical Commissioning Engineer is involved in the creation and application of equipment that uses (or produces) electricity.
2. The biggest distinction between Mechanical and Electrical Commissioning Engineering is how energy is used in each discipline. Electrical engineers focus on power generation and mechanical engineers focus on power application – getting physical parts, motors and components to behave or act in a desired manner.
3. A Mechanical Commissioning Engineer is responsible for commissioning mechanical systems whereas an Electrical Commissioning Engineer is responsible for electrical distribution panels and transforms supporting cleanroom manufacturing in a high-tech manufacturing facility
4. An Electrical Commissioning Engineer will have time served electrical journeyman /journeyman/foreman in electrical engineering
5. A Mechanical Engineer will have time served mechanical trades experience or degree in Mechanical Engineering / Facilities Engineering
6. An Electrical Engineer will have experience with high, medium and low voltage power distribution
7. There is a significant overlap between electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. For example, those who specialize in either discipline may work for the same types of organizations, such as semiconductor manufacturers, navigation systems designers or utility service providers
8. Electrical and mechanical engineers perform some of the same tasks but at different stages of a manufacturing cycle and with different KPIs/goals to achieve. While electrical engineers develop and test power sources, mechanical engineers apply that power to the machine to make it perform its intended function.
Want to be Part of the LotusWorks Commissioning team?
LotusWorks Mechanical and Electrical Commissioning engineers play a pivotal role in ensuring that our client facilities operate as intended. Our commissioning engineers enjoy interesting, challenging work, across semiconductor, pharmaceutical, medical device and data center sectors who continuously expand their skillset and knowledge. The company aim to provide work variety, giving people the opportunity to grow and learn new technology and systems and work in multiple locations across North America and Europe.
To learn more about current opportunities in the engineering field at LotusWorks click here.
