Other than PMEL jobs.

[bruiseyaf]

So what other jobs are out there for someone with a pmel background?  I like electronics but not necesarily calibration.  If anyone knows titles or anything like that please help me out.  A little cal would be fine, I just dont wanna do nothing but cal.

<now where exactly is the spellcheck button?>

[clacoste]

Well, biomedical electronics technician is an easy move and industrial electronics would be a natural vocation for a PMEL tech.  I've done both after many years of PMEL and my current job is a mixture of all three.

Biomed work is generally good.  The only drawback is the lack of redundancy in expensive analysis equipment - so when the client rings up they are often in deep doodoo and you better be quick.  You get the same in industrial electronics, but it is even worse - as a decent manual on the gear is usually a luxury you'll have to do without....

In my experience, money is usually better in industrial gear as there is more travel and overtime.  But it does require more versatility.  You'll find instruments from all over the globe that you've never seen before with useless documentation, if any.

Frankly, PMEL is great.  You normally have the equipment, documentation, expertise, and parts availablity you need to get the mission accomplished with minimal hassles.  Everything else is downhill from PMEL.

[bruiseyaf]

That does make some sense.  Guess i never thought about bieng at the "top of the food chain".

[culbert]

Hey I was PMEL too, and found out there is a whole Brave new World out there.  Currently I am a Field Service Engineer working on Electron Microscopes.  It's some software calibrations and a lot of electronics.  Just think outside the box and there are HUGE possibilities out there.

[cs137]

Don't rule out the smaller shops that cater to the big oil companies. Theres a big demand for people with pressure experience in the Texas areas. There not very high tech and use mainly dead weight testers for 1/2 percent gages. If your interested let me know.

[Tom_Hathaway]

I got initially hired to do calibration at a casting foundry that made aerospace parts. From that job, I got into Quality Inspection and blueprint interpretation.  I worked in engineering departments from that experience.  From that company, I've worked in various machine shops.  I also had the opportunity to work for a top notch aerospace tooling manufacturer in California for a few years.  Loved that job!  Using a high dollar Unigraphics machine, writing inspection programs using CAD models for large aerospace tooling.  Great perks too!  Had to move back to Phoenix to be able to afford a house though.  Had a job lined up at a machine shop 3 months before I moved back.  
PMEL opens tons of doors!

[bruiseyaf]

Don't rule out the smaller shops that cater to the big oil companies. Theres a big demand for people with pressure experience in the Texas areas. There not very high tech and use mainly dead weight testers for 1/2 percent gages. If your interested let me know.

I still have about a year and a half left, so I'm really just testing the waters.  I figure any "networking" I can get now will benefit me in the long run.  Some of these jobs on monster are kinda scary, offering 9 dollars an hour and the like.  Basically I don't wanna get out and make less than I am now.  I know its still early but if you wanna reach me out of forum just change the "af" in my member name to "22" at yahoo dot com.

[cmaxwell]

We have several PMEL openings throughout the US. Right now we have jobs in Sterling VA, Minneapolis, MN, Chatsworth, CA and Sunnyvale, CA. Send resumes to: [email protected]

[coastiecappy]

Have you looked at R&D or independant laboratories? Using our lab as example, R&D in electrical testing ( automotive and medical ), physical and enviromental testing, chemical, dimensional layout and calibration. There are many companies that do more than just calibration. Check the A2LA website, that will give you scopes of accreditation on a number of labs and companies. At a year and a half to go you have plenty of time, you're not short yet!

[stratt]

One area that gets overlooked by many in PMEL/calibration is "legal metrology". This is the area of "weights and measures" that every state has (and most territories). They have metrology labs that are primarily mass, volume, length and some temperature. These labs are normally staffed by 1-3 "metrologists" that get special training at NIST. Some former PMEL in the career field. Also, these states hire inspectors that test all kinds of "commercial" devices in the field (think gas stations, large scales, grocery store scales), as well as the content of goods that everyone buys (i.e. meats, dry goods, milk, etc.) and for testing the quality of motor fuels. PMEL translates very readily to these positions, but you have to be prepared to leave the "lab rat" environment for the field work.  Pay ranges (in Michigan anyway from $32K to $53K, plus lunches and vehicle. In fact, Michigan will be posting two positions within the next few days. Drop me an email if you want more info. (8+ years PMEL/out 1992)

[dallanta]

I agree with  Clacoste,  I have worked in about all types of electronnics and cal.  Now I am doing AF PMEL, but for 20 years before that, I did industrial, commercial, and biomed.   It really is all downhill from PMEL

[cmaxwell]

Repair of test equipment only requires some calibration. If your good at repairing calibration equipment and can trouble shoot down to component level, you'd enjoy repair.

[flew-da-coup]

PMEL is a growning field thanks to ISO. I've been in the field for 16+ years. Making it a career is not a bad choice. Understand that working in the commercial arena you will make more money than civil service or a Gov. contractor. The commercial field requires more, but it is much more indepth. I now work in a A2LA Primary Standards Lab making well over 65K a year and have great benifits. However, a knowledge and understanding of Total Uncertinty Ratios ( T.U.R.) is a must. Many confuse a Total Accuracy Ratio ( T.A.R.) with a (T.U.R.). The industry standard has become such as requiring T.U.R. calibrations. This is one of the reasons that the pay has increased so much. Planning on making PMEL a career? You will need to be educated in T.U.R. , which is more than just Root Sum Squared now. The NCSLI has been doing Total Uncertinty Roadshows in order to introduce the masses to " Real World Measurement". Many companies including mine will pay for this education and on going education in Total Uncert. Measurement. For more info check out NCSLI's web site. Good luck in your careers.

[docbyers]

PMEL was a launch pad for my career; I spent six years in the labs, working everything from PTFC to TFCU, with a year of PMEL QA, and K8 Section Supervisor, plus working prototype FASTCAL at Rhine Main.  All that led to building production FASTCAL labs as a civilian contractor, where I got deep-dipped in to project management, and serious networking.  After I finished FASTCAL, it was off to Procter & Gamble, as a contractor, doing project management work, and getting trained in everything from Excel to Short Cycle Management.  Now, still a contractor, I have gotten out from under the P&G umbrella (which is NOT a bad place to be, mind you!).  I do contract project management for companies that are usually unable to do it themselves.  Currently I'm at a pharmaceutical plant, and my PMEL background gets tapped often, like when I install a new machine, and there are parameters and operating and control systems that need to be calibrated- the operators all turn to me and say "What do we do?"  Thankfully, I can answer the questions with some authority, and I actually remember discussions with my pingers explaining the difference between 'resolution' and 'accuracy'...  Those DMM's with all the red numbers look so impressive...
Anyway, I do miss the time on the bench, as I enjoyed the work and enjoyed the people.  I always had great bosses in the USAF, and good assignments.  However, I would not have had the opportunities I've had had I stayed in and retired, and for damned sure I wouldn't have made the salary I can command now after 15 years in project management.  I travelled the world for P&G and made a lot of money doing it, and these days I don't travel so much, but the pay is great.
Bottom line: PMEL may not be the career or job you do until retirement, but it sure can be a great start on a career path that could lead any number of places, judging by the postings here!  Identify your strengths, and play to them, get whatever education you need (no, I don't have a degree, but I have a lot of training and experience), and use your network of contacts for help or ideas.

[docbyers]

Currently I'm at a pharmaceutical plant, and my PMEL background gets tapped often, like when I install a new machine, and there are parameters and operating and control systems that need to be calibrated- the operators all turn to me and say "What do we do?"  Thankfully, I can answer the questions with some authority, and I actually remember discussions with my pingers explaining the difference between 'resolution' and 'accuracy'...  Those DMM's with all the red numbers look so impressive...

Well, management has decided that my time in project management was well-spent and productive, and are about to make me the Metrology Group Manager here at our little pharmaceutical plant.  I haven't stamped a piece of TMDE since 1987, and now I'm the boss...  Funny how things can go full-circle on you, and you didn't plan a bit of it...
It's cool, though.  My boys have been here since AN-PSM 37's were brand new, the procedures are all in place, and our management actually has a clue about what we do.  We will convert to a new software package soon to manage the work and be CFR Part 11 compliant (FDA stuff), but that's about all the heavy lifting we have to do.
...and no more contracting.  They think I'm cute enough to actually hire direct, with benefits and everything.  The tears are coming, now...