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Career opportunities for mtb enthusiast with BS physics

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bluntrager

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I bought a bike and fell in love with the sport--enough so to consider a career in MTB R&D. Also, I just graduated with a B.S. in Physics and a minor Chemistry (though it was nearly dual major). Thus, I have a solid background in mathematics, mechanics, and materials science, but no experience working on bikes. And it seems that bike companies only want to hire engineers. So my questions are these:

Who will hire me!? Would it be reasonable to apply for engineering positions? Or more reasonable to go for a Masters or PhD in Mech. Eng.? ...Kinda leads me to another question--are PhDs highly valued in the cycling R&D world, or can practical experience gained from the ground level trump knowledge gained from formal education and laboratory research?

Thanks!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Will do. Hopefully this thread lights up. Any people in industry please provide background on your education and how to go about approaching companies. It seems like everyone requires experience, but how the hey am I supposed to get it!?
 
#4 ·
What knowledge, skills and abilities do you two feel you have that would contribute to the bottom line of a cycling company?
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
In summary, I can apply the laws of physics and sophisticated mathematics to any bike component and understand at very deep, fundamental level. For example, give me a fork and I can construct and solve a series of coupled differential equations that will tell me precisely how that fork will respond to any variables the company would like to know about. E.g.damping rates, electric currents generated by friction, angular momentum during turning. On top of that, and potentially even more important however, I am creative and eager to learn about bike engineering.
 
#6 ·
FOX / Jobs at FOX

Mechanical Engineer

Location: Scotts Valley, CA
Job Code: 81
# of Openings: 1
Description

RESPONSIBILITIES

PRODUCT DESIGN

• Solid modeling
• Drawing creation and Engineering documentation
• Tolerance analysis
• Create and maintain product BOMs
• Design reviews
• Assemble and test prototypes
• Develop and document design verification plan
• Develop and document part inspection plan
• Develop and document test plans
• Analyze test results (from lab and the field)
• Design Failure mode analysis
• Estimate part cost and manage BOM cost throughout design process
• Manage product timelines

MANUFACTURING SUPPORT OF NEW PRODUCT

• Work with suppliers and their capabilities
• Support manufacturing during pilot production builds (at Watsonville facility)
• Support part approval process

REQUIREMENTS

• BSME from accredited engineering college
• Minimum 5 years experience
• Proficient in ProE/Windchill
• GD&T
• MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint

If you don't qualify, call and ask to the Director of the Internship program. Work for free. When you get there, make yourself so valuable they will pay you.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
Thank you so much! That is just the response I was lookin' for. I certainly don't have the 5 yrs experience, or BSME, but I hope my Physics degree will be an acceptable alternative. Internship will be key, great suggestion.
 
#10 ·
bluntrager said:
I bought a bike and fell in love with the sport--enough so to consider a career in MTB R&D. Also, I just graduated with a B.S. in Physics and a minor Chemistry (though it was nearly dual major). Thus, I have a solid background in mathematics, mechanics, and materials science, but no experience working on bikes. And it seems that bike companies only want to hire engineers. So my questions are these:

Who will hire me!? Would it be reasonable to apply for engineering positions? Or more reasonable to go for a Masters or PhD in Mech. Eng.? ...Kinda leads me to another question--are PhDs highly valued in the cycling R&D world, or can practical experience gained from the ground level trump knowledge gained from formal education and laboratory research?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I guess it depends on what you can do for them and what they can pay you. If you want to get pay like an engineer then you'd need to know how to do other bike stuffs because the competition would be stiff. But if you are willing to accept a lower paying position then you'd have more chance of getting a job. Love or money, hardly ever both.

College degree is pretty much a piece of paper. I know a lot of profession students who has no clue how to work in the real world. I know a 50 year old lady with double phd, that has never really work a day in her life in a "company". The only job she's ever had is working as a server in a restaurant, then later own the restaurant. She once asked me to hook her up with the entry level job in a big restaurant chain, say what???
 
#12 ·
What I see in the hobby industries is a lot of guys who have had success in a corporate job and cut away after 5,10,15 or 20 years and go work for half the pay playing in the hobby industry.

OR, they are trust fund kids or former professionals in the hobby industry who don't really need a "real" job.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
deke505 said:
If you got a little time, get your BSME and work in a bike shop as a tech while doing it. You would get both the experience and upgrade.
Click to expand...
Might be worth looking into, but I just spent 6 years of undergrad getting that degree in Physics and am in no hurry to go back. Perhaps a Masters though! Unfortunately however most graduate programs do not allow you to work while you are going through their program.
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
wmac said:
What I see in the hobby industries is a lot of guys who have had success in a corporate job and cut away after 5,10,15 or 20 years and go work for half the pay playing in the hobby industry.

OR, they are trust fund kids or former professionals in the hobby industry who don't really need a "real" job.
Click to expand...
Whelp, I ain't no dang trust fund kid! I am looking for a "real" job in the MTB industry.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
mimi1885 said:
I guess it depends on what you can do for them and what they can pay you. If you want to get pay like an engineer then you'd need to know how to do other bike stuffs because the competition would be stiff. But if you are willing to accept a lower paying position then you'd have more chance of getting a job. Love or money, hardly ever both.

College degree is pretty much a piece of paper. I know a lot of profession students who has no clue how to work in the real world. I know a 50 year old lady with double phd, that has never really work a day in her life in a "company". The only job she's ever had is working as a server in a restaurant, then later own the restaurant. She once asked me to hook her up with the entry level job in a big restaurant chain, say what???
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "other bike stuffs"? I'm only 24 and have no family to support, so I'd be fine with low pay at first, as long as there was room for advancement. Anyways, your waitress story certainly wasn't encouraging, but I'll keep my spirits up. Maybe I should just ride 24/7 and go pro?
 
#18 ·
Ask Us Anything: Fox Factory - Pinkbike

this was in the comments section of the linked pinkbike aticle

flag dan-is-the-man (2 days ago)
Bryan and double Bill, How did you break into such a niche market for engineering? I now have 2 years of mechanical engineering under my belt with the intention of working in the cycling industry but here in alberta the only job prospects we seem to have shoved down our throats are oil and gas. Is there any sort of internship program you offer in either canada or the united states, or related experience that someone in the bicycle industry would look for or make them stand out over other candidates for a position? Thanks again for the time and information!
+ 11
flag FOX-Factory (1 days ago)
(from Bryan)-All of us have very different background that lead us to our current roles at Fox. For me I got lucky and was offered a position in the engineering department straight out of college. My degree is in physics. I worked for a little over 1 year as an Engineering Technician for Fox and started doing design work initially on small projects and sub-assemblies then eventually transitioned to larger projects and full shocks as I gained experience in the design engineer role. When we look for new candidates design engineering education and enthusiasm for bikes is always a big plus. Experience within the bike industry is also a big plus, but maybe also consider just getting your foot in the door by taking a position that may not be exactly what you want in the long run but allows you to get there as a stepping stone.

(Bill Brown) I've always ridden bikes: bmx, mountain bike, moto. I attended the college of engineering at the University of Florida where I raced XC for four years. After graduating, I worked for an aerospace and defense contractor for 11 years in Florida. There are some great trails in Florida, but it was time to move to a state with more elevation. I applied at FOX in 2010 and was stoked when I received an offer of employment. The best advice I can give you as a student is to maintain a strong GPA. We are always looking for top tier employees. Check our webpage periodically for job openings and send us a resume.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
faceplant72 said:
Ask Us Anything: Fox Factory - Pinkbike

this was in the comments section of the linked pinkbike aticle

flag dan-is-the-man (2 days ago)
Bryan and double Bill, How did you break into such a niche market for engineering? I now have 2 years of mechanical engineering under my belt with the intention of working in the cycling industry but here in alberta the only job prospects we seem to have shoved down our throats are oil and gas. Is there any sort of internship program you offer in either canada or the united states, or related experience that someone in the bicycle industry would look for or make them stand out over other candidates for a position? Thanks again for the time and information!
+ 11
flag FOX-Factory (1 days ago)
(from Bryan)-All of us have very different background that lead us to our current roles at Fox. For me I got lucky and was offered a position in the engineering department straight out of college. My degree is in physics. I worked for a little over 1 year as an Engineering Technician for Fox and started doing design work initially on small projects and sub-assemblies then eventually transitioned to larger projects and full shocks as I gained experience in the design engineer role. When we look for new candidates design engineering education and enthusiasm for bikes is always a big plus. Experience within the bike industry is also a big plus, but maybe also consider just getting your foot in the door by taking a position that may not be exactly what you want in the long run but allows you to get there as a stepping stone.

(Bill Brown) I've always ridden bikes: bmx, mountain bike, moto. I attended the college of engineering at the University of Florida where I raced XC for four years. After graduating, I worked for an aerospace and defense contractor for 11 years in Florida. There are some great trails in Florida, but it was time to move to a state with more elevation. I applied at FOX in 2010 and was stoked when I received an offer of employment. The best advice I can give you as a student is to maintain a strong GPA. We are always looking for top tier employees. Check our webpage periodically for job openings and send us a resume.
Click to expand...
Thank you very much for bringing this over to my thread. I'll take all that advice to heart and keep on bikin in the meanwhile.
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
I ended up applying for a position as a "Mountain Bike Suspension Race Technician" for FOX Factories. No word back yet though. Hopefully that position may serve as a stepping stone to an engineering position?
 
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