WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF WOMEN ENGINEERS

As I search for engineers; industrial, mechanical and electrical I find that men still dominate the industry. Trying to find qualifed talent no matter the gender is difficult in itself, but for those that are promoting diversity in their organization and focused on balancing the talent pool either direction is a challenge.

Check out this interesting article that I found posted on ASME's website.

At a time when American industry can’t find enough homegrown engineers, engineering schools are seeing their student populations decline. Empty chairs mean that the schools are not graduating the numbers of qualified engineers that U.S. companies so desperately need.

Some observers believe that convincing more women to enter engineering is one answer, but women have been slow to enter engineering and even slower mechanical engineering. According to the American Society of Engineering Education, women account for only about 20 percent of engineering degrees. One reason women may choose a different path is the difficulties they face in being hired by universities and then in getting promoted. A study jointly sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering found that only in the social, behavioral, and life sciences is the percentage of women faculty at leading research institutions in the double digits.

Engineering organizations, universities and some companies are working hard to change that. Cheryl Knobloch, associate director of Women in Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, believes that involving parents is critical. She began to see positive results of Penn State's one-week summer engineering camp for high school girls when parents were included in the experience. "Most are completely unaware of engineering opportunities for women," she says.



Rebecca Cohl is a Lockheed Martin engineer who works with her company's outreach programs to encourage girls to consider engineering. Girls’ consideration about their life work is vastly different from boys, she says. Girls need to know their work has value beyond being a well-paying job, Knobloch says. A career in teaching or medicine is much more obvious, she says. "There is somewhat of a mystery about what we do." She adds that when girls are shown that math and science can give them an opportunity to make a difference to people, they choose engineering readily.

Patricia Daniels, associate dean of the College of Science & Engineering at Seattle University, believes that engineers could do a better job themselves of being spokespeople for their profession. For many engineers, once they have solved a problem, they think the results speak for themselves, she says. The ways an ME gets involved with solving problems with fuel cells or sustainable energy are critical and relevant. And without engineers, there would be no iPods, bicycles, school buses, backpacks, or even Hershey's Kisses.

"We don't talk enough about the benefits of what engineers accomplish," says Michael Gibbons, director of data research for the American Society of Engineering Education. The society has seen the percentage of women students at the graduate level increase in the double digits recently but undergraduate numbers are down close to 20 percent.

Says Daniels, "Engineers love their work so much they can't imagine others not wanting to do the same." She is among other women engineers in influential positions at universities taking action. She is encouraging recent graduates to return to the classroom as mentors and teachers, and she is hiring more women faculty, which account for 40 percent in her engineering school. California Polytechnic State University, another school recruiting women through one of the largest chapters of the Women in Engineering program, has an engineering faculty composed of one-third women.

Among other efforts to attract women is the Extraordinary Women Engineers Project Coalition, a motivational group supported by professional societies, ASME, universities, and other organizations. One of the coalition’s studies found that more than 90% of high school girls are not even given the chance to consider engineering as a career choice.

Another program is the Women in Engineering ProActive Network project "Faculty for the Future" in cooperation with Penn State. Funded by General Electric, there is an online career center for female and minority engineering faculty and a mentoring program. Even the Girl Scouts are contributing. A program for 14-to-20-year-olds has 142 Explorer posts and mentors 4,000 members.

[Adapted from "Filling the Void," by Barbara Wolcott, for Mechanical Engineering, February 2007.]


Article found: http://www.asme.org/kb/news---articles/articles/diversity/women-can-fill-american-industry’s-engineering-voi

Volvo Group Open Job Opportunities!

Are you looking for a new career opportunity? We are on the move! Take a look at the Volvo Group NA, where there are some awesome opportunities to collaborate Globally with your counterparts in Sweden, France and China.

The Volvo Group NA is one of the leading suppliers of commercial transport solutions providing products such as trucks, buses, construction equipment, engines and drive systems for boats and industrial applications as well as aircraft engine components. The Volvo Group also offers its customers financial solutions.

HOT JOBS OF THE WEEK
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REQ#11498 LEAD ENGINEER - Volvo 3P
Required Experience: BS Degree in Engineering
• BS Degree in Engineering with experience equivalent to 12 or more
years of progressive automotive experience,
· - OR a minimum of 16 yrs of applicable progressive automotive experience
without degree,
· -OR Master of Science degree in engineering with 10 years of progressive
automotive experience
In depth knowledge of data communication technologies and vehicle
communication protocols (SAE J1587, SAE J1939)
· System Engineering: Ability to organize activities in order to transform
requirements into a solution. Ability to successfully apply a framework of
principles and activities for different kinds of systems related problems.
Develops and analyzes flowcharts, electrical schematics, and diagrams of
vehicle functions.
· Develops System Cross-Functional Specifications.
· Utilizes Diagnostic Tools such as CANalyzer to troubleshoot and analyze in-
vehicle networks.


Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V
************************************************************************************

REQ#10305 SENIOR HVAC ENGINEER - Volvo 3P
Required Experience: BS Degree in Engineering
• Minimum 5 years of automotive or truck HVAC engineering experience
• Experienced Engineer able to work independently and direct others in
specific areas
• Ability to perform complex engineering tasks independently
• Automotive/Truck HVAC Technical/Functional Expertise
• Good communication skills
• Catia V5 experience preferred
• Fluent English. Other language such as Swedish or French is a bonus.
• HVAC functional and component ownership
• Maintenance of functional area for maintained/improved cost and quality
• Assures compliance with all applicable vehicle regulations (FMVSS, FMCSR,
EPA,CARP, etc.) relating to his/her area of responsibility.

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V
************************************************************************************
REQ#10371 VMT Quality Manager - CAB - Volvo 3P
Required Experience: BS Degree in Engineering
• BS Degree in Engineering with experience equivalent to 10 or more years of
progressive automotive experience, OR a minimum of 15 years of applicable
progressive automotive experience.
• Special Requirements: Minimum of 3 years heavy truck engineering or
aftermarket experience working with design/field problems solutions included
in progressive experience.
• Change Management experience
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering and sales

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V


*************************************************************************************
REQ#10766 Embedded System Developer - Volvo Technolgy America
Required Experience: Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience. Graduate degree preferred.
5 or more years of progressive programming experience.
UML Rapsody C++, RTOS preferred
Silverlight, .Net preferred

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V

***********************************************************************************
Software Developer - Volvo Technology America
Core Responsibilities:
· Responsible to deliver software development projects with exceptional quality, on time and with the proper features.

· Responsible for detailed documentation and generation of software specifications.
· Perform complex engineering tasks that support the mission of Volvo Technology.
· Perform all other duties as assigned.

Critical Competencies:
- Object Oriented design and development experience including .NET or Java experience.
- Microsoft .NET C# development experience
- Microsoft Silverlight/WPF or Adobe Flash development experience
- Good technical communications skills including technical writing and presentation.
- Able to work well with others in a team oriented environment.
- Knowledgeable in the commercial transportation industry.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
· Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or
equivalent experience. Graduate degree preferred.
· Travel Required (maximum) Occasional

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V

************************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************
To apply please click on the link on Volvo Careers listed on the right side of the screen.

NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH VOLVO - A WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION

Are you looking for a new career opportunity? We are on the move! Take a look at the Volvo Group NA, where there are some awesome opportunities to collaborate Globally with your counterparts in Sweden, France and China.

The Volvo Group NA is one of the leading suppliers of commercial transport solutions providing products such as trucks, buses, construction equipment, engines and drive systems for boats and industrial applications as well as aircraft engine components. The Volvo Group also offers its customers financial solutions.

HOT JOBS OF THE WEEK

REQ#10371 VMT Quality Manager - CAB - Volvo 3P
Required Experience: BS Degree in Engineering
• BS Degree in Engineering with experience equivalent to 10 or more years of
progressive automotive experience, OR a minimum of 15 years of applicable
progressive automotive experience.
• Special Requirements: Minimum of 3 years heavy truck engineering or
aftermarket experience working with design/field problems solutions included
in progressive experience.
• Change Management experience
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering and sales

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V


*************************************************************************************

REQ# 9261BR SERVO HYDRAULIC TEST ENGINEER - Volvo 3P
Required Experience:
• BS Degree(Masters Degree preferred) in Engineering with, generally, experience
equivalent to 5 or more years of progressive automotive experience, OR a minimum
of 9 years of applicable progressive automotive experience.
• Experience in a laboratory environment or relevant design experience
• Attention to Detail: Monitoring adherence to standards and actively checking for
accuracy of data received or generated before passing it on.
• Communication: Listening effectively, transmitting information accurately and
understandably, and actively seeking feedback non-defensively.
• Flexibility: Performing a wide range of tasks, responding to changes in direction
and priorities, and accepting new challenges, responsibilities, and assignments.
• Ownership/Accountability: Taking the lead in getting the job done and accepting
responsibility for personal actions, costs, and results.
• Teamwork: Building cooperation among individuals and departments, sharing
information and resources, and working to achieve group goals and outcomes.

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V


***********************************************************************************

REQ#8175 TOOL AUDITOR/COST WORKSHOP ENGINEER - Volvo 3P
Required Experience:Tooling inventory
• With the asset manager, contribute to definition of inventory process (full
audit / process audit + sample audit / supplier declaration)
• Prepare tooling inventory - clean tooling lists and tooling register
• Plan audits with suppliers
• Execute audits at the suppliers
• Write audit report
• Handout report to asset manager in order to update register
• Perform process analysis at suppliers
• Document potential savings (alternative production organizations, sourcing)
• Support in supplier development action follow up

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V


************************************************************************************

REQ#10042 LEAD ENGINEER - CAB EXTERIOR - Volvo 3P
Required Exeperience: Minimum Education and Years Experience Required
BS in Engineering with 12yrs progressive automotive experience
Required Competencies
• Requires proficiency in detailed engineering documentation.
• A strong understanding of design constraints of various manufacturing
processes is required, especially regarding plastics and sheet metal
stampings.
• Experience in one major CAD system preferably Catia V5.
• Experience in using a PDM system.
• Problem-Solving/Decision-Making: Taking a well-ordered approach to solving
problems and acting despite obstacles or resistance.
• Analytical Skills: Recognizing patterns in data, information, or events,
drawing logical conclusions, and making recommendations for action.
• Teamwork: Building cooperation among individuals and departments, sharing
information and resources, and working to achieve group goals and outcomes.
• Flexibility: Performing a wide range of tasks, responding to changes in
direction and priorities, and accepting new challenges, responsibilities,
and assignments.
• Ownership/Accountability: Taking the lead in getting the job done and
accepting responsibility for personal actions, costs, and results.

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V


***********************************************************************************

REQ#10305 SENIOR ENGINEER - Volvo 3P
Required Experience: BS Degree in Engineering
• Minimum 5 years of automotive or truck HVAC engineering experience
• Experienced Engineer able to work independently and direct others in
specific areas
• Ability to perform complex engineering tasks independently
• Automotive/Truck HVAC Technical/Functional Expertise
• Good communication skills
• Catia V5 experience preferred
• Fluent English. Other language such as Swedish or French is a bonus.
• HVAC functional and component ownership
• Maintenance of functional area for maintained/improved cost and quality
• Assures compliance with all applicable vehicle regulations (FMVSS, FMCSR,
EPA,CARP, etc.) relating to his/her area of responsibility.

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V

**********************************************************************************
REQ#10766 Embedded System Developer - Volvo Technolgy
Required Experience: Degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience. Graduate degree preferred.
5 or more years of progressive programming experience.
UML Rapsody C++, RTOS preferred
Silverlight, .Net preferred

Volvo Group North America is an Equal Opportunity Employer
E.O.E./M/F/D/V

**********************************************************************************
To apply please click on the link on Volvo Careers listed on the right side of the screen.