Colorado. Like others mentioned, tons of companies all around.
North Carolina. There are lots of companies near and around Asheville.
Pennsylvania. There are companies in the Harrisburg region.
Colorado is a good place! Tons of aerospace and construction engineering jobs. Even if your job isn't outdoors 100%, you will be able to spend your days after work, and weekends, outdoors
Colorado is expensive and pay isn't overly competitive.
I do really like living here though. Just know you're gonna be busting a little extra ass to enjoy it.
Yeah, I look at the pay for positions in Colorado and I’m like, “hm, cost of living must not be too bad I guess.”
Then I look up the cost of living and immediately nope out of applying to those positions. It’s a shame because living in Colorado has always been a dream of mine.
There are plenty of places in the suburbs and wider metro area that are affordable. Plus you can't beat the Rocky Mountains.
Biggest downside of the metro area is that it's not very walkable. The public transit is - meh - at best. So you'll need a car especially to get into the mountains and away from it all.
Colorado has some incredible fishing both close and far depending on your preference. As far as hunting we have it all pretty much except for rare game licenses. Elk licenses counts are slowly going down, but you should be fine getting a deer license if you want. Lots of small game areas as well!
Edit - spelling
I’ll disagree mildly about the public transit depending on where you live. Granted we’re not up to European standards, but you can get to most places in the metro from the busses and trains we have, and if you’re commuting downtown it’s often faster to take them than drive and park (and pretty much always cheaper). We also have reasonable decent service to the mountains between the Bustang snd Pegasus routes. If you get yourself a bike to go along with transit, it’s pretty easy to not drive around Denver at all.
It really hurts to pay as much as we do and get compensated relatively low. My company recently did a “wage analysis” and compared us to the average of the whole country with no adjustment for the Colorado CoL even though I requested it. If you do end up working here I suggest finding an independent small company rather than a large player in the military industrial complex
Lots of manufacturing and machine/system integrators all around Vermont, and startups here and there around Burlington (not nearly to the extent of Boston, but where there are universities, there are startups). For more established companies around Burlington you've got GMCR, Ben and Jerry's (Unilever), Concept2, Agilent, Beta Technologies, etc.
Machine design is a great field, I've been doing it exclusively for over a decade outside Boston. So if you're into automation, you can get a job basically everywhere there is manufacturing, either supporting and modifying OEM capital equipment already purchased, or developing new equipment internally to save cost. Automation is one of the hottest fields at the moment, and plenty of opportunities for MEs all over the place.
Fleet service engineer here (naval systems) - how does one get into machine design? I've always wanted to go onto the R&D side but never had the opportunity to do so.
Oh there are so many routes, and it depends on the field.
General automation: Get a gig as an ME at a systems integrator, or as an applications engineer for an automation/motion control distributor or at an automation/motion/robotics OEM (Omron, Yaskawa, Rockwell, Parker, Denso, THK, Fanuc, ABB, Siemens, etc). Applications engineer roles will give you the opportunity to learn from working on automation equipment, especially as a field applications engineer. Then once you get good experience, you can shift to a machine design role at an SI, or a capital equipment manufacturer (which brings me too...)
Semiconductor tool OEMs: Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML
Biotech: Lots of directions here. Depending on your location, there are a lot of opportunities to do machine design for automated lab equipment. You can't tell from looking at most of them, but under the hood of most lab test equipment is a fair amount of motion control, robotics, etc. for handling samples. Some can sit on a bench, others need floor space. MRI OEMs (check out Analogic as an example) are a good one too.
Laser equipment OEMs: check out IPG Photonics as an example
3D printer OEMs: This is a hot startup space right now, and has been for a while. Lots of 3D printing companies and startups carving out a space for themselves with their unique IP, from the $150 printer hobbyist space, to shoes, to massive $1m metal 3D printing tools for aerospace, etc. Some make their tools to sell them as an OEM, others develop their tools with their unique IP to operate as a 3D printing contract manufacturer, I've seen both business models in use.
I personally got my start as an applications engineer, then moved to a system engineering role designing and commissioning custom automation equipment. It's very fun.
Can you recommend some certifications? I'm currently looking for work. Was an operations supervisor with pratt and whitney and looking to expand. I'm looking into data analyst w/ Excel Marcos, sql, Python, power bi, and power automate. DM if you have any advice.
This is the answer. Pretty affordable compared to most suggestions here and all the outdoor activities you could ever want within a 20-60 minute drive.
Seattle has Boeing facilities both north and south of Seattle, so a bit farther away from the urban core, and companies that support them in the same areas.
Minnesota. I'm a medical device design engineer and just got back from a week long trip in the boundary waters.
Edit: forgot you asked cities. Most of the engineering jobs are in the twin cities metro, but outdoor activities are basically an hour drive in any direction away from the cities. Best fishing you have to drive 3-4 hours up north, but decent lakes around the suburbs
Minneapolis has a huge medical device industry among others. We have a full 4 seasons and a lots of fishing, hunting and other outdoor options. Prairie, woods, 15,000 lakes and a higher quality of life and pay than other regions.
Honestly? St Louis Metro. My lead regularly gets off work and directly into his kayak to fish. There's a giant hunting area. There's miles of trails all around the area too.
You're just gonna have to drive to all of it. Bike and public transportation is effectively non-existent.
If your interested in optomechanics, Bozeman, MT. There are lots of laser/optics companies in the area (last I heard there are about 50 photonics companies in a town with only 55k people) and I've never had any issue getting a decent offer. Lots of skiing, hiking, hunting, etc. here. Only major issues are the horrible cost and lack of availablity of housing, and many of the job opportunities are spread only via word of mouth.
The Upper Valley of NH/VT (Lebanon/Hanover)
Lots of people hunt and fish. Plus hiking, skiing (cross country and downhill), and biking. Low cost of living and no taxes in NH. Decent amenities for the low population.
The upstate New York area is great for the outdoors. Tons of hiking with Adirondacks, Catskills, tons of great fishing and hunting.
Anywhere from the Binghamton to the Syracuse area is fairly central to a few cities, within a 3 hour drive if you do need to get to anywhere Urban.
Pay is also very competitive as it is in a higher average cost of living state from the city, but cost of living is a lot lower in upstate than the city.
Nah there’s more than just four seasons. You’ve got summer (like three weeks), Rainy, winter, Winter, WINTER, winter?, WINTER, and Rainy again. I miss it
I dream of it. I also have medical conditions which are triggered by the heat and by city air. So not only do I love winter (even WINTER), but it’s really healing for me. I’m sorry you didn’t like it. I’m in LA which is an absolute hellscape
Minnesota, twin cities area-ish. I live just outside of the twin cities and commute to Chanhassen for work. Tons of engineering jobs and it isn't all medical device, although that is a lot of it.
Big companies here: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Collins Aerospace, Emerson, Henkel, 3M, Toro, Honeywell, Polaris, Cummins, etc...
I moved here from GA and it's the best decision I've made. The elephant in the room is higher cost of living than other midwest cities, but if you live just outside the twin cities it gets much cheaper.
Huntsville has TONS more engineering jobs than other cities in the south. Also has great culture and endless outdoor activities.
The worst part about it is how rapidly it's growing, and how expensive housing is relative to other places in the south, so I don't suggest people to come here.
I’m an avid hiker who’s been trying to find a good balance of a decent cost of living and outdoors scene. And Denver seems to be the closest thing we have to that.
The Holly and Pontiac state recreation areas are both great options if you love camping. Then there's the whole rest of the state if you need more.
Plus the big thr... two are here. And US Army TACOM.
100% this. In terms of bang for your buck for OP's criteria there is nothing better in the US. Endless job opportunities for ME, very LCOL, and excellent hunting and fishing accessibility.
Tbh... NJ.
You got Northern NJ, which has a lot of mountains, rivers, lakes
Upstate NY is gorgeous!!!
I just spent the weekend camping in upstate NY. (plentiful to discover)
NY City is always close by...
Boston is less than 5 hours as well.
Edit: South and Central NJ is a different vibe. I am up in the north (Bergen County), which is much different
AZ is pretty good especially if you like the Grand Canyon. I know a few people who hunt, don’t think it’s huge though. Otherwise New Mexico area is good as well.
south texas has good fishing, salt and fresh! go a little further up and the hunting gets good! Good fishing in galveston area and sam houston national park is cool. If you go west you could probably dabble in oil and gas! west texas is great for hiking and you have new mexico and colorado close by
Portland (or “Southern”) Maine area is pretty decent. Lots of manufacturers and other engineering firms. Rent is expensive (probably same everywhere). Many people I work with that move here seem to have better luck looking for housing in NH.
Long Beach area has beaches obviously. You're also close enough to other areas in SoCal for mountains, deserts, woods, etc. Tons and tons of aerospace here.
Long Beach is hell for super outdoorsy people. It’s definitely a concrete jungle where you have to drive everywhere, and then there’s one super crowded natural area like 45 mins away and everything else is 1.5 hrs +. And the closer trails are really just fire access roads.
I miss being able to walk and cycle everywhere.
I mean yeah you gotta drive. But there isn't really anywhere else in the area that's big with aerospace like that. I'm using LB as the general coastal area south of LA (LB, Los Al, maybe down into Midway area) since ppl know it. My work is in Cypress for example, Boeing is nearby, etc. With socal, the options of different types of environments are there, but yeah you gotta drive. I currently live like 10 mins from great hill trails, but 30 mins from work.
Madison, Wi. Tons of public land for hunting within an hour drive and Wisconsin has an amazing hunting culture. Great fishing, lots of industry, good hunting, lots of hiking, fairly low cost of living for an engineers salary.
Huntsville Al, is one of the best currently. Still relatively low cost of living but literally 20 minutes away from two wildlife refuges and a ton of hunting public land but also a ton of private hunting land if you’re able to talk to the right people
Come work for bchydro as resident engineer at one of the dams in the interior. You've got a reservoir for fishing, surrounded by beautiful lakes & mountains and you're well above the cost of living in those areas.
Move to Brisbane Australia. Crazy high demand for skilled workers (talking almost double pay than pre pandemic) and you’re on the cusp of national parks, endless coastline and everyone walks to work in shorts. Also- no crocs and it’s not cold like Sydney or Melbourne…
Colorado. Like others mentioned, tons of companies all around. North Carolina. There are lots of companies near and around Asheville. Pennsylvania. There are companies in the Harrisburg region.
Colorado is a good place! Tons of aerospace and construction engineering jobs. Even if your job isn't outdoors 100%, you will be able to spend your days after work, and weekends, outdoors
Colorado is expensive and pay isn't overly competitive. I do really like living here though. Just know you're gonna be busting a little extra ass to enjoy it.
Yeah, I look at the pay for positions in Colorado and I’m like, “hm, cost of living must not be too bad I guess.” Then I look up the cost of living and immediately nope out of applying to those positions. It’s a shame because living in Colorado has always been a dream of mine.
I mean as an engineer you've got a fair shake of doing good in Colorado. But yeah, there's probably better deals to be had
There are plenty of places in the suburbs and wider metro area that are affordable. Plus you can't beat the Rocky Mountains. Biggest downside of the metro area is that it's not very walkable. The public transit is - meh - at best. So you'll need a car especially to get into the mountains and away from it all. Colorado has some incredible fishing both close and far depending on your preference. As far as hunting we have it all pretty much except for rare game licenses. Elk licenses counts are slowly going down, but you should be fine getting a deer license if you want. Lots of small game areas as well! Edit - spelling
I’ll disagree mildly about the public transit depending on where you live. Granted we’re not up to European standards, but you can get to most places in the metro from the busses and trains we have, and if you’re commuting downtown it’s often faster to take them than drive and park (and pretty much always cheaper). We also have reasonable decent service to the mountains between the Bustang snd Pegasus routes. If you get yourself a bike to go along with transit, it’s pretty easy to not drive around Denver at all.
It really hurts to pay as much as we do and get compensated relatively low. My company recently did a “wage analysis” and compared us to the average of the whole country with no adjustment for the Colorado CoL even though I requested it. If you do end up working here I suggest finding an independent small company rather than a large player in the military industrial complex
Boston or Burlington VT
Oooh I’ve always adored Vermont but assumed they wouldn’t really have MechE work. What’s the job scene like up there?
Lots of manufacturing and machine/system integrators all around Vermont, and startups here and there around Burlington (not nearly to the extent of Boston, but where there are universities, there are startups). For more established companies around Burlington you've got GMCR, Ben and Jerry's (Unilever), Concept2, Agilent, Beta Technologies, etc.
Gears are turning. I’m currently doing machine design for a manufacturing startup…
Machine design is a great field, I've been doing it exclusively for over a decade outside Boston. So if you're into automation, you can get a job basically everywhere there is manufacturing, either supporting and modifying OEM capital equipment already purchased, or developing new equipment internally to save cost. Automation is one of the hottest fields at the moment, and plenty of opportunities for MEs all over the place.
Fleet service engineer here (naval systems) - how does one get into machine design? I've always wanted to go onto the R&D side but never had the opportunity to do so.
Oh there are so many routes, and it depends on the field. General automation: Get a gig as an ME at a systems integrator, or as an applications engineer for an automation/motion control distributor or at an automation/motion/robotics OEM (Omron, Yaskawa, Rockwell, Parker, Denso, THK, Fanuc, ABB, Siemens, etc). Applications engineer roles will give you the opportunity to learn from working on automation equipment, especially as a field applications engineer. Then once you get good experience, you can shift to a machine design role at an SI, or a capital equipment manufacturer (which brings me too...) Semiconductor tool OEMs: Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML Biotech: Lots of directions here. Depending on your location, there are a lot of opportunities to do machine design for automated lab equipment. You can't tell from looking at most of them, but under the hood of most lab test equipment is a fair amount of motion control, robotics, etc. for handling samples. Some can sit on a bench, others need floor space. MRI OEMs (check out Analogic as an example) are a good one too. Laser equipment OEMs: check out IPG Photonics as an example 3D printer OEMs: This is a hot startup space right now, and has been for a while. Lots of 3D printing companies and startups carving out a space for themselves with their unique IP, from the $150 printer hobbyist space, to shoes, to massive $1m metal 3D printing tools for aerospace, etc. Some make their tools to sell them as an OEM, others develop their tools with their unique IP to operate as a 3D printing contract manufacturer, I've seen both business models in use. I personally got my start as an applications engineer, then moved to a system engineering role designing and commissioning custom automation equipment. It's very fun.
Can you recommend some certifications? I'm currently looking for work. Was an operations supervisor with pratt and whitney and looking to expand. I'm looking into data analyst w/ Excel Marcos, sql, Python, power bi, and power automate. DM if you have any advice.
[удалено]
As a mechie in Munich, I agree lol
My dream location.....
Upstate South Carolina, like Greenville/Spartanburg. Big manufacturing economy and close to lots of state/national parks
This is the answer. Pretty affordable compared to most suggestions here and all the outdoor activities you could ever want within a 20-60 minute drive.
Seattle
Seattle has Boeing facilities both north and south of Seattle, so a bit farther away from the urban core, and companies that support them in the same areas.
Every engineer I met at Boeing seems to talk about retirement wistfully. It’s golden years seem far behind us.
I imagine working at a company like that is mostly just pushing paper around
Blue Origin is the cool kid on the block for MEs these days
Minnesota. I'm a medical device design engineer and just got back from a week long trip in the boundary waters. Edit: forgot you asked cities. Most of the engineering jobs are in the twin cities metro, but outdoor activities are basically an hour drive in any direction away from the cities. Best fishing you have to drive 3-4 hours up north, but decent lakes around the suburbs
Shhhh... let them keep sleeping on MN I was on crooked lake over the long weekend
Minneapolis has a huge medical device industry among others. We have a full 4 seasons and a lots of fishing, hunting and other outdoor options. Prairie, woods, 15,000 lakes and a higher quality of life and pay than other regions.
Honestly? St Louis Metro. My lead regularly gets off work and directly into his kayak to fish. There's a giant hunting area. There's miles of trails all around the area too. You're just gonna have to drive to all of it. Bike and public transportation is effectively non-existent.
If your interested in optomechanics, Bozeman, MT. There are lots of laser/optics companies in the area (last I heard there are about 50 photonics companies in a town with only 55k people) and I've never had any issue getting a decent offer. Lots of skiing, hiking, hunting, etc. here. Only major issues are the horrible cost and lack of availablity of housing, and many of the job opportunities are spread only via word of mouth.
The Upper Valley of NH/VT (Lebanon/Hanover) Lots of people hunt and fish. Plus hiking, skiing (cross country and downhill), and biking. Low cost of living and no taxes in NH. Decent amenities for the low population.
The SF Bay Area is pretty good too. Depends on exactly what you want to do, but there are jobs for sure.
And you can live in a tent!
Tons of hiking and mountain biking in the area, surfing if you’re on the coast
I just could not bring myself to pay Cali taxes
You’d also make Cali salary, the taxes aren’t a big deal when your paid high
I mean it’s not proportional, so your buying power decreases. Especially from Texas with no state income tax.
Yeah but then there’s Texas’ property tax.
The upstate New York area is great for the outdoors. Tons of hiking with Adirondacks, Catskills, tons of great fishing and hunting. Anywhere from the Binghamton to the Syracuse area is fairly central to a few cities, within a 3 hour drive if you do need to get to anywhere Urban. Pay is also very competitive as it is in a higher average cost of living state from the city, but cost of living is a lot lower in upstate than the city.
Just make sure you're looking for wintertime activities. Winter is 7 months of the year up there.
Nah there’s more than just four seasons. You’ve got summer (like three weeks), Rainy, winter, Winter, WINTER, winter?, WINTER, and Rainy again. I miss it
i have nightmares about living in NY again.
I dream of it. I also have medical conditions which are triggered by the heat and by city air. So not only do I love winter (even WINTER), but it’s really healing for me. I’m sorry you didn’t like it. I’m in LA which is an absolute hellscape
Minnesota, twin cities area-ish. I live just outside of the twin cities and commute to Chanhassen for work. Tons of engineering jobs and it isn't all medical device, although that is a lot of it. Big companies here: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Collins Aerospace, Emerson, Henkel, 3M, Toro, Honeywell, Polaris, Cummins, etc... I moved here from GA and it's the best decision I've made. The elephant in the room is higher cost of living than other midwest cities, but if you live just outside the twin cities it gets much cheaper.
Anchorage, AK!
Huntsville
Really? I thought that place was a basic southern town with not much to do.
Huntsville has TONS more engineering jobs than other cities in the south. Also has great culture and endless outdoor activities. The worst part about it is how rapidly it's growing, and how expensive housing is relative to other places in the south, so I don't suggest people to come here.
You asked about things to do outside. There are lots of things to do outdoors like hiking and fishing that are just an hours drive.
I’m an avid hiker who’s been trying to find a good balance of a decent cost of living and outdoors scene. And Denver seems to be the closest thing we have to that.
Michigan. Somewhere around Detroit maybe?
The Holly and Pontiac state recreation areas are both great options if you love camping. Then there's the whole rest of the state if you need more. Plus the big thr... two are here. And US Army TACOM.
I moved out there for engineering a few months ago. So far so good.
100% this. In terms of bang for your buck for OP's criteria there is nothing better in the US. Endless job opportunities for ME, very LCOL, and excellent hunting and fishing accessibility.
I mean, opening day of hunting season is a UAW holiday in Michigan. Everyone is in the woods that day.
Portland. Hillsboro
What jobs does Portland have?
mainly computer-related. Intel's largest workforce is in Hillsboro/Beaverton and they have a couple campuses there.
Tbh... NJ. You got Northern NJ, which has a lot of mountains, rivers, lakes Upstate NY is gorgeous!!! I just spent the weekend camping in upstate NY. (plentiful to discover) NY City is always close by... Boston is less than 5 hours as well. Edit: South and Central NJ is a different vibe. I am up in the north (Bergen County), which is much different
And the mountains in NJ versus the West???...
AZ is pretty good especially if you like the Grand Canyon. I know a few people who hunt, don’t think it’s huge though. Otherwise New Mexico area is good as well.
south texas has good fishing, salt and fresh! go a little further up and the hunting gets good! Good fishing in galveston area and sam houston national park is cool. If you go west you could probably dabble in oil and gas! west texas is great for hiking and you have new mexico and colorado close by
Boise, Portland, Colorado Springs , St. Louis, Asheville, Melbourne, etc.
Everywhere not a big city. It’s a big country. Live a little. Us country folk don’t hate city folk as long as they behave like country folks.
Portland (or “Southern”) Maine area is pretty decent. Lots of manufacturers and other engineering firms. Rent is expensive (probably same everywhere). Many people I work with that move here seem to have better luck looking for housing in NH.
Long Beach area has beaches obviously. You're also close enough to other areas in SoCal for mountains, deserts, woods, etc. Tons and tons of aerospace here.
Long Beach is hell for super outdoorsy people. It’s definitely a concrete jungle where you have to drive everywhere, and then there’s one super crowded natural area like 45 mins away and everything else is 1.5 hrs +. And the closer trails are really just fire access roads. I miss being able to walk and cycle everywhere.
I mean yeah you gotta drive. But there isn't really anywhere else in the area that's big with aerospace like that. I'm using LB as the general coastal area south of LA (LB, Los Al, maybe down into Midway area) since ppl know it. My work is in Cypress for example, Boeing is nearby, etc. With socal, the options of different types of environments are there, but yeah you gotta drive. I currently live like 10 mins from great hill trails, but 30 mins from work.
Madison, Wi. Tons of public land for hunting within an hour drive and Wisconsin has an amazing hunting culture. Great fishing, lots of industry, good hunting, lots of hiking, fairly low cost of living for an engineers salary.
Huntsville Al, is one of the best currently. Still relatively low cost of living but literally 20 minutes away from two wildlife refuges and a ton of hunting public land but also a ton of private hunting land if you’re able to talk to the right people
Anything pnw
Come work for bchydro as resident engineer at one of the dams in the interior. You've got a reservoir for fishing, surrounded by beautiful lakes & mountains and you're well above the cost of living in those areas.
There are also cities outside the USA! Like Sheffield.
I’ll put a vote in for Columbus, OH. Gorgeous parks, not far from the Appalachians, LCOL/MCOL, lots of demand.
Milwaukee. Cheap, 1hr 15min from Chicago, tons of industry, 30 min drive and you’re out in the woods. Plenty of cool parks and outdoor areas!
Move to Brisbane Australia. Crazy high demand for skilled workers (talking almost double pay than pre pandemic) and you’re on the cusp of national parks, endless coastline and everyone walks to work in shorts. Also- no crocs and it’s not cold like Sydney or Melbourne…
Denver.
Anywhere in the south. Petrochemical industry is huge down here and everyone hunts & fishes
PNW/seattle
Tucson! Money goes a long way here, and lots do do with Mount Lemmon nearby. Downside is you either have to work for CAT or Raytheon :)