B. Graham Wichman
Quality Control / Mechanical Engineer
Company Name: American Mechanical Inc. www.american-ak.com
1998 Sitka High Graduate
1. How did you become interested in your job?
I was once told by a math teacher at Sitka High that I would make a good engineer. At the time I wasn’t sure what an engineer did, but that gave me a goal. Eventually, I started college classes and made my way to Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Engineering program at UAF. During my last year in college I found an ad for a Quality Control / Mechanical Engineer for a general contractor in Fairbanks. I went through the interview process, which informed me that I would be overseeing the quality aspects of the mechanical work done on multi-million dollar Army Corps of Engineers projects. While this job did not include traditional design engineering, it allowed me to work on large scale projects from the design phase through construction, start-up, and finally the closing of contracts.
2. What do you do on a typical day?
During the winter months the work ranges from preparing bids for various jobs by creating part counts, requesting quotes, and putting together cost estimates for the work proposed. When the firm is awarded a contract we go through a second quote request from our suppliers and order the materials that will be needed for the construction phase. While we are putting together orders, we are also reading specifications and analyzing the drawings, looking for any inconsistencies or items which may cause an issue during construction (this is an iterative process which continues throughout the project until completion). Once the temperatures warm up, and the snow starts melting we move our operations onto the job site where the construction begins. On the job site, I document the work being done and verify that all work is in compliance with the specifications. We perform tests on completed systems assuring quality of the finished project. I update all of the drawings showing any changes that were made. Once the project is near completion, we begin to work on bidding projects for the next year, and the process repeats itself.
3. What Training or education have you had for your job?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).
4. What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is being part of a team on a project from the very beginning, during the bidding process, to the closing of the contract at the end of a project.
5. What is the starting pay for someone in your position?
Approximately $60,000 a year. Due to the short summers in Fairbanks, we tend to acquire a lot of overtime which can increase the base pay.
6. What advice would you give a teen thinking about a similar career?
Get some hands on experience during summer jobs in the area you wish to study. Network with people who are working in fields that you are hoping to join.
Don’t start college until you are ready to focus on the reason you are there. Take your classes seriously, do not miss classes, and act with the same professionalism in your classes as you would at your work. Meet with your professors early in the semester, and ask for help when needed. Remember that you are paying for your education, you are the customer and they are there to teach you. Finally, you can only get out of college what you put into college.
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- committed to Alaska's next generation of workers.© 2006 Sitka Energy Project. A project of Sitka Works!
This project was funded by a grant awarded under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative,
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and the State of Alaska,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
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