Job Interview - Designing LED Light Fixtures-Need Education

[jonshonda]

I have a job interview Friday for a position designing LED light fixtures for commercial applications. I want to be semi-educated when I walk into the interview so I don't sound like a total noob.

Please provide me with links, articles...etc related to lighting that might help me out. If I get the job I will buy you each a

 

[PCustoms]

Mechanical, electrical or industrial design (making it look good)?

Big difference between the 3.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I have a job interview Friday for a position designing LED light fixtures for commercial applications. I want to be semi-educated when I walk into the interview so I don't sound like a total noob.

Please provide me with links, articles...etc the might help me out. If I get the job I will buy you each a

Seriously? Googling for job where you will designing commercial light fixtures?
I hope this is a joke.

 

[kd3pc]

first step - google or visit the place to see what they do, who the key players are, executives and so on - You should be able to answer ANY question about the company - they will likely ask at least a question or two about it.

Second step - be there, in reception at least 10 minutes early - leave the devices in the car and have a pad and pen in hand.

Getting the job, via the BS method is likely not going to happen. They will ask what CAD packages you are using, and why. They will ask for previous products/devices you have designed and what specs/requirements for lighting you are using. They will ask about time to get from here to there, and budgets and so on.

 

[k-os]

I'd also recommend you have copies of your resume/cover letter along.

 

[jonshonda]

Mechanical, electrical or industrial design (making it look good)?

Big difference between the 3.

Mechanical

Seriously? Googling for job where you will designing commercial light fixtures?
I hope this is a joke.

Were you born with the knowledge you currently possess? Didn't think so. Google is a great tool.

first step - google or visit the place to see what they do, who the key players are, executives and so on - You should be able to answer ANY question about the company - they will likely ask at least a question or two about it.

Second step - be there, in reception at least 10 minutes early - leave the devices in the car and have a pad and pen in hand.

Getting the job, via the BS method is likely not going to happen. They will ask what CAD packages you are using, and why. They will ask for previous products/devices you have designed and what specs/requirements for lighting you are using. They will ask about time to get from here to there, and budgets and so on.

All great info. I have been in Product Development for over 10 years...but mostly furniture. Don't have much experience with lighting.

 

[markhm]

It goes beyond being simple.

Designing for LEDs requires understanding the luminosity, electrical and thermal implications.
None of those can be learned from a web search. Even after those are mastered, there are subtleties like matching LEDs to drivers. And LED lifetimes are related to the thermals. Finally, you need to know UL 8750 which is an "add-on" to the underlying regulations such as UL 1598. You will not be able to BS your way thru this.

 

[jonshonda]

You will not be able to BS your way thru this.

Not trying to BS my way through it, not going to lie about my background or knowledge. I meet all of their software and the majority of their other requirements, just don't know much about lighting I guess.

Just trying to do some reading before I go into the interview....that is all. Guess I asked the wrong crowd for some good reading material.

 

[Platonic Solid]

The truth will set you free. Don’t pretend to know anything you don’t have real experience in. That way, if they hire you, everyone knows what to expect and how to best assist you. Push your attributes and achievements:

All manufacturing processes, materials, and fastening methods you have firsthand experience designing parts and assemblies in.

Printed examples of designs and different types of drawings you have made that you are proud of.

Familiarity with standard engineering documentation and manufacturing practices.

Any electrical experience.

Computer program proficiency.

Any regulatory agencies you’ve had to maintain compliance with.

Unfortunately what you really want is access to is the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) which requires membership and the UL standards which have a price for non-UL clients.

 

[markhm]

Sorry to tell you that there is not much in the way of books. Try some of the trade magazines and read the articles. There are a few good magazines with good technical articles that will help but they generally require a pretty good understanding of the field to be able to read them and get something out of them.

All the LED designers I know learned on the job from coworkers and vendors.

 

[PCustoms]

Mechanical.

This just knocked out a lot of the tech jargon other have posted about, which is what I expected.

So you are applying for a mechanical design position, make sure you know your material selection principles going in. Think stress/strain, thermoplastic properties, modulus etc. Some engineer will try to trip you up.

Any specifics in the job description that clue you into the specific responsibilities and what they may ask about?

Honestly kind of tough replying to your OP, makes you sound pretty helpless without some details. If you present yourself the same way in the interview good luck!

 

[ard]

Do you speak Chinese?

(A joke.... )



But wouldn't it be funny if Platonic Solid said "Oh, hey- we are interviewing an ME here on Friday..I guess that's you!"

 

[Platonic Solid]

ard - LOL!!

 

[garage guy1of38]

I'd suggest staying at a Holiday Inn Express the night before your interview.

They'll likely make you CEO

 

[Gmonkee]

Platonic solid here has posted a ton of technical stuff about LED lighting and helped me a ton rebuilding an old unit.

I owe him a thanks, so, thanks man. It ain't done yet but does work well with what I could do.

 

[ForceFed70]

Don't have a lot of advice I can provide.

It may be helpful to recognize that LEDs produce a directional light output which is different from just about all other type of lighting. A typical LED lamp will emit light in a 15* cone pattern. Often the plastic encasing of the LED will have refractory material added which will increase that pattern to a 30* cone.

The mechanical design of the fixture is often used to offset this problem. Basically via a process of "pointing the LEDs at different angles" to widen the resulting light pattern.

The focused light pattern is an advantage in some lighting applications. Eg: Flashlight and highbay lighting.

Might be old news to you already, but certainly a way to show insight into how the mechanical design could be influenced by the fact that LEDs are being used.

 

[cybrdyke]

https://energy.gov/eere/ssl/solid-state-lighting

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3003087

http://www.electricsmarts.com/industry/home

Good luck,
CD

 

[Platonic Solid]

https://energy.gov/eere/ssl/solid-state-lighting

This ^^^
Good call CD. I get like 5 emails a day from the DOE and I didn't think of that.