101 Civilian Jobs that put you in a 'Mech

[Tai Dai Cultist]

I always believed that since 'Mechs are fluffed as being such awesomely efficient vehicles on the battlefield, at least SOME of that awesome efficiency ought to translate into use as civilian heavy equipment.  I furthermore believe that there should be as many more civilian mech 'jocks' than mechwarriors as there are civilian pilots to fighter pilots in the real world. 

That being said, a game about a universe dominated by big stompy robots should have more than the following backgrounds available:
1) The rich kid/merc brat who grew up around 'mechs and was groomed since childhood to enter the 'family business' of war.
2) The pilot who learned his trade at a mechwarrior academy
3) The gladiator

So here's a challenge: I'd like to see if the community can come up with at least 101 civilian jobs that could plausibly involve piloting some form of mech.  I'll start us off with some jobs organized by broad categories:


Construction:
1. Drill Operator (whether digging tunnels or mines, the mobility of an industrialmech threatens to render wheeled/tracked drillers obsolete)
2. Foreman (I don't see the Kiso as being a one-off crazy thing)
3. Zero-G Miner (Mining asteroids is canonical.. and how better than from an industrialmech?)
4. Landscaper (while mechs wouldn't totally replace cheaper conventional heavy equipment, there are times the agility makes the price worth it)
5. Surveyor (IndustrialMechs are the ultimate all-terrain vehicle)
6. Underwater Welder (IndustrialMechs are also the ultimate amphibious vehicle)
7. Wrecker (see #4)
8. Pile Driver (see #4)

Agriculture:
9. Farmer/Farm Hand (liability laws, if nothing else, would allow more cross-operation of AgroMechs than IndustrialMechs. Or maybe they'd be broken down, too)
10. Mega-Fauna Rancher (Space Cowboy!)
11. Lumberjack (Logging is one field where 'mechs probably would render conventional vehicles completly obsolete)
 

Transportation:
12. Longshoreman/Dockworker (those guys who load and unload dropships, sea-going ships, and trains)
13. Loadmaster (the guy who's in charge of the cargo on board a dropship, sea-going ship, or train)
14. 'Mecher  (what else would you call a trucker who drives a cargo hauling mech?)
15. Sub-Marine Cargo Hauler (mechs would be good for supplying mobile sea-surface installations)
16. Road Maintainer (mechs would be great for removing boulders & felled trees, as well as plowing snow in extreme climates)


Entertainment:
17. Professional Dueling Entertainment Performer (This is to Solaris what WWE is to wrestling.)
18. Monster-Mech Performer (monster trucks, only with mechs)
19. Pro Mech Racer (NAS'Mech, anyone? I can see the things covered in corporate sponsors already..)
20. Mech-Polo Player (polo seems like a plausible team sport that could translate)
21. Grip/Rigger (filmmaking positions)
22. Stunt Pilot (either 'barnstorming' or for film work)

Commercial:
23. Corporate Test Pilot (the first Solaris 'gladiators' were these)
24. Corporate Security (the difference from a standard merc outfit is the Status of Forces.. these guys are civilian employees rather than Military Contractors)
25. Strike-breaker/Union-buster (Just one messy way to put an end to a strike)
26. Foundry Worker (You could use a forklift to move around multi-ton castings.. or an IndustrialMech)
27. Police SWAT Pilot (In a universe where military gear is in the hands of private citizenry, the Police can't just make do with 9mms and flak vests)
28. Park Ranger (There is little better platform than a 'mech)
29. Fire Fighter ('Mechs might not completely replace the wheeled fire engine, but there IS a heck of a niche a walking fire engine could fulfill)

Criminal:
30. Mech thief (where there's something valuable, there'll be those who'll steal them.  and the skills to 'jack a mech would be pretty specialized)
31. Gang Enforcer (Teddy K blew the lid off this one.  Once he blessed the Yakuza's ownership of mechs, their rivals won't stand idly by)
32. Labor Union Enforcer (if there's corporations dastardly enough to have #25, this won't be far behind)
33. Mega-Fauna Rustler (even if the skillset were to be exactly the same as #10, it's still a completely different career)
34. Bounty Hunter (Just can't put that pesky MechJock in the enemy army down? Put a bounty on his head.  Someone will eventually collect.)
35. Logging Poacher (Like #11, only without the permits & legal cover)
36. Gypsy Caravan Pilot / Canopian Pleasure Circus Carny  (Setting up Ferris Wheels & the like goes alot faster with an industrialmech..)

Hobbyist (someone with enough money to be able to afford playing in or around mechs)
37. Historical Battle Re-enactor (Look at every air show you've ever been to.  Someone is flying some personally owned WWII vintage aircraft..)
36. Orbital Skydiver (EXTREME!)
38. Cannonball Runner (illegal mech rally racer)

Entrepreneur
39. Junkyard Proprietor (what better way to stack, hack, or crush junk than with a mech?)
40. Battlefield Salvager (kind of like a lostech prospector, only you don't necessarily want just lostech)
41. Mech Repoman (the bane of every mech jock behind on payments to the bank..)
42. Prospector (sensors can be one helluva way to find nodes of minerals just underground.. and besides there's good hard mechanical work to be done dregding a river and so on..)

[Labyr]

43: Mech Technician - I'd imagine that Techs will do quick test runs of mechs they repaired instead of calling the mech warrior over.

44: Mech Astech - As above, but probably limited to testing simple things, like cockpit displays and arm articulation.

45: Ferry Pilot - I always imagined that factory fresh mechs would be walked onto a dropship and not shipped as cargo.

46: Battlemech Reviewer - I don't know if there could be a Battlemech themed version on Top Gear in the future, but it would be a kind of fun idea.

47: Solaris Warrior - Most aren't formal parts of a nation's military, so I'd imagine most qualify as civilian. Maybe covered under 17?

48: Mech Carny - I'd imagine that there'd be summer camps where spoiled brats can get a taste of what it's like to drive a mech or traveling carnivals that let kids have similar. There needs to be a 'responsible' adult around to make sure nothing horrible happens.

[chaosxtreme]

Bouncer at a high end club -....someone has to have thought of having mech's standing outside with crowd control gear if nothing else as a status symbol for how exclusive their club is.

Railway Repair Worker - track's are heavy and require specific tool's I could see where a mech would be useful in this.

Explorer - for an unknown world's expedition a mech make's the most sense it can traverse the most terrain type's be sealed against hostile environments and carry just about every sensor type known to man.

Demolition - mech's are excellent for controlled demolition as they can punch in walls of 2-4 story building's without effecting nearby structures.

[Molossian Dog IIC]

53 - Landscape Architect (to an extent all Mech jockeys partake in this pastime)
54 - Courier (in hostile enviroments)
55 - Artist (let´s admit it -someone- is going to find an excuse, like painting a mountainside. Avant-Garde etc)
56 - Tour Guide ("Walk on the surface of an Ice Planet!")
57 - Emergency Response Team Member / Decontamination Team Member

Well, that were 5.

[Charlie Tango]

A lot of these are just variations on basically the same job:  Use a 'Mech to move something heavy.  As such, can those really be considered "different" jobs?

What differentiates a Megafauna Rancher from a Megafauna rustler? Basically the same skill set, one can easily become the other or be both at the same time.

[guardiandashi]

mech construction workers (build buildings)

[Tai Dai Cultist]

A lot of these are just variations on basically the same job:  Use a 'Mech to move something heavy.  As such, can those really be considered "different" jobs?

Yes, and here's why.

The more technology used in construction, the more specialists you're gonna have.  Even 1000 years prior (in the real world) you don't just have 'handymen' who do every job there is on a construction site due to the certifications required to operate specialized machinery or perform complicated, technical tasks.

Just because some jobs appear quite similar to a lay person doesn't mean they ARE essentially the same thing.  Would you lump an airlines pilot and a bush pilot in as the same thing?  They both fly airplanes, right?  I wouldn't.

What differentiates a Megafauna Rancher from a Megafauna rustler? Basically the same skill set, one can easily become the other or be both at the same time.

You could say the same thing about cowboys and rustlers.  I'm sure an honest cowboy would take exception to the comparison.

I'd say that yes there's going to be alot of overlap in careers that use many of the same skills.  Cowboys for example have little need for knowledge about the underworld and who's willing to pay cold hard cash for stolen cattle, whereas a Rustler couldn't make a living without that kind of knowledge.

[guardiandashi]

Yes, and here's why.

The more technology used in construction, the more specialists you're gonna have.  Even 1000 years prior (in the real world) you don't just have 'handymen' who do every job there is on a construction site due to the certifications required to operate specialized machinery or perform complicated, technical tasks.

Just because some jobs appear quite similar to a lay person's doesn't mean they ARE essentially the same thing.  Would you lump an airlines pilot and a bush pilot in as the same thing?  They both fly airplanes, right?  I wouldn't.

You could say the same thing about cowboys and rustlers.  I'm sure an honest cowboy would take exception to the comparison.

I'd say that yes there's going to be alot of overlap in careers that use many of the same skills.  Cowboys for example have little need for knowledge about the underworld and who's willing to pay cold hard cash for stolen cattlelivestock, whereas a Rustler couldn't make a living without that kind of knowledge.

corrected that for you

[Crunch]

Roughneck (Oil Field Worker)

Deep Sea Exploration/Drilling Specialist

[Charlie Tango]

Yes, and here's why.

The more technology used in construction, the more specialists you're gonna have.  Even 1000 years prior (in the real world) you don't just have 'handymen' who do every job there is on a construction site due to the certifications required to operate specialized machinery or perform complicated, technical tasks.

Just because some jobs appear quite similar to a lay person doesn't mean they ARE essentially the same thing.  Would you lump an airlines pilot and a bush pilot in as the same thing?  They both fly airplanes, right?  I wouldn't.

You could say the same thing about cowboys and rustlers.  I'm sure an honest cowboy would take exception to the comparison.

I'd say that yes there's going to be alot of overlap in careers that use many of the same skills.  Cowboys for example have little need for knowledge about the underworld and who's willing to pay cold hard cash for stolen cattle, whereas a Rustler couldn't make a living without that kind of knowledge.

No, the rustler just needs to know how to move the cattle.  The rustler boss needs to know how to sell them.But again,  that's irrelevant. 

Entertainment:
17. Professional Dueling Entertainment Performer (the 'pro-wrestling' of gladiator circuits)
18. Monster-Mech Performer (monster trucks, only with mechs)
19. Pro Mech Racer (NAS'Mech, anyone? I can see the things covered in corporate sponsors already..)
20. Mech-Polo Player (polo seems like a plausible team sport that could translate)
21. Grip/Rigger (filmmaking positions)
22. Stunt Pilot

The niche in entertainment for #17 would be covered by Solaris and its ilk. #18 through #20 would likely not exist at all or if they did in such small numbers that it would be more "hobbyist" than "profession". #21 would be something more handled by VTOLs (as it has already been established in canon by Greenburg's Godzillas)  #22 would be like #18- #20.  If it exists at all it would likely be hobbyist at best.

Commercial:
23. Corporate Test Pilot (the first Solaris 'gladiators' were these)
24. Corporate Security
25. Strike-breaker/Union-buster
26. Foundry Worker
27. Police SWAT Pilot
28. Park Ranger
29. Fire Fighter

How is #24 or #25 any different than a mercenary working for a corporation like the Blackstone Highlanders?

Criminal:
30. Mech thief
31. Gang Enforcer
32. Labor Union Enforcer
33. Mega-Fauna Rustler
34. Bounty Hunter
35. Logging Poacher
36. Gypsy Caravan Pilot / Canopian Pleasure Circus Carny

I don't see how #31 or #32 ( or #36 for that matter) would even rate using a 'Mech, even to the level of an Industrial.  With #34, how is that different than a lone wolf style mercenary?   I'll make the same argument at #35 that I did with the Megafauna rustler; how is that any different than a logger?

Hobbyist (someone with enough money to be able to afford playing in or around mechs)
37. Historical Battle Re-enactor
36. Orbital Skydiver
38. Cannonball Runner (illegal mech rally racer)

Hobbyist isn't a job. And even at the level of hobbyist, I would doubt that #36 or #38 would even exist and #37 would even at all extant even as a hobbyist.

Entrepreneur
39. Junkyard Proprietor
40. Battlefield Salvager
41. Mech Repoman (the bane of every mech jock behind on payments to the bank..)
42. Prospector

#40 and #41 Wouldn't they use things like Oppies and Prime Movers/salvage vehicles? 

I just don't think 'Mechs in civilian life are as prevalent for civilian uses outside of a few specific uses, so I don't think that there would be as much exposure for civilians to usage of 'Mechs.

[Von Jankmon]

More from the world of entertainment:

58. Dancer (a stunt mech variant designed to dance, juggle or otherwise entertain. Circus mech, why not.)
59. Holovid actor (to play the part of a mechwarriot you might get limited access to mech piloting)

[Tai Dai Cultist]

*alot of nit-picking*

I went back and edited the original post with more info about each 'job'.
Even if some of the hobbies, sports, or jobs might seem far fetched, it doesn't mean it has to be common on every world.

For example, there might be only 1 mega-trillionaire nobleman in the Inner Sphere who enjoys watching Mech Polo.  But if he outfits an entire league, pays the salaries of his pilots to watch them whack a giant ball (and each other) with mech-sized mallets.. even if it's just on that one fiefdom, just on that one world, it still is a (fun) background hook for a character.

I just don't think 'Mechs in civilian life are as prevalent for civilian uses outside of a few specific uses, so I don't think that there would be as much exposure for civilians to usage of 'Mechs.

Fair enough.  If you don't think mechs are used much at all outside the military, noone's making you look at let alone post in this thread.  I don't share your opinion, and think it's a woefully under-explored aspect of the BattleTech universe.  Plus, it's supposed to be simply *fun* to imagine jobs/pastimes/hobbies/experiences that could involve mechs to some degree.

[SCC]

A lot of these WON'T work out, for instance, Tunnel Bores are designed the way they are for very good reasons, using a 'Mech just won't work out.

And if, for some reason,  you decide that raising dinosaurs is a good idea (Here's a hint: It isn't), then yes using 'Mechs might be a good idea.

Most of the ideas for things like these don't actually work out, about the only one that I can see working is the LoggerMech, and that's because the terrain is likely to be broken

[Tai Dai Cultist]

A lot of these WON'T work out, for instance, Tunnel Bores are designed the way they are for very good reasons, using a 'Mech just won't work out.

Maybe you're right.  I have no background in engineering OR mining, but I do see that Rock Cutters are canonical for IndustrialMechs.  I presume they had a commercial use before being pressed into desperate military service in the Dark Ages.

And if, for some reason,  you decide that raising dinosaurs is a good idea (Here's a hint: It isn't), then yes using 'Mechs might be a good idea.

There are at least three worlds in the Inner Sphere where mech cowboys are canonical.

Most of the ideas for things like these don't actually work out, about the only one that I can see working is the LoggerMech, and that's because the terrain is likely to be broken

Well, again to each his own.  I like the idea of a universe full of mechs, not just battlefields full of mechs.  Even if civilian mechs are rare before the Dark Age, they'll at least become common THEN.  They had to have a civilian/commercial use prior to being militarized, afterall.

[GreekFire]

Maybe you're right.  I have no background in engineering OR mining, but I do see that Rock Cutters are canonical for IndustrialMechs.  I presume they had a commercial use before being pressed into desperate military service in the Dark Ages.

Mining 'Mechs have always made me lol, especially the Dig Lord and its amazing art. I've always wondered how on earth it could actually be practical and not a hindrance to everyone involved in the mining process, but whatever. I chalk it off to some rich mining CEO wanting his mining operations to look cool, kinda like the Celestial Dominus configurations - they look good on camera, but ain't all that when it comes down to business.

[SCC]

Tunnel Bores stabilize the rock face that is being worked on, for DiggMechs to work there using older methods the tunnel would be big enough to fire DropShips out of.

You've also got to remember that not even anime puts 'Mechs to use sort of jobs (usually). Plus given the sort supply of BattleMechs unless it's a critical thing I don't see a lot of production capability being diverted to IndustrailMech production. Specialist roles require specialist vehicles

@GreekFire, maybe in open pit mines

[Tai Dai Cultist]

As for the chronic poo-pooing of this thread:
One, check this out.  There are rancher mechs (two, actually), commercial security mechs, cargo mechs, multiple mining mechs, etc etc etc.  There's even mention at least once on one of those being used by criminal gangs.  I'm not inventing the niche here, I'm exploring it.

Two, keep in mind I never suggested Mechs being used to do a job had to replace wheeled/tracked equipment 100% of the time.  Just because this and this exist, I'm not saying that career #14 existing means there are no more wheeled trucks shipping freight.

Three, if you still don't like the thread please just hold your tongue.  You wouldn't go into a thread for fans of faction X and tell them about how they should be liking faction Y instead, would you?

Enough of that.  Moving on to something constructive:

Roughneck (Oil Field Worker)

Deep Sea Exploration/Drilling Specialist

Thanks.  I appreciate the positive input :)

I'll throw out there some more:
#60: Mech Piloting Instructor (if there ARE going to be so many civilian mechs out there, there's money to be made training the civilian pilots)
#61: Video Game Ace (There's mention of an ASF pilot getting his ride from a high score on SLAYER!  Why couldn't a mechjock?)

[Acolyte]

You wouldn't go into a thread for fans of faction X and tell them about how they should be liking faction Y instead, would you?

Yes, yes they would.

As to the jobs, how about Deep Space Salvager? A JumpShip with a bum core is still an awful lot of tech to grab.

   - Shane

[Stolenbjorn]

I've allways been fassinated by the fact that the rules allows for mechs down to 10 tons, but no military mechs beneath 20. Perhaps the 10-20 ton mechs are used more frequently in one of the 101 civilian roles?

[HazMeat]

I'm really skeptical about digging tunnels with anything other than the types of boring machines used IRL, but maybe 'mechs can be useful for hauling out excavated material?  I'm not easily thinking of credible advantages.  I'm aware of the Dig Lord, but that doesn't make the idea any easier for me to swallow. 

Nos. 27 and 29 were among the first to come to my mind, but also other emergency response so methinks SAR pilot belongs on the list.  I also like to imagine a little jumping quad equipped to rapidly clear a path or LZ for an ambulance and/or other vehicles that need an especially smooth ride. 

Since 'mechs have some of the best reach, I guess there might be a niche for a walking taxi service as well.  That's a use for ultralights, I guess.  Ugh.  Considering the existence of the real-world "Hummer Limo," I think we can posit obscerdly pointless 'mech limo services existing in BT. 

We should also have parade float pilot on the list, since no parade would be complete without a gigantic walking pinatoid.  Oh, perhaps have the 'mech representing a puppet, connected by cables to a buoyant balloon representing a puppeteer!  Okay, maybe getting a bit off-topic here... 

[Wolflord]

Hi Tai Dai Cultist

Loving the imagination in taking what is already there and running with it. O0

In our current campaign we did disaster relief mission with mechs/elementals/fighters.

Will have to fit "Mech Cowboys" in to a scenario in the near future, maybe clan raiding party trialling for supplies with the locals could end up racing mech-cowboys cross country with fresh eggs, beef and bacon going to the winner?

I could see light end mechs with ICE or fuel cells being used for any difficult/dangerous terrain, hostile environment, heavy lifting construction/demolition type job.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

As to the jobs, how about Deep Space Salvager? A JumpShip with a bum core is still an awful lot of tech to grab.

   - Shane

That gives us #62.

Since 'mechs have some of the best reach, I guess there might be a niche for a walking taxi service as well.  That's a use for ultralights, I guess.  Ugh.  Considering the existence of the real-world "Hummer Limo," I think we can posit obscerdly pointless 'mech limo services existing in BT.

And #63.

Which gives ME another idea.  I can see a city/colony being laid out by urban planners where they expected people to move about in tiny, 10-ton mechs.  Perhaps it was founded at the dawn of the 'mech era in a misguided anticipation that the new technology would render all other vehicles obsolete.  Maybe it was built by an eccentric mega-trillionaire who just loved mechs. Who cares why.  At any rate, such a place with common mech-taxis could also give us:

#64  Commuter (it gets me from point A to point B!)
#65 'Mech Valet (if you have commuter mechs, snobby sorts will want fancy ones.  And to pay the lowborn to park them!)

We should also have parade float pilot on the list, since no parade would be complete without a gigantic walking pinatoid.  Oh, perhaps have the 'mech representing a puppet, connected by cables to a buoyant balloon representing a puppeteer!  Okay, maybe getting a bit off-topic here... 

Might have been a joke, but I'm counting it.

#66 Parade Balloon Handler (May not be a full time job, but it's definately a plausible way to replace 100s of people holding onto ropes.)

[Wolflord]

We should also have parade float pilot on the list, since no parade would be complete without a gigantic walking pinatoid.  Oh, perhaps have the 'mech representing a puppet, connected by cables to a buoyant balloon representing a puppeteer!  Okay, maybe getting a bit off-topic here...

I'm gonna use the combo of Macy's parade real mechs and true scale mech inflatables to freak out my player group. Stingers toting inflatable Atlases/ Atlai (?) as decoys he he.

Mech sized barrage balloon handlers

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Another couple from the Wide World of Using Mechs in Sport:

#66 Traceur/Traceuse (Plenty of ruined/abandoned cities in the IS to give a playground for mech-scale Parkour)

#67 Mech 'Biathalon' Athlete  (plenty of people in the real world find the sport of ski-by shooting watchable.  How much MORE watchable would it be to watch a mech race involving shooting things?)

And another one:

#68 Urban Explorer  (it's recreation in the real world, but there's academic AND commercial reasons to explore the plethora of abandoned cities in the Inner Sphere)

[Death by Zeus]

  :o Mech scale parkour? :o

As for some objections, using mechs for things like mining may not be realistic but then again neither are they realistic for warmachines.  Although I don't see why a quad wouldn't be realistic for mining.......

[Wolflord]

I could see mech biathlon as a popular winter sport amongst the uber-rich on Tharkad as they would have the weather and the cash to indulge in such activities.  Of course the loosing team may refer to it as a coup d'état rather than a sports fixture.

[Tai Dai Cultist]

Trawling through Levin's List got me the next one.  I'm amazed I never thought of it earlier....

#69 Used Mech Salesman  (It's only been dropped once!)

[nerd]

As a geologist, mining 'Mechs have always made me lol, especially the Dig Lord and its amazing art. I've always wondered how on earth it could actually be practical and not a hindrance to everyone involved in the mining process, but whatever. I chalk it off to some rich mining CEO wanting his mining operations to look cool, kinda like the Celestial Dominus configurations - they look good on camera, but ain't all that when it comes down to business.

Open pit mines, as once common on the Iron Ranges in Northern Minnesota, would be great places to use mining 'Mechs.

Mineral deposits so rich you just slice into the planet. Yeah, you won't be running any single pit that long, but that pit will be empty.

[GreekFire]

Open pit mines, as once common on the Iron Ranges in Northern Minnesota, would be great places to use mining 'Mechs.

Mineral deposits so rich you just slice into the planet. Yeah, you won't be running any single pit that long, but that pit will be empty.

I don't see what part of the open pit mining process a mining mech would really be able to help out with, unless you want to make a glorified 2-legged shovel or something.

[RunandFindOut]

Zepplin Handler.  More pertinently than parade balloons large cargo zeppelins appear to be at least somewhat common in the IS.  Takes a lot less IndustrialMechs to handle the cables on one than people, and they're more resilient during the inevitable accidents as well.