[sammyg2]

Have you considered relocating?
The company I work for actively recruits young mechanical engineers fresh out of school or with a limited amount of experience. They call it investing in the furture. We have plants all along the west coast, in Utah, and ND.
Pay is darned good compared to other sectors. Last I heard, a first year ME starts at over $65k with raises every 6 months for 3 years until he (or she) progresses to full ME pay which is six figures or better depending on experience.

A large percentage of my job responsibility is mentoring and teaching the younger MEs. I've been called the mother duck because I'm almost always being followed by someone learning the ropes.