Changing career paths in EE

[gbfreak10]

I'm a recent BSEE(may 09) grad with a job at a power utility working as a control and protection engineer. The current project is massive and has been contracted out so it looks like I'll be reviewing drawings mostly.

I expect to learn a lot in this job, and can see how working in the power industry can allow one to work in many different places (geograhically).

I was wondering if starting off in the power industry will pigeon hole me into the utility industry. My main interests are in electronics and computer programming. I really would like to work as an embedded programmer and hardware engineer.

In the future will diy electronics projects be enough experience to get passed entry level positions. The design projects I have done are: single ended guitar tube amp, hi-fi tube amp, a low power headphone amp, and a 2.4ghz microstrip balanced amplifier.

Currently I'm working on building an mp3 player using a dsp chip. Already have the power supply design done.

So how much does your first job influence future jobs. I know the key is to relate what you've done to your new prospective job.
My college studies were focused on electronics and heavy on computer programming. But I don't have any industry experience in these fields.

General opinions and comments will be helpful. Any suggestions on how to get my foot in the door for electronics or is this a dying field in the USA. Thanks

 

[Comcokid]

As a BSEE (+1/2 masters 1980) who has worked electronics design (RF, analog, hardware, embedded, sensor), I have wondered some times how I could I could get into something more stable like the power industry.

The grass is always somewhat greener on the other side of the fence.

The power industry does allow you the ability to work in many different geographical places. Like civil engineering, there is some need in all cities. The electronics side of EE somewhat restricts you to some areas. I've tried to buck this trend in my career and live away from the hotbed technical locations, but it has required me to rip-up and replant 1000 miles elsewhere on several occasions. I presently live 150 miles from my sister - the closest I have lived to family in 20 years. Electronics can make you a high-paid migrant worker.

Electronics is very susceptible to the economy and to the tendency to offshore. Power generation and distribution will always be done here.

With the recent emphasis on "smart grid" and "green power" generation, I would say you are positioned very well. This is especially true with your interest in electronics and computer programming.

Given your interest try to move more to the power measurement and controls side. Learn more of the SCADA side of power distrubution and the companies that are involved in this and power control like Schweitzer Engineering or some divisions of Siemens. There are areas where you can use a background in power to get to the areas you are more interested in.

 

[jenniferwhite]

Hi gb,

The details of the technical assignments on your first job in engineering out of school will be greatly drowned out by the skills and abilities you develop over the next 5 years.

The most important thing you can do in your career when you first start out is to keep an open mind and find mentors that you can learn from. You have just hit the "real world" where book knowledge needs to be transferred and applied to designs, testing, development, production all within corporate needs and constraints.

So the best advice to you is that you should not concern yourself too much with the industry you are in (especially if you are enjoying what you do) and instead try to learn and grow in as many technical and other directions as possible.

In the end if you do this you will be able to pick the next industry or organization you get to work for because you will
have experience and tools on your belt that any employer will pay for.

EE is a great field with almost infinite opportunities. So work hard, find mentors, learn as much as you can and good things will happen to you.

Best of luck,

Jenn