Job Title ? 1

[handler1981]

Hi All,

I work in HVAC consulting with a bit under 4 years of relevant experience. I've completed a BSME and recently obtained my PE license in California. Does that make me an Engineer? My job title is HVAC Designer and my employer insist I stay with it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've thought Designer is someone who does not have an engineering degree and Engineer is someone who does regardless of experience?

I appreciate any input. Thank you.

-Jordan

 

[simsd]

Interesting dilemma...I agree with you. I do not have an engineering degree - I'm an MIS guy with a lot of control experience - so I call myself a controls specialist as I do not want any preconceived notions - at least not for me. I do the same thing for my guys - I call it like it is (ie: installer, technician etc.). I have even told some of my subcontractors that do programming and other things not to use engineering in their title unless they went to engineering school or have a P.E.

You can be an engineering technician or technologist (as in Canada) and those are guys that received a diploma n engineering technology - nothing wrong with that.

But....your employer may want customer's to understand what your function is - designer. The P.E. will automatically indicate that you are an engineer.

 

[317069]

If you are licened by an engineering body in your area, then you have the right to use title that the body gives to its members which is PE in your case, this title is not under your employer control, he can not prevent you from using it, but your position in your company is a different matter, it is like working in position that your over qualified for it.

 

[DRWeig]

Agree with 317069 and simsd.

The job title (Designer) is not something you can change without the employer's consent. But he should not be able to stop you from putting PE after your name.

In my company, we made the title Design Engineer for the equivalent of your position. Note: if your company's upper management has a bit of a -- what should I call it -- "corporate attitude," there may be someone in HR or elsewhere who is cautious about using the term engineer in a job title. It makes the salary surveys for your position go higher. I didn't directly experience that, but I had an HR acquaintance who actually admitted to doing that to keep payroll from growing.

If you enjoy your work and continue to impress your managers, you'll do well and eventually get that title I bet.




Good on ya,

Goober Dave

Haven't see the forum policies? Do so now: Forum Policies

 

[willard3]

Why would you wait for your employer to call you an Engineer.....you passed the test, you are an Engineer.

There are no other tests left for you to be an Engineer.

 

[KiwiMace]

I used engineer as soon as i had an engineering degree on my wall. I'd be a tad peeved if some tightar..wad employer prevented me from using a well earned title. The PE thing likewise with adding the word Professional.

There is a lot more responsibility placed on an engineer than a designer, even though i've worked with a few designers i'd hope to be as good as one day. Your benchmark with this employer will be your starting benchmark with your next. The next employer will assume you were not up to the responsibilites of the bigger job. If it was me hiring, i'd be asking.

 

[macmet]

Are they allowing you to put PE on your card? If so, who cares? Not a big deal.

If they do not allow you to put "Jordan ________, PE" then complain.

Nothing wrong with be a designer, most job titles are BS anyway. I'm a "Customer Service Supervisor". What does that even mean? ha.

 

[IRstuff]

Are they paying you like a Designer, or like an Engineer?

If the former, then it's time to start looking.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[handler1981]

Thanks for all the input.

My compensation/benefits are comparable to hvac design engineers with the same amount of experience in the area and I am allowed to use PE after my name. Actually, I am referred to clients or anyone external as "engineer working on XXX".

I enjoy it here and plan to be around for a while but I am curious to know if there are anyone else who is in my shoes. Or if you're an employer, how would it benefit your company?

Thanks again for replying.

-Jordan

 

[PEDARRIN2]

I work in a company that does HVAC design and other types as well.

We typically use designer for those who do not have an engineering degree and engineer for those who do. When the design professional starts running their own projects, supervise others with less experience or obtain their PE (for the engineer), they add "senior" to the title, with certain perks and benefits.

It is sort of interesting that we could have a senior engineeer working under a senior designer because the engineer has his PE but doesn't have the experience yet to work unsupervised on his own projects.

 

[MechEngNCPE]

If you have an engineering degree and are working on or have your EIT, then if you represent yourself as an "Engineer," whether on your buisness card or email then you can be fined and prevented from obtaining your PE from the board, at least here in NC.

 

[Maximusprime]

Hey all, first post.

I am in a similar situation, though I haven't got my PE yet, so I am letting it slide.

My previous two titles have been "Mechanical Engineer", but my current company calls all of us designers, unless we become a partner or a project manager. I am fairly certain it is to keep the comparable salary numbers low.

QUOTE "If you have an engineering degree and are working on or have your EIT, then if you represent yourself as an "Engineer," whether on your buisness card or email then you can be fined and prevented from obtaining your PE from the board, at least here in NC. "

I did not know this! I wonder if I should change my previous job titles when I submit my application to take the test!

 

[MechEngNCPE]

Never falsly represent yourself with the title Engineer if you are not a PE.

 

[IRstuff]

Remember that California has an industrial exemption, so I'm an engineer, and can say so on my business card.

As for your company, it may be the perception of skirting some level of liability, given that California is the 10th most litigious state

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[satchmo]

I encountered the same thing in my first job after college. My business card said "Designer". It was a salary grade/HR thing. After my first review I was bumped up a grade and allowed to be called "Machine Design Engineer". So, a designer is basically whatever your corporate structure defines it as. Like Dave said, it is done to lower the salary comparisons.

 

[flukeynub]

"Never falsly represent yourself with the title Engineer if you are not a PE."

You don't have to be a licensed PE to be an engineer. A PE is for showing you are capable in terms of engineering principles, have some experience and can sign off (and are responsible) on plans/designs.

I am most definately not falsely representing myself by calling myself an engineer just because I do not yet have the PE certification.

 

[MechEngNCPE]

"I am most definately not falsely representing myself by calling myself an engineer just because I do not yet have the PE certification."

Be careful - in North Carolina at least you can be taken to court for misrepresentation. BTW, you are NOT an Engineer unless you are Licensed Professionally.

Is your janitor a "Sanitation Engineer"

 

[flukeynub]

MechEng, thanks for the straight talk, I needed it. I went ahead and read my state's PE laws and you are correct. I will have to talk to my manager about what I'm supposed to put on my business card/e-mail signatures.

Would putting EIT on card/letter head/email explicitly help anything? I don't think I have any way of forcing HR to change my job title and doubt this is necessary.

 

[MechEngNCPE]

In house, "Engineer" is fine to use as a job title - it's when you present yourself with that title to others outside your office where it becomes a problem. Use EIT after your name since you have that certification, that's what I did. I was a "Mechanical Designer" on my buisness card/email up until I got the PE even though my job title was Mechanical Engineer I prior to EIT, and then Mechanical Engineer II post-EIT. Hope this helps.

 

[dgallup]

If you want to market yourself as an engineer to clients or testify in court as an expert witness then you need the PE. However, at least in the mechanical engineering field, you don't even need the degree for your company to put it on your business card. All you need is a little bit of on the job experience. This was really common 30 years ago when I entered the labor force with a BSME. Lots of my coworkers in the engineering department were called engineers with no engineering degree. It has become much less common in recent times. I've actually had bosses who discouraged engineers from getting their PE because they did not want them to be able to give expert testimony if the company were sued.

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