PLC/SCADA System Design - where will the jobs be?

[digitalcaptive]

Hi,

I am a "Controls" Engineer from Canada, currently working in the nuclear industry designing "tools" for nuclear maintenance.

I am wondering about the market for someone with my skill set: PLC/SCADA/Electrical system design....

With manufacturing dying in Canada, where will the jobs be? Some other countries? Nuclear is a great sector to be in for now, but for how long? And given that I'm just an "electrical" guy and not a nuclear guy, I feel that I'm pretty expendable (in reality, everyone is).

So where do I go from here? Should I go back to school and get training in something else? MBA? Law? Physiotherapy? Advanced Engineering degree?

I mean I like my job, but it's not a passion, and I am worried about the future.

I have been working for four years now, and feel like I'm at a fork in the road and need to make a decision whether to continue on in this career or move on to something else...

Any thoughts would be appreciated...

 

[ctopher]

I used to program PLC's for automated machinery. There is very little mfg and jobs in So Cal now doing this type of work.
I don't know about other areas.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
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[timbochung]

I think you'll be alright - that skill set is always in demand. Also in times like this - controls is one of the most cost-effective ways of improving productivity

Tim Chung
Mechanical Designer, CSWP

http://www.kinderdesign.ca