The future of Controls Engineering? [Need career advice] 4

[digitalcaptive]

I'm a young Electrical Engineer who has been working on PLC/DCS/SCADA Control System Projects in the Manufacturing and Energy (Nuclear) sector for the past 4 years. I've switched from a fast paced private system integrator to a govt job. Right now I'm working on tooling systems and robotics for nuclear maintenance.

I want to know what the future outlook is for this profession in general?

I am making decent money now, but I am not sure if this a good field to "specialize" in because the entry barriers are so low (I just have a Bachelors in EE) and the effort to reward ratio doesn't seem THAT high .....

If I'm just interested in making $$$, shouldn't I just switch to something more lucrative while I have the chance? Like dentistry, medicine, law, finance, my own business, etc.?

I don't hate engineering, but it's not something I "love" either.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
dc

 

[GregLocock]

AH, well now your comment makes more sense.

OK, so in the past eight years you have learned to work with people, identify and solve problems, analyse situations where the data is imperfect, invent new approaches, sell ideas to management etc etc.

Go out there and apply your reluctantly-engineering brain to another field and I am sure you'll be appreciated, and, annoyingly for the rest of us, get paid more for a given effort. If it really isn't fun for you why do it for 10 hours a day?

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[ykee]

What kind of work do you enjoy doing? Are you willing to travel? You could think about a variety of careers that would build on your technical background:
- Project Management
- Sales
There are lots of careers that would leverage your controls background, you need to figure out what you WANT to do.

 

[KENAT]

Levaraging your Engineering, well like I hinted above, some big management consultancy, financial companies etc value the skills Engineers get taught at school. I'm not sure they'd value the additional skills you've learnt in industry but I'd expect at least some of them would.

A guy from here, I think more of a scientist than an Engineer but none the less, left a year or two ago to become some kind of stock analyst or something. I believe he was already getting paid a lot and was moving for a pay raise.

This types of fields will probably offer more money, but possibly not 9-5 type schedule. Also I wouldn't find them remotely satisfying but you may.

Sorry if I came off a bit harsh on my first post, pet peeve of mine as I explained.



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[SomptingGuy]

"If I recall correctly Greg only has a bachelors"

Unless of course he swapped it for an M.A.(Cantab)? He has hinted before...

- Steve

 

[KENAT]

So I guess I recall incorrectly. Wouldn't be the first time.

I've decided I've been posting far too much lately and spouting off about stuff I know little about and/or before I've really thought it through.

This is yet more evidence, consider me suitably chastened and apologies for any offence etc.

To the OP, good luck. I hope you find something that fulfills you. As skeptical as I am about it that did seem to the theme of that stuff on Oprah.

I still have images that if everyone just went off doing what they enjoy, rather than worrying about obligations, responsibilities etc. then the world would end up falling apart. However, if you can pull it off, good luck to you.


KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[SomptingGuy]

KENAT,

It was kind of a joke. Greg has stated before that he got a B.A. I just guessed it would be the old place in the Fens other than its rival.

- Steve

 

[GregLocock]

Nah, I didn't take the upgrade. 30 quid for a masters (seriously) is perilously close to a degree mill. I have occasionally been reminded that that piece of obstinacy may be costing me a promotion.

So, I'm a BA Cantab in some unspecified form of engineering that is not even mentioned on my degree certificate. Funny old world innit?

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[KENAT]

Sompting, man my sense of humor/memory is off lately.

30 quid, cheapest diploma mill I could find this side of the pond was a few hundred $!

OP, does this sound like your cup of tea?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_analyst

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[Gymmeh]

30 quid, Is that like 60 USD?

I would love a diploma for $60...

Try a few hundred per credit hour! Most engineering classes are 3 or 4 credits.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Gymmeh,

It's not all it seems. I won't try to explain it because I'll get it wrong. Do a little bit of research. Wikipedia is a bit long-winded, so start here.

http://people.csail.mit.edu/adonovan/MA.html

- Steve

 

[KENAT]

Clear as mud;-)

No wonder some places in the US don't seem keen on accepting my UK degree!

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[GTstartup]

..For the guys/gals that do engineering for the $$$$... If you're not smart enough to know there's better ways to make money... then... well... you need to learn how to do something else because you will not survive in this industry without taking a HUGE fall at some point in your career... Good luck to you though... I'll see ya across the table...

You seem to be implying that somehow engineers whose primary motivation is money are inferior to those whose motivation is some "love" for the discipline. I personally am working for the money, although I do like my job. Love of engineering won't get you far at the grocery store, or put your kids through college or make you confortable in your retirement. It's this "vocation" attitude to engineering that keeps most of us in this less than 100k salary range.

Having a job that you love is one thing, being paid peanuts for doing it is quite another.

I also take umbrage at the statement that those of us who know our worth will never make it and will necessarily suffer a "HUGE fall". What kind of fall? Should I take a paycut to avoid it? Please elaborate

 

[KENAT]

I think the point is, a lot of us, including me, have the perception that there are probably easier ways to make the same money or ways to make more money with the same (or even less) effort.

Anyone in the UK/US whose primary motivation is the money is likely to end up dissapointed, and probably bitter.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[Gymmeh]

S.Guy,

I almost understand now... so basically it means you spent time in school from 14-21. And could have attended two different programs. Right?????

 

[GTstartup]

Hi Kenat,

I guess the way I look at it is if your primary motivation is money you will only be bitter if you don't actually make a lot of money. If your primary motivation is money and you don't make any money, then yes... I can see that.

I am an engineer, all my education is in engineering, all my experience is in engineering, and I guess I am not smart enough (as SS says) to see another way to make the money I now make. I'm not going to suddenly notice that investment bankers make more money and wake up tomorrow and decide to pursue investment banking. My only point is to not sell engineering short as a way of making good money. I'm not talking 50-60K good money I'm talking 150-200k real good money. Senselessticker's opinion that we are in for a "fall" because we want to get paid what we deserve sounds like bitterness to me.

Let me ask this. Who is potentially more bitter? He who believes he is getting paid what he deserves. Or he who, even though he loves his job, believes he is not getting paid what he deserves.

 

[KENAT]

Obviously the latter, I don't think anyone is arguing that.

There are high paying Engineering jobs but from what I know they often require things that don't suit everyone. For instance a lot of travel and/or being on an oil rig in the middle of no where or whatever and/or long hours etc. Or maybe they require being at the top of your field etc. Or to make that money you end up in a high cost of living area, where it doesn't translate into standard of living. And of course, some of those jobs may be more management or sales than engineering.

Plus Engineering is a broad field, and covers a broad geographic range, both of which can affect income levels.

I get tired of people I work with (or some on this site) moaning about not making enough money doing engineering, or how if they'd known what it would be like when they were younger they would have done something different. If that's the case go do something else, somewhere else, and quit bringing me down.

Finally almost all of the above are generalizations, there are bound to be exceptions.

KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[SomptingGuy]

Gymmeh,

Nope. People who spend 3 years at Oxford or Cambridge graduate with a BA, regardless of what they studied. Then a few years later they can choose to pay 30 quid and it magically becomes an MA - no further studying required. This is a historical remnant from the old(e) days (which is described in micropscopic detail by wikipedia). It's Peculiar to Oxford and Cambridge, hence MA (Cantab) and MA(Oxon).

It does allow snobs to pretend to have a masters. And it'll probably fool most non-Brit employers. Greg gets my respect for refusing to do it.


- Steve

 

[DRWeig]

Hi folks,

I just gotta pitch in. I had a boss once who, if you complained about the work, would say, "If it were easy, we'd hire little kids to do it. If you loved it, we wouldn't have to pay you. Now get back to work."

As for me, here's why I went into engineering. As a child (eight years old), I fluffed up a wad of steel wool I ahd found, was tossing it around like a basketball, and I accidentally dropped it on the posts of a 6-volt lantern battery in my Dad's garage. What I saw irrevocably burned an electrical engineering career into my future.

I've been in power systems and controls for almost 30 years now, and although I'm not rich, I'm quite comfortable. The only wealthy engineers I know invented important things that had great market success. Drudges like me do the work, enjoy the pride in the end product, and go home each evening to play with our steel wool and batteries.

In sum, one doesn't have to love the work (in my opinion), or even enjoy all aspects of it. Neither work nor money make happiness and peace.

However, digitalcaptive, if you've got the itch to see what else is out there -- I vote that you scratch it. Unlike me, you can start afresh in any path you choose. What a wonderful position in which to sit!!

That's all I have to say.

Goober Dave