What does "associate" engineer mean?

[CivilTom]

My friend mentioned that he received an offer as an associate engineer. The responsiblities of this job look identicle to a "design engineer" and the salary is actually greater then a typical civil engineer I (we both recently graduated as civil engineers). However the title "associate engineer" seems less impressive then "design engineer." I tend to compare associate to an assocaite's degree wich is less then a Bachelors. Where do associate engineers rank when compare to project engineers, project directors, technicians etc.?

 

[KENAT]

Don't normally need to 'cause it's on a plaque in their office along with a bunch of certs from various continuous training courses etc.

(OK, not always but from what I've seen often - may even be a legal requirement here in CA.)

Posting guidelines faq731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

(probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484​

 

[SnTMan]

Just be careful with the abbreviations

Regards,

Mike

 

[IRstuff]

"Ever ask your Doctor or lawyer to see a copy of his/her license?? Doubt it!!"

Sometimes, you don't need to, because you can look them up online before you see them. Of course, given wonderful quality of printers today, you can't be sure of anything printed on paper anymore.

TTFN
faq731-376

 

[kingnero]

hopping on the "engineer" wagon: I see lots of "service engineers", "field engineers", ... while they're actually technicians providing services.
In belgium, they're trying to make the title "engineer" to be used only by actual engineers, endorsing it by law. This has been going on for several years, guess how far they stand this moment...

 

[Tunalover]

I worked at a place where "Associate Engineer" was reserved for highly skilled, non-degreed (no Bachelor of Science) designers. There were some designers who were so valuable to the company that I suppose the company created the title to justify another higher salary grade.


Tunalover

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Bottom line and I think this holds true for most (all) states - if I hold myself out as an enginner to prepare, design, cerify, whatever designs and plans to the public then I MUST be a PE. Other than that - I don't care what you call yourself....

 

[bridgebuster]

When I started working in the 70's, "Associate", in NYC, was an ambiguous term, although it was implicit that you had some financial interest in the company or were on your way to becoming a partner. One older engineer would say, "it means you have a gold key to the toilet". Years later a friend became an associate, his description, "I dunno" (but he was just being modest; now it' doesn't matter; eventually we were both bought up by the same firm; there are no partners).

 

[JBcveg]

Lighten up Mike. Is it Potato or Potatoe? Its Potato. Im an Eningeer, degree says so BSCE. License says you can practice engineering.

 

[sibeen]

So the thread isn't so US centric, in Australia, the term Associate Engineer is normally used in consultancies for those who are a step above Senior Engineers, and a step below a Partner in the company.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Bottom line - what are your responsibilities and what is your pay grade??