posted
I'm an Electrical Engineer, currently working in systems integration for a wireless communications company. Actually, most of my work has been in systems integration, test, and troubleshooting, so I should probably give up on considering myself an EE and just admit to being a systems engineer.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
I am a Mechanical Engineer, with a PE in NY and NV.
I've worked on many automation and robotics projects, and have worked for over 10 years in the theater/entertainment industry.
Non-theater projects have included NASA's Flight Telerobotic Servicer ("Robonaut"), video cameras and servo-controlled pan/tilt units for the space shuttle and space station, microelectronics fabrication and inspection robots, anti-terrorist robots for the Navy, and targetting/tracking mounts for various Air Force and related groups.
Theater projects include Beauty and the Beast (the musical; on Broadway, California, Canada, US touring shows, Japan, and Mexico), Tommy (the musical), Clockers (film), T2 in 3D (Universal Studios Theme Parks in Florida/California/Japan), Cirque du Soleil's "Zumanity" and "Ka" in Las Vegas, "EFX" and the Rio "Sky Parade" in Las Vegas, both major Connecticut casinos, and others.
quote:Originally posted by ssywak: Non-theater projects have included NASA's Flight Telerobotic Servicer ("Robonaut"), video cameras and servo-controlled pan/tilt units for the space shuttle and space station, microelectronics fabrication and inspection robots, anti-terrorist robots for the Navy, and targetting/tracking mounts for various Air Force and related groups.
That's really cool!
I'm considering minoring in Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, and maybe work for NASA. If not, I'll probably do Automotive engineering or design boats.
Posts: 4174 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote: A lot of my civil and mechanical buddies have no desire to get theirs.
I'm not sure what a civil engineer would do without a license except do grunt work for someone who does have their license.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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I don't need to ever get my PE license, but I'm planning on doing it one of these days, when I have a couple of hundred extra bucks for the dues. I got my EIT certificate about 4 years ago, so all I have to do is take the PE test at this point.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:Originally posted by twinky: Xavier, the thing about "engineer" is that it's a term that has legal meaning. That's why some of us get a bit antsy when people who are not, in fact, engineers (in the legal/professional sense of the term) start throwing the word around.
It'd be like a chiropractor saying "I'm a doctor." Apples and oranges. What's wrong with "software developer" or something similar?
As long as you're arguing legality, a chiropracter is a "Doctor of Chiropractic," but not a "Medical Doctor." Nor are they Ph.D's.
As far as the term "engineer" goes, the legality only extends to licenses, such as "professional engineer," or "railoroad engineer."
I think the point was well taken about whether you label yourself an engineer, or if your employer calls you an engineer. I know a lot of technicians who have simply been promoted by their employer into an engineering position. If they aren't engineers, then what are they?
Then there are people like me, with titles like "Senior Technical Associate," "Equipment Designer" or "Technologist." What does that mean? A draftsman or technician (or both) that's doing the job of a Bachelor's Degree engineer because the Ph.D engineers are busy Ph.Ding and the company doesn't hire B.S. engineers. We engineer things, but we're not engineers.
On the other hand, most (I think all) of the Ph.D engineers I worked with didn't have a P.E. license, but the one P.E. I worked with had a master's degree. So the Ph.D's weren't engineers?
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote: A lot of my civil and mechanical buddies have no desire to get theirs.
I'm not sure what a civil engineer would do without a license except do grunt work for someone who does have their license.
Big construction companies generally hire a ton of civil graduates to be their project managers. It's not what I would call grunt work, but it leads you into management more than design.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I forgot about those guys. If your friends are thinking about that line of work, tell them they can likely expect very, very long hours when they start.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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quote:I forgot about those guys. If your friends are thinking about that line of work, tell them they can likely expect very, very long hours when they start.
Yeah, they are already in that line of work, and they say Saturdays are mandatory.
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