a guy who writes machine software is ? (job title)

I call myself chief jerk !

I'm not an engineer either but my company decided my title should be "Controls Engineering", which kind of makes sense since I'm a one man department. The P Eng's that are here (that no less then I do btw) don't seem to have a problem with the title.

When someone asks me what I actually do for a living my reply normally goes something along the lines of, "I get to play with other peoples toys before they do, and when I'm bored breaking them I hand them over".

But my real job title is Senior Engineer, for what it's worth.

Why not go with:

Entry Level - Automation Apprentice
Capable - Automation Journey Man
P.E. - Automation Master

Oakley said:

Ok, here is my can of worms contribution ...


Entry Level - Automation Apprentice
Capable - Automation Specialist
P.E. - Automation Engineer


But, as Shakespear said: What's in a name?


And yes, I do have my P.E.

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The company where I work uses the title Automation Coordinator/Programmer. We are responsible for interfacing with either the plant personnel or outside contractors, whoever is doing the installation, to maintain a proper time schedule and ensure the work is up to par for projects, along with the programming.

MartB said:

When someone asks me what I actually do for a living my reply normally goes something along the lines of, "I get to play with other peoples toys before they do, and when I'm bored breaking them I hand them over".

But my real job title is Senior Engineer, for what it's worth.

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Kind of OT but if someone asks me what I do I ask them if they've ever seen the TV show "How It's Made" and then tell them I'm the guy that figures out how to do that.

hey

this one is not bad

robertmee said:

While I am a degreed EE and the president of my company, when someone asks me what I do, I usually say "System's Integrator".

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I work in the Chemical Process industry.

Degreed engineers have the title of:
Process Controls Engineer

Non-degreed people filling the same slot are:
Process Controls Specialist


After a few years, you can be promoted to a "Senior" Engineer or Specialist.

Specialist are never bumped up into management, but engineers can be advanced into management, and get a Manager title.

I work for myself and if someone asks me what are my qualifications I reply 'the second boss'. The boss is she who must be obeyed.

I am an electrical fitter who was designing controls systems as a second year apprentice. As a third year apprentice I was designing HV reticulation transformers. Also used to rewind and re-design motor windings, design and build choke, high frequency and spot welders, service work - fixing machines in the middle of the night without any drawings.


I went into sales and management for 25 years and have business and marketing management certificates that are great qualifications for what I do now.

I have been known as software engineer, engineering manager, systems integrator and whatever else my ex boss dreamed up. I believe systems integrator is probably the best description as I design the job from the start, build the panels, sometimes wire them in on site or at least prepare cable shedules for a wire jerker, write the software, commission the job, prepare the O & M manuals and, hopefully, get paid on time.

My best qualifications come from the 'school of hard knocks'. You learn really fast when you are dumped in at the deep end with no idea how to go about a job and have a deadline to meet with the liqudated damages piece of paper waiting for you if it does not work on time.

Packaging Enginemering Supervisor - is my title

Prior was Engineering Projects Supervisor, as I wasn't (and am still not) and engineer, the other person who was an engineer had Projects Engineer as the title.

My boss introduces me sometimes as the Pack. Eng Super and other times as the Electrical Engineer depending on his mood.

When people ask me what I do (I am trade qualified Electrician) I just tell them I fix power points and change light globes, it is too hard to explain and they don't really care!

When someone asks me if I am an Engineer I so no I work for a living! Only kidding!

BTW - for me, I would go with "Systems Integrator" as that is what you would do, I assume you do more than crunch code you would be also souring components and recommending solutions.

Before you go any further you need to know this was in Seattle where there is a saying about Boeing engineers
"afore I cudnt spel enginere now I r un"
Boeing now has sharp engineers BUT there a few,,,,,,,,,,,.

I was with group of ladies out sailing and one was asking me what to do about her house wiring. While I was telling her the options and dangers another asked me if I was an engineer.

I replied nahhhh, I just know what I am doing.
They laughed.
Dan Bentler
Dan Bentler

...

Specialist sounds better then engineer..., as if an engineer is no specialist

Ken Moore said:

I work in the Chemical Process industry.

Degreed engineers have the title of:
Process Controls Engineer

Non-degreed people filling the same slot are:
Process Controls Specialist


After a few years, you can be promoted to a "Senior" Engineer or Specialist.

Specialist are never bumped up into management, but engineers can be advanced into management, and get a Manager title.

Click to expand...

lol

lol

I have seen many engineers programming, there are really good one's, but a lot of them are not you know...

I did a bachelor degree in Automation, if u're an engineer, u don't know much more then a bachelor u know, u're just educated to lead a team someday if u want that, u should have management skills...

A bachelor is more a practic guy in most cases !!

I have seen that engineers sometimes feel the need for making things too complex.

The best eduaction is experience...

But to receive the chance to begin with programming in a company, you need te have luck or you need a bachelor, but mostly they ask engineers because they expect that engineers can do it.

I'm a guy who had the chance + a bachelor degree, now 8 years later I have more experience and I'm sure that degrees don't matter anymore after these 8 years of experience... U don't have 8 hours / day programming lessons in school you know !!

leitmotif said:

Before you go any further you need to know this was in Seattle where there is a saying about Boeing engineers
"afore I cudnt spel enginere now I r un"
Boeing now has sharp engineers BUT there a few,,,,,,,,,,,.

I was with group of ladies out sailing and one was asking me what to do about her house wiring. While I was telling her the options and dangers another asked me if I was an engineer.

I replied nahhhh, I just know what I am doing.
They laughed.
Dan Bentler
Dan Bentler

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Hi

System integrator
Automation designer
PLC specialist
Automation supervisor
Commissioning engineer
Software programmer
Software specialist
Network administrator

I have been called all of the above

At present I am ( unofficially automation department head , Diensthoofd automatisering)
Bof .... Have keyboard , usb stick and attitude - will fix all your problems!

Eric

Paulus said:

Hello Combo,
Just my take on it...
Although at the time, not qualified by any particular piece of paper, the company that I was employed at as a controls designer for their machines and systems, my business cards had the title "Automation Engineer". Later, when I was solely responsible for writing PLC software (and commissioning of course), the company gave me the title of "Automation Software Engineer".
The term engineer is always quite emotive - more so Stateside and mainland Europe than here in the UK.
It seems that over here, if you "can do", then "you are".

Having said that, I have been involved in Controls for some (gulp) 30 years now!

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Automation Engineer - That's my job title now! Previously, Airport Engineer (whatever that was meant to mean) - in the past I shied away from the word Engineer and opted for technician but at the end of the day if that's what the company wants to call me, i'm not going to argue.

As you say, Engineer particularly in the UK seems to be a term which everyone misuses anyhow.

Cheers,

Lee