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

ghettofreeryder said:

My current title is Control and Automation Specialist, which works for me. Im not an engineer, nor do I wish I was, no offence. I know what I know very well, and no eengineering degree can prove that otherwise

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Heck, I just tell everyone that I'm an Electrician in drag.

Heck. I'm not an electrician or a engineer. I do all control. For many years now. My description is Automation Controls. My card says TROUBLE MAKER.

Outrage said:

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

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I've worked at a couple of places where the maintenance fitters have the job title "Engineer", which is a little like calling the first aid guy a doctor in my opinion.

As for me, if someone who knows nothing about engineering/machinery asks what I do for a living I tell them I write software to control machinery. If I'm asked by someone who is in this business I say I'm a PLC programmer.

My actual job title is Systems Engineer.

This is what I was referring to btw.

Potter said:

I've worked at a couple of places where the maintenance fitters have the job title "Engineer"...

My actual job title is Systems Engineer.

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when people ask what I do, I tell them I'm a "fancy electrician"

lol - you got me there. I'm not sure.

Greg Dake said:

Hmmm, what about MCSE?

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Open for interpertation

I work for a Systems Integrator company. A small company with 14 engineers, some have 4 year bachelors degrees in Electrical Engineering, some with only 2 year degrees in things like robotics, others only have PLC experience. We all do pretty much the same job, and we all carry the title of Project Engineer, or Senior Project Engineer.

I have a Bachelors degree in EE, and graduated 8 months ago. I have not taken the P.E. test. I do system design, and PLC/HMI/SCADA programming.

I would consider anyone who does any type of design an engineer, whether degreed or not. If you only program, then you are a programmer.

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.

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Nate W said:

I work for a Systems Integrator company. A small company with 14 engineers, some have 4 year bachelors degrees in Electrical Engineering, some with only 2 year degrees in things like robotics, others only have PLC experience. We all do pretty much the same job, and we all carry the title of Project Engineer, or Senior Project Engineer.

I have a Bachelors degree in EE, and graduated 8 months ago. I have not taken the P.E. test. I do system design, and PLC/HMI/SCADA programming.

I would consider anyone who does any type of design an engineer, whether degreed or not. If you only program, then you are a programmer.

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Nate

I do not think I would let the construction industry hear about designer being an engineer. I am sure the engineers there would have something to say about architects doing designs but not doing engineering.

For myself I do designs but I surely do not trust my engineering in every case. If it is just me that is one thing
IF I were to sell it or it may be a hazard to people then I will have a comptetent engineer review my figures and correct or PE stamp it.

Dan Bentler

SCADA Systems Technician
Control Systems Technician
SCADA/PLC Programmer
or use 'Specialist' in place of 'Technician'

- Phil

Nate W said:

I have a Bachelors degree in EE, and graduated 8 months ago. I have not taken the P.E. test. I do system design, and PLC/HMI/SCADA programming.

I would consider anyone who does any type of design an engineer, whether degreed or not. If you only program, then you are a programmer.

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Nate, must completely disagree with your statement that "ANYONE who does ANY type of design is an engineer". That statement is truly a dis-service to ANYONE who spent 4 years in college getting a BSEE.

So then:



Anyone who puts a bandaid on someone is a Doctor

Anyone who has counted money is a CPA

Anyone who has put food on a stove is a Chef

Anyone who has plugged in something is an Electrician

Anyone who has hooked up a garden hose is a Plumber

Anyone who has changed their oil is a Certified Auto Technician

Anyone who has given advice is a Psychologist

Anyone who explained something is a Teacher

Anyone who has plugged in an Ethernet cable is a Network Technician

Anyone who upholds the law is a Police Officer



OK so I’ve gone a little overboard. Honestly, an engineer is someone who has the 4 year degree or who has been registered as a PE by the state licensing authority.

brucechase said:

OK so I’ve gone a little overboard. Honestly, an engineer is someone who has the 4 year degree...

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Sorry Bruce,
But I would never consider anyone fresh out of university an engineer, whatever degree they have taken!
I truely believe that you need experience to be considered an "engineer".
As I have stated previously, there is a huge difference in the use of this word on either side of the pond. And let's face it, at the end of the day that's all it is - a word!

By the way, do you need a degree to drive a train???

brucechase said:

OK so I’ve gone a little overboard. Honestly, an engineer is someone who has the 4 year degree or who has been registered as a PE by the state licensing authority.

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I strongly disagree with this...but almost every student I have seen graduate and not accel in the field of engineering has exactly the same mentality.

Now I am working with a guy now who is a 4 year graduate and will be a prime candidate for being an engineer in a few years. Mainly, he has the degree and realizes that he needs some hands on experience to put his knowledge into practical applications

Could they be a Techingeer?

TWControls said:

I strongly disagree with this...but almost every student I have seen graduate and not accel in the field of engineering has exactly the same mentality.

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As far as I'm concerned, you can keep the insults to yourself. That's the bad thing about this board is all the engineer bashing. I am degreed and have 20 years experience and have that attitude. I worked hard for my degree and am proud of it. I can also handle most anything thrown at me from keeping the plant running to performing arc flash calculations to desiging a power system.

I never put anyone down for NOT having a degree and I have a lot of respect for many technicians that do so many things, but they are NOT engineers. I don't expect that everyone should attack someone just because he has a degree and IS an engineer.

brucechase said:

I never put anyone down for NOT having a degree and I have a lot of respect for many technicians that do so many things, but they are NOT engineers.

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Whoa Bruce,
I don't think that anyone is "engineer bashing", and I certainly wouldn't take anything away from someone who has put in the time and effort to qualify for a degree (or whatever it may be called elsewhere in the world), in whatever disciplin they have chosen (except maybe for "Media Studies"!!!).

I believe that what was being said was that just holding that piece of paper does not automatically make someone an engineer.

From a purely personal point of view, I have designed some fairly large control systems (including some within the Petro-Chemical industries) from the ground up, including specing the electrical hardware, designing the control cabinets, the elctrical schematics and finally the PLC program. All prior to on-site commissioning.
I have been able to do this due to my many, many (in fact too many!) years of experience. I would not expect a recent graduate to have been able to do what I did.

Therefore, does this make this "Technician" better than the graduate "Engineer", and if so, where does that leave the "Engineer" status?

By the way, do you not see the Pathos in your above reply.