Are there many component engineers around ?
Are there many component engineers around ?
(OP)
Hi all. I worked as a component engineer about 10 years ago and then ended up in IT as a programmer. You all know that IT has been laying off and not hiring much anymore, I am over 40 and I was thinking of going back to component engineering (capacitors, resistors, and some ICs). Do you think it is feasable or would companies be choosy ? Are there many component engineers around, I tend to think that it is a very specialized activity not having such a glut of people as programming. Thanks for any opinions or ideas!





RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
However, I see job listings for component engineers with companies in the aerospace industries. I'm sure even in the aerospace companies that component engineers are the first to go in a recession.
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
TTFN
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
I assume you are in the US or Europe? If so, I agree with everything that comcokid and irstuff said above.
Commpanies here are generally moving away from component level engineering and toward systems integration. However, I've seen it happen many times where a company will hire a new-grad and make them a 'systems engineer' right away, and the results are not good. In my opinion the people who make the best systems engineers are those who have prior component design experience. In your case that experience is a few years back, but I think you could play up the breadth of your experience and do well. So you may want to target your search more at the Systems level and see how that goes.
Peter
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
Thanks alot for some ideas. I am considering the US. Europe has only a few jobs only in UK and Germany and pay is lower and rents are way too high.
So would age (in US) be a problem ? I used to write specs and search part numbers but did not set up test boards to check out the components, I was never too great of a "designer" but I knew the characteristics of components and specs quite well . Would that be enough to cut it or would the companies expect alot more or would I need some updating in some apects that are now in use and I don't know of ? Thanks alot for any ideas and impressions!
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
So far I haven't seen age discrimnation for 40+ yet; it is more a choice of what salary you negotiate. Hopefully you will find a company willing to pay for the experience that you bring.
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?
RE: Are there many component engineers around ?