Job Title ?
Job Title ?
(OP)
Hi All,
I work in HVAC consulting with a bit under 4 years of relevant experience. I've completed a BSME and recently obtained my PE license in California. Does that make me an Engineer? My job title is HVAC Designer and my employer insist I stay with it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've thought Designer is someone who does not have an engineering degree and Engineer is someone who does regardless of experience?
I appreciate any input. Thank you.
-Jordan
I work in HVAC consulting with a bit under 4 years of relevant experience. I've completed a BSME and recently obtained my PE license in California. Does that make me an Engineer? My job title is HVAC Designer and my employer insist I stay with it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've thought Designer is someone who does not have an engineering degree and Engineer is someone who does regardless of experience?
I appreciate any input. Thank you.
-Jordan





RE: Job Title ?
You can be an engineering technician or technologist (as in Canada) and those are guys that received a diploma n engineering technology - nothing wrong with that.
But....your employer may want customer's to understand what your function is - designer. The P.E. will automatically indicate that you are an engineer.
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RE: Job Title ?
The job title (Designer) is not something you can change without the employer's consent. But he should not be able to stop you from putting PE after your name.
In my company, we made the title Design Engineer for the equivalent of your position. Note: if your company's upper management has a bit of a -- what should I call it -- "corporate attitude," there may be someone in HR or elsewhere who is cautious about using the term engineer in a job title. It makes the salary surveys for your position go higher. I didn't directly experience that, but I had an HR acquaintance who actually admitted to doing that to keep payroll from growing.
If you enjoy your work and continue to impress your managers, you'll do well and eventually get that title I bet.
Good on ya,
Goober Dave
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There are no other tests left for you to be an Engineer.
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There is a lot more responsibility placed on an engineer than a designer, even though i've worked with a few designers i'd hope to be as good as one day. Your benchmark with this employer will be your starting benchmark with your next. The next employer will assume you were not up to the responsibilites of the bigger job. If it was me hiring, i'd be asking.
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If they do not allow you to put "Jordan ________, PE" then complain.
Nothing wrong with be a designer, most job titles are BS anyway. I'm a "Customer Service Supervisor". What does that even mean? ha.
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If the former, then it's time to start looking.
TTFN
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RE: Job Title ?
My compensation/benefits are comparable to hvac design engineers with the same amount of experience in the area and I am allowed to use PE after my name. Actually, I am referred to clients or anyone external as "engineer working on XXX".
I enjoy it here and plan to be around for a while but I am curious to know if there are anyone else who is in my shoes. Or if you're an employer, how would it benefit your company?
Thanks again for replying.
-Jordan
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We typically use designer for those who do not have an engineering degree and engineer for those who do. When the design professional starts running their own projects, supervise others with less experience or obtain their PE (for the engineer), they add "senior" to the title, with certain perks and benefits.
It is sort of interesting that we could have a senior engineeer working under a senior designer because the engineer has his PE but doesn't have the experience yet to work unsupervised on his own projects.
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I am in a similar situation, though I haven't got my PE yet, so I am letting it slide.
My previous two titles have been "Mechanical Engineer", but my current company calls all of us designers, unless we become a partner or a project manager. I am fairly certain it is to keep the comparable salary numbers low.
QUOTE "If you have an engineering degree and are working on or have your EIT, then if you represent yourself as an "Engineer," whether on your buisness card or email then you can be fined and prevented from obtaining your PE from the board, at least here in NC. "
I did not know this! I wonder if I should change my previous job titles when I submit my application to take the test!
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As for your company, it may be the perception of skirting some level of liability, given that California is the 10th most litigious state
TTFN

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RE: Job Title ?
RE: Job Title ?
You don't have to be a licensed PE to be an engineer. A PE is for showing you are capable in terms of engineering principles, have some experience and can sign off (and are responsible) on plans/designs.
I am most definately not falsely representing myself by calling myself an engineer just because I do not yet have the PE certification.
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Be careful - in North Carolina at least you can be taken to court for misrepresentation. BTW, you are NOT an Engineer unless you are Licensed Professionally.
Is your janitor a "Sanitation Engineer"
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Would putting EIT on card/letter head/email explicitly help anything? I don't think I have any way of forcing HR to change my job title and doubt this is necessary.
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State law will lay you low if you claim to be an Engineer but are not a PE.
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Most states have the industrial excemption, but some will not allow someone to call himself a corrosion engineer regardless of how many degrees he/she has unless that person is registered.
However, California has a special situation. Only Civil engineers can stamp the drawings for a building permit, that includes the mechanical, electrical & plumbing parts (MEP). MEP engineers can show their areas of expertise by being a registered ME or EE. There is a different situation for fire protection system design - certified engineeering technicians are allowed to stamp the FP sprinkler drawings. Usually regardless of what the stamped enginneeing drawing says, the plumbing is installed by a non-engineer, but a licensed plumber and he gets the final say on design and installation of the plumbing systems (subject to the plumbing inspector).
Check with your local Society of Professional Engineers to find out how it is set up in your state, since different states have different requirements and what cetrified engineers can do (i.e. structural).
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"Therefore, the use of the title Facilities Engineer is defined as an act constituting the professional practice of engineering. However, his is not professionally registered as such. ORS 672.045(1) prohibits the unlicensed use of the “engineer” title."
Based on this I changed my letterheads, business cards, etc to simply have my name and department in them. Somewhat disappointing, but the licensing board has spoken