Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
(OP)
Do software development positions exist within engineering firms or departments?
I'm pretty new to this forum, but I have seen a goodly number of people with some impressive experience within the world of engineering. Hopefully there is some guidance or knowledge about this sub-field.
I recently graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before engineering school, I was a software developer, a job which I enjoyed for about 10 yrs. In the interest of moving my career forward, I went to school for the technical degree. I found that there are lot of very interesting problems, systems, and questions in engineering. I would like to stay within the engineering realm, but the money, job responsibility, and technical challenge just doesn't match what I can find within the software realm.
So here's what I'm thinking: get a job within a reasonably sized engineering firm as the resident software developer. Preferably, I would write software for various one off calculations, models, or control algorithms. But for my bread and butter, I could fix all the messed up spreadsheets that the guy from 8 years ago left behind or I could write software to improve work flow.
Do engineering firms hire such people, or is this sort of work outsourced? What would such a position be called?





RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Its almost impossible to convince management in engineering firms to spend money on software upgrades, or allot time for R&D (outside of a sell-able product). I put out my first major "software" monster out completely done on my time, I showed them that it took me 20 hours of work to save a department of 8 people about an hour a day per person (Not engineers, so their billable hour range was a lot lower, but still... 8 hours a day adds up!).
After that I've gotten some leeway, but they also took that as "This kid shows initiative! BURY HIM IN PROJECTS AND DEMAND THE IMPOSSIBLE!"
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
I don't think my current employer has a single roving (i.e. resident) programmer (i.e. no fixed responsibilities or deliverables, just a general good egg).
My experience of software development in engineering companies is that it's very often carried out by individuals to help with a repetative or computationally complex task. It's rarely planned and costed for and some might see it as a clandestine activity. For example, writing complex user functions to bolt into and extend commercial software. But if the software tool or process created starts looking valuable, the business/management people will want to sell it, either as a product or as a value-added service. That's when things can get a bit messy.
Some companies have research departments that produce and support (typically) simulations for in-house use by their own engineers. Having said that, if I had a pound for every time I've heard a senior manager at an OEM/Tier1 state that "this company is not in the software business, we are in the business of making and selling widgets" I'd have retired by now.
And finally, some engineering companies have a ring-fenced team that write engineering software intentionally for sale. This team has the benefit of contact with the rest of the organisation, but rarely sees oil/grease.
- Steve
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Machine builders, system integrators, and the like have tasks requiring "custom software development" to make machines work, analyze & move data, etc. I know many folks in the robotics field that fancy themselves "software engineers". The downside is that the industry perception of "controls engineers" tends to gravitate (unfairly, IMHO) to electrical engineers for some reason. So you'll have to work harder at selling yourself if you pursue ME.
TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Just my experience from my university I am sure it slightly varies from place to place but even looking at the FE testing sections (based on the new criteria changing in 2014) only computer engineers and electrical engineers have a lot of the focus on computer networking, computer programming etc.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
So, my experience is that there appears to be a market for it. I myself do custom spreadsheets from time to time, but they usually end up being owned lock stock and barrel by the company I develop them for, and I know pretty much nothing about VBA, so I have not gone into business for myself doing it.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
I guess steellion sums things up well, it's not for lack of interest -- but lack of resources that keeps the engineering firms from hiring software guys. But, I hear from others that there are larger firms and specialized firms which may be able to invest in software. So, some good news, but a tough search.
jmcoope3 - yeah, I already drank that engineering Kool-aid, too. I too miss the shangri-la that is the software world. I guess some good sized part of me thinks that 25 years from now, engineering will be able to provide a much better job than software. But, from my current vantage, it's difficult to see how the switch was worth the money and time invested. Also, the outlook for job prospects looks pretty bleak for the next 3-5 years (further impacting the investment).
Thanks again for the feedback everyone.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
That said, I know of one guy who managed to create his own business managing a DB he set up to manage RTU configurations for a SCADA system as he developed it and no one else had the skill set to take over. Obviously he started off as an employee.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Ricardo Inc is a company that does both engineering consulting and s/w dev, maybe have a look at their website.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
If you want to practice earlier than two years, go to websites like freelancer.com & elance.com and bid on engineering software projects. Don't forget to pick up marketing skills along the way- this will make or break your software company.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."
Have you read FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies to make the best use of these Forums?
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
More recently (1990), my current employer had a department called "Technical Computing". Similar deal I think. Custodians of the big computers.
- Steve
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
Controls sounds more like what you want. look at the Ford Ecoboost or the Chevy Volt. Projects like those have lots of mechanical engineers writing control software full time. This is often called systems engineering.
Catia and Unigraphics started out as in house programs before you could purchase such things.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
The Instrumentation and Controls branch of EE also write a lot of software. The I&C folks in my company do about 50% software development.
RE: Software Development within Engineering Firms or Departments
I disagree.
Engineering (non-electrical) firms tend to confuse IT and Software Development, so if he wants to do what he says, he'll probably need to look at corporate IT as a potential destination.
In Civil, I've seen some designers who knew LISP very well move on to corporate IT from their design positions, and then develop/support automated design processes and procedures. Only big companies. Also in Civil, the ability to program in GIS (ArcINFO / etc) is a pretty hot commodity, since few know how to do it.
Your two best routes are either do what MuleShoe recommends above and fish around the huge engineering outfits for potential jobs, or get a job as a designer and do your own programming to speed your own design processes up, passing your programs on to your peers.
If I were you, I'd take an engineering job, look for things to automate, and write software on the side to do so. Try to find a niche that doesn't have a major software player in it, then quit and start your own software firm once you think you have a suite you could sell.
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