Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 142 posts

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#61

Post by rustiest »

majickdave wrote: post #35

It is extremely tough. I left my Civil Engineering career path in 2015 in search of a career in tech. I then applied to graduate school at SMU for an online masters in data science. I am still struggling to find meaningful work, but currently mentoring a data science bootcamp. This is a very tough track but uf you have software development experience it should be easier to get a role in ML or Data Science.

How did you find that SMU program? I was debating that and a similar program at UC Berkeley.

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#63

Post by ultrasounder »

lnsru wrote: post #58
ultrasounder wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the response.Wireless comms seems like ripe for ML enhancement. PCB inspection is something that has crossed my mind indeed but it is quiet involved due to the sheer number of features ( traces, components, vias, connectors) none of which has pretrained models. Having said that Automation esp FAI( First article inspection) is quiet possible as demonstarted by landing.ai(Andrew NGs) company.Being employee a…

Would you like to write an auto router for PCB design using ML? A smart one that can indentify components, their properties and choose right connections between them? Have a fast signal going directly and some shitty LED with 10 vias. Or placing power parts with wide tracks and using thin ones for digital signals.

Auto routers already exist and I always route my own PCBs. I am pretty sure the tool vendors are considering or already building up AI expertise to level up their Auto routers. I keep hearing at least in Altium they have come a long way. Gotto try it one of these days.

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#64

Post by Iamhisalt »

ryanjodonnell wrote: post #31
souljaboytylem wrote: post #27

After reading most of the comments I can try to provide a different perspective. I am a Director of Data Science and Software Engineering for a mid sized firm (~1000 employees and $150-200MM revenue). I started with a Finance degree then shifted into an analysis position at a FAANG (lots of excel, SQL, learning how to query big data). This eventually led to learning more about tech (python, AWS cloud stack, messaging…

We gotta stop saying 'FAANG' when MSFT is the arguably the top tech company around these days.

Can’t forget Oracle either!

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#65

Post by make3 »

teacpde wrote: post #25
xenihn wrote: post #12

Maybe someone who actually works at FAANG can weigh in, but I would think that one of your best bets would be getting into one as a general SWE and then transitioning to AI/ML internally after a year. I recall Google even having some sort of internal program that encouraged this. Getting into Google is a moonshot, but it's possible to do so with no prior professional programming experience if you put in a ton of effo…

Internal transition is always easier, I have several colleagues went from SWE to ML related roles this year. One thing worth noting is that most of them work on building ML infra/platform rather than direct user facing ML features, so it is not drastically different from what they did previously.

this. if you get in as a SWE, you'll end up doing infra or data management/cleaning stuff imho

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#66

Post by make3 »

ryanjodonnell wrote: post #30
xenihn wrote: post #12

Maybe someone who actually works at FAANG can weigh in, but I would think that one of your best bets would be getting into one as a general SWE and then transitioning to AI/ML internally after a year. I recall Google even having some sort of internal program that encouraged this. Getting into Google is a moonshot, but it's possible to do so with no prior professional programming experience if you put in a ton of effo…

Random side note, but when is the 'FAANG' acronym going to die? MSFT is killing it, prob the top tech company around these days. Needs to be included in that list.

I agree, Microsoft is probably the #2 top company in AI after Alphabet, should be included

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#67

Post by brett40324 »

robertAngst wrote: post #53
DrNuke wrote: post #2

> what should I do to get noticed by recruiters at FAANG and non-FAANG to stand apart from the CS crowd? The usual answer here is look for suitable business / r&d cases within your own EE industrial domain and use ML/AI as any other tool instead of as a black box or a magic wand. Good luck.

I'm just trying to get my first programming job. I cant seem to get past HR. My resume has that I'm a Chem Engineer BS, Industrial MS, 7 years in engineering, 2 years of Electrical Engineering. The first page of my resume is my 10 years of non-career programming experience. Built a Dishwasher(embedded C++), full stack app(RN JS, Mysql PHP laravel), and smaller projects. I cannot get past HR. Every real life programme…

Off topic, but wanted to reply regarding "The first page of my resume is my 10 years of non-career programming experience."

This must be part or most of the problem. Cut your resume down to 1 page, if possible. Include a meaningful cover letter catered to the opportunity and specific company youre applying to. Shove the last ten years stuff into the very end, and start that first page with your software knowledge and related projects. Ping me someday here if this ends up getting your foot in the door.

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#68

Post by ptd »

robertAngst wrote: post #53
DrNuke wrote: post #2

> what should I do to get noticed by recruiters at FAANG and non-FAANG to stand apart from the CS crowd? The usual answer here is look for suitable business / r&d cases within your own EE industrial domain and use ML/AI as any other tool instead of as a black box or a magic wand. Good luck.

I'm just trying to get my first programming job. I cant seem to get past HR. My resume has that I'm a Chem Engineer BS, Industrial MS, 7 years in engineering, 2 years of Electrical Engineering. The first page of my resume is my 10 years of non-career programming experience. Built a Dishwasher(embedded C++), full stack app(RN JS, Mysql PHP laravel), and smaller projects. I cannot get past HR. Every real life programme…

Have you tried cutting down on experience? With age discrimination in hiring you might be better off including 7 years as opposed to 10. Just my two cents.

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#69

Post by DrNuke »

robertAngst wrote: post #53
DrNuke wrote: post #2

> what should I do to get noticed by recruiters at FAANG and non-FAANG to stand apart from the CS crowd? The usual answer here is look for suitable business / r&d cases within your own EE industrial domain and use ML/AI as any other tool instead of as a black box or a magic wand. Good luck.

I'm just trying to get my first programming job. I cant seem to get past HR. My resume has that I'm a Chem Engineer BS, Industrial MS, 7 years in engineering, 2 years of Electrical Engineering. The first page of my resume is my 10 years of non-career programming experience. Built a Dishwasher(embedded C++), full stack app(RN JS, Mysql PHP laravel), and smaller projects. I cannot get past HR. Every real life programme…

Hi. Why are you looking for your “first programming job” with your different background and mature resume? You are at great disadvantage against tons of CS naturals in the usual recruiting and interview routine. Also, your programmers network thinks you are good enough which is encouraging, so why do they not refer you internally or through their own network? Ask them for sincere feedback, they are not helping you enough. Happy New Year and good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Engineers from non-CS background, how did you pivot into ML/AI?

#70

Post by bhollan »

I'm not sure how this will be received, but I'm learning a lot through following Jeremy Howard. He's a huge PyTorch fan and he's spent the last 3 years trying to figure out what people like you need. He launched a course called FastAI and a DL library by the same name. His aim is to help anybody do it that wants to, with or without code.

MOOC: http://course.fast.ai

I just found a resource a few months ago that I'd love to recommend, but haven't started yet. It's mentorship you pay for, but not up front. You sign a contract to pay a certain percentage after you're hired. I plan on going through this program if my current job leads don't pan out.

Mentorship: https://sharpestminds.com

I'm interested in comments about either program in general. Speaking as someone who also has an EE degree, went through a web development bootcamp, and was disappointed by both at the help in getting hired that was offered after the curriculum was finished, I am also interested in your findings and results.

Post reply on HN