Earlier quoted context omitted.
Software engineering is the most desk bound job in existence.
Perhaps, but your desk can be located anywhere.
...as long as the company allows it.
Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
91–100 of 102 posts
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#92I haven't made the jump yet, but my current job is as a systems engineer working on pure software systems. Most other systems engineering jobs in this field are hardware-focused and require an EE degree so I am strongly considering going down that path for a master's. It would likely open up a lot of opportunities at least in this field.
(though I will admit the comments in this thread are making me want to, at least, check the salary before I commit to anything!)
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#93This is exactly what I did. After graduate school (focused on the wireless networking space) I was really burned out on software development. Important context is that my undergraduate degree was in mechanical engineering, even though I ended up moving straight into CS afterwards. I found a job as a machine design engineer at a company that designs computer controlled milling machines and I've loved it ever since. 90…
If you're willing to code firmware, there are also a number of jobs related to prototype building and "design". People need someone to build their CES demos. This is far more likely to get your hands dirty making actual functional systems, without all of the supply chain ODM and contract manufacturing complexity. You'll learn the importance of using good connectors and blinky debug lights. Stanford has a Design Divis…
This sounds like what I’d like to do. Any tips of what to focus on in school/side projects?
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#94Two suggestions for burnout: 1) Always change companies, change industries, and/or change locations multiple times before trying a career change. Unfortunately, if you are the type of person who gets burned out in software then you’re almost certainly going to get burned out in other engineering disciplines unless you learn how to manage your stress and self. Better to learn stress management and burnout prevention b…
I'm more interested in the physical sciences now. I think the degree would mostly be satisfaction. But moving careers sounds like a bad idea so far.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#95I sort of did this. I went from a software job building web applications to working on radio hardware. The parts I worked on were the FPGAs that did the signal processing. I didn't do any of the board layout or PCB design, but I had to read the schematics and understand how to interface with various things on the board. It was interesting, but I found the work frustrating and the iteration time very long. I eventuall…
If you want to not be behind a screen, what you’re looking for might not be mechanical engineering at all. The guys/girls on the floor of a shop full of CNC machines and 3d printers aren’t usually engineers as such. Manufacturing/fabrication is obviously a whole different universe than the typical HNer inhabits, and has a very different culture- but it can be very high-skill while usually a having lower formal traini…
My dad runs a machine shop, most of the work now is all CNC which means you will also be behind a computer screen. Also to get a machinist job, you would most likely need to go to a trade school for 2 years or some other similar program.
If you want to get into hand machining and you have the space, save some money and buy a used bridgeport mill. Those things are tanks and you can do pretty much anything with one.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#96Don't do it. There's a reason there's way more EE and ME trying to get into pure software than the other way around. Software jobs are generally better quality of life, (way) better pay, better work location and time flexibility, and way-way-way less cat herding, logistics, and interaction with less technical parts of the business. Engineers are frequently overworked, unappreciated, and desk-bound.
Software engineering is the most desk bound job in existence.
Yes, good point - I mean 'desk-bound' as in culturally tied to a physical location while working. I say that in contrast to software jobs that don't particularly care where or how you work as long as you deliver results.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#97I am actually going the other way! Getting tired of my job being tied to a geography(can’t debug bad heater Circuits from
Home), always getting 20% less for similar effort and my fate is not in my control( at the mercy of suppliers,external contractors) and so forth. And after 15 years of being a EE(pcb designer) I am leetcoding in my free time and learning software engineering principles( clean code, design patterns ). If anyone here is in the same boat and want a shoulder to cry on, my email is in my profile.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#98You could try industry automation (programming PLCs and drives) if you like to have moving parts and software. It is a pretty interesting field with many options (but still a lot of computer).
This is a very good answer. You also don't necessarily need a degree for it.
True, you don't need a degree, but you need to know enough to get 4 or 5 half degrees - networking/infrastucture/software/instrument engineer/electrical engineer/process engineer/chemial engineer/mechanical engineer and random other stuff.
These days also Functional Safety and maybe equipment for explosive atmospheres also in play, plus any specific industry or project nuances, eg fired equipment.
Look away for a few years and you are out of date and need to really put some effort in to catch up, eg networking and OPC, MQTT etc are really making inroads last few years, some PLC's come with built in OPC servers now.
Reason to know such a wide range is many times it is the control system engineer who rolls up at the end, and all the bits and pieces forgotten or not thought of become his/her problems.
Very common one on process plant is they designed it for steady state operation at full load, but never really thought about how you start it up, or how much turn down you have got to run at half or quarter rates.
Often for industrial plant of decent size they haven't really made anything quite like it before, so it always has things to iron out.
Been doing it 30+ years now, I live in heavily resources based city where this kind of engineering pays more than any straight software job every day of the week.
Footnote: The difference from IT software to real time very reliable software might look like it's trivial, but it is a whole different game. The number of times I have seen real time systems projects assigned to the IT department and fail, is every time.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#99I am actually going the other way! Getting tired of my job being tied to a geography(can’t debug bad heater Circuits from Home), always getting 20% less for similar effort and my fate is not in my control( at the mercy of suppliers,external contractors) and so forth. And after 15 years of being a EE(pcb designer) I am leetcoding in my free time and learning software engineering principles( clean code, design patterns…
I'm about 4 years in to a HW design career in the Midwest. While I generally like the work, I can't help but feel like I'm making a mistake by not moving in to software (which I also enjoy). I like where I work as well, but the pay is just OK comparatively.
Re: Ask HN: Has anyone gone from software to physical engineering?
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's fun until you have to rework the same part for the 20th time that day and your back is aching after driving into work at 6 am.
CNC machining would save your back a lot of pain right? I just watch youtube videos about it so idk how bad it gets. Manual machining seems cool as a hobby but CNC is what im interested in.
Someone needs to haul big hunks of steel into the machine, clamo them down tight (and straight), and haul the part out when it's done.
Also install tooling, swear when a tap or drill inevitably breaks and gets stuck in a very expensive part, etc.