My job description went from "software engineer" to "application developer"...

[MaxDepth]

Originally posted by: ManSnake
So should a cook be called a food engineer to make the title sounding more sophistimocated?

make that "bio-materials engineer."



At the end of the day, it is generally understood that the longer the title, the less significance this person has.

 

[StormRider]

I like being called a software engineer because I have a MSEE degree and I just like being called an engineer of some sort. Plus, even though I'm probably overpaid, I still want to make more money! And I think being called a software engineer gives me a better chance of that happening.

 

[Maverick]

app developer is a shittier job IMO than software engineer...where I work software engineer is more of an architect position and app developer is more of a programmer position.

 

[StormRider]

Actually, I like programming but I also think I am capable of designing and architecting a software system. I wouldn't want to give up programming.

 

[SuperTool]

My title just says member of technical staff, hardware.
I guess you could call me "Circuit Designer" or "Computer Engineer," wouldn't matter to me.
The word engineer gets thrown out a lot nowadays, it doesn't mean much. You have to look at what the person actually does.
I think if you are running pushbutton flows, you aren't an engineer, but a technician. If you are designing custom things that require scientific and engineering expertise, not just following instructions, then you are an engineer.

 

[SuperTool]

Actually, in my company, you have to go through 4 levels of MTS, and have about 9 years combination of experience and grad school before you have an "engineer" in your title.
So it actually means something.

 

[Hector13]

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Shanti
Software Engineers are NOT usually engineers. Adding engineer makes it sound more technical and implies more emphasis on design and architecture. But in reality, the titles are often interchangeable.

What he said. There are actually law suits going around by Engineering bodies reagarding the frivolous usage of the term with regards to occupations. In many places, you cannot be called (with a couple of exceptions) an "Engineer" unless you are a professional, licensed Engineer.

And I think thats a good thing.

what about those of us who have engineering degrees but don't need to become licensed for our job/field?

 

[blahblah99]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
i think people get too caught up in titles. just do your work and be good at it, the money will come if you are worth it. being a software engineer or app. developer or whatever isn't the point.

I agree. Stop focusing on the title of your job and worry more about the work. Titles are just for the company to generalize your salary. If you do well, you get a raise. If you're past the salary range, then you get a title upgrade, not the other way around.

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Hector13

Originally posted by: bernse

Originally posted by: Shanti
Software Engineers are NOT usually engineers. Adding engineer makes it sound more technical and implies more emphasis on design and architecture. But in reality, the titles are often interchangeable.

What he said. There are actually law suits going around by Engineering bodies reagarding the frivolous usage of the term with regards to occupations. In many places, you cannot be called (with a couple of exceptions) an "Engineer" unless you are a professional, licensed Engineer.

And I think thats a good thing.

what about those of us who have engineering degrees but don't need to become licensed for our job/field?

Ask your State/Provincial Engineering Association. You may/may not legally be called an Engineer.

 

[oLLie]

Oddly, appropriate?

 

[StormRider]

Originally posted by: oLLie
Oddly, appropriate?

lol

 

[replicator]

Just out of curiousity, to all the people in here that are application developers, if you have a degree, is it in CS, Engineering, MIS, something else?

What kinda stuff did u have to do in your first job outta school? Code monkey stuff? Were you able to directly apply a lot of what u learned in school, or is the stuff you do now trivial in comparison?


I'm still a student. Always interesting to hear from people out there.

Thanks

 

[StormRider]

I have a BS and MS degree in EE from the University of Maryland. My first job was with the government and I did practically nothing. I hated it. Just sat there and watched the clock. After several years of doing nothing I decided to go back to grad school and get an MS. Tried to get a phd after that but lingered way too long just taking classes and stuff and was unhappy about life. Had a really difficult time getting a job. Finally got lucky and got a low paying job. Worked my way through several other low paying jobs until I finally got a contracter job at my current location (when the economy was roaring). After 6 months, I was offered a job at my current location and got a big raise. Then another big raise. And then another. Then I got a little dinky raise last year (I hope it was because the economy was bad and not a reflection on me although my past supervisor has a low opinion of me and I have a feeling he bad mouthed me). That's okay -- money isn't the most important thing for me -- it's the work I do that's most important although I like to make as much money as I can.

Started off at my current job writing stupid Excel VBA applications. Then some SAS/WebAS stuff for reporting business apps. Then I got a chance to work with C/C++ and Perl stuff for another department. I hate working with VBA and SAS. My past supervisor has a low opinion of me but other supervisors from the other departments seem to have a higher opinion of me. I would get really high performance appraisels from them but somewhat low from my supervisor. Thank God I got a chance to work for other people. That supervisor comes across as very condescending (another person has mentioned that they felt this way too).

I would like to stick with C/C++/Java/Perl development and get more into object oriented design and programming and work with more scientific type applications (I have a pretty decent math/science/engineering background) instead of business applications (I have no background in financial management at all)

 

[CanOWorms]

What area of EE did you concentrate in?

 

[StormRider]

I concentrated on computers.

 

[SaturnX]

Up in Canada, you can't use the title of "Engineer" unless you've been acredited by a Provincial Engineering Board, (ie: taken an Engineering degree at a accredited Institution), I believe there was a little debate with Microsoft and the use of Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering a little while back up here.

--Mark

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: StormRider
I have a BS and MS degree in EE from the University of Maryland. My first job was with the government and I did practically nothing. I hated it. Just sat there and watched the clock. After several years of doing nothing I decided to go back to grad school and get an MS. Tried to get a phd after that but lingered way too long just taking classes and stuff and was unhappy about life. Had a really difficult time getting a job. Finally got lucky and got a low paying job. Worked my way through several other low paying jobs until I finally got a contracter job at my current location (when the economy was roaring). After 6 months, I was offered a job at my current location and got a big raise. Then another big raise. And then another. Then I got a little dinky raise last year (I hope it was because the economy was bad and not a reflection on me although my past supervisor has a low opinion of me and I have a feeling he bad mouthed me). That's okay -- money isn't the most important thing for me -- it's the work I do that's most important although I like to make as much money as I can.

Started off at my current job writing stupid Excel VBA applications. Then some SAS/WebAS stuff for reporting business apps. Then I got a chance to work with C/C++ and Perl stuff for another department. I hate working with VBA and SAS. My past supervisor has a low opinion of me but other supervisors from the other departments seem to have a higher opinion of me. I would get really high performance appraisels from them but somewhat low from my supervisor. Thank God I got a chance to work for other people. That supervisor comes across as very condescending (another person has mentioned that they felt this way too).

I would like to stick with C/C++/Java/Perl development and get more into object oriented design and programming and work with more scientific type applications (I have a pretty decent math/science/engineering background) instead of business applications (I have no background in financial management at all)

OMG you have a MSEE? I thought you were just a horny high school geek from your previous posts.