What title would you give my job?

[DT4K]

My actual job title is very vague, which makes it hard when I want to look around on the internet and get an idea of how my salary compares, what other job opportunities are out there, etc.

So based on this description of what I do, what would you call this job?

I work for a software company that is primarily in MES (manufacturing execution systems). Our software is designed to be have all the generic functionality needed for manufacturing, but also to be very customizable.
My job is to work directly with customers as the main technical consultant during an implementation project.
I teach them how to use the software.
I analyze their needs and determine what custom components are needed.
I work with the customer to create a detailed design for these custom components that meets their needs.
Sometimes I develop the components myself and sometimes I send them to dedicated developers to do the work.
I work with the customer to test the components.
I work with our developers to fix issues and test the fixes.
I help the customer with overall system testing, integration, etc.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I'd say primarily you are a business analyst.

 

[edro]

Help Desk

 

[IronWing]

Do you work strictly with software or are you also specing tools (physical tools) or control hardware?

Also, do you have or does your job require an engineering degree?

 

[DT4K]

Do you work strictly with software or are you also specing tools (physical tools) or control hardware?

Also, do you have or does your job require an engineering degree?

Strictly software. I do help the customers with designing interfaces to their equipment, but we don't need to know anything about their equipment. We provide a few different interfacing options (.net API, etc.) and I show them how to use them.

I have a CS degree and 11 years of experience doing software development, primarily in manufacturing environments.

 

[DT4K]

I'd say primarily you are a business analyst.

It's a little more technical than that. We have someone else that does an overall high level system design. I do the more detailed design of the individual custom components. I also need to be able to write and troubleshoot the code.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

Implementation Project Manager.
Application Consultant.

 

[DT4K]

Do you work strictly with software or are you also specing tools (physical tools) or control hardware?

Also, do you have or does your job require an engineering degree?

Some of the other guys in the same position do have engineering degrees. But most of them come with software development and manufacturing experience.

 

[DT4K]

Implementation Project Manager.
Application Consultant.

There is certainly some PM type work involved, but we have a separate PM for each project that is the main contact with the customer as far as administrative type stuff. Timelines, estimates, budget, etc.

 

[rudeguy]

just say that you are good with people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGS2tKQhdhY

 

[DesiPower]

Client alignment manager
Business alignment manager
Systems Engineer.

 

[Squeetard]

Hacker.

 

[Ns1]

Business analyst

 

[IronWing]

Manufacturing Systems Analyst?
Manufacturing Automation Analyst?

I think analyst might be more appropriate than consultant as, in my view, a consultant would not be tied to a particular vendor or product line.

I'm kind of old school when it comes to titling people as engineers. To me, an engineer is a person with a PE or who has design responsibilites such that when they screw up, people die.

 

[jaedaliu]

Manufacturing Systems Analyst?
Manufacturing Automation Analyst?

I think analyst might be more appropriate than consultant as, in my view, a consultant would not be tied to a particular vendor or product line.

I'm kind of old school when it comes to titling people as engineers. To me, an engineer is a person with a PE or who has design responsibilites such that when they screw up, people die.

My initial reaction was Automation Engineer or Manufacturing Solutions Engineer. Instead of making one up, you can check with HR so that you know what your actual job title is. That way when a future potential employer calls them up, their answer matches what is on your resume.

 

[DT4K]

Manufacturing Systems Analyst?
Manufacturing Automation Analyst?

I think analyst might be more appropriate than consultant as, in my view, a consultant would not be tied to a particular vendor or product line.

I'm kind of old school when it comes to titling people as engineers. To me, an engineer is a person with a PE or who has design responsibilities such that when they screw up, people die.

The consultant term is one that can be used in so many different ways. I've seen the term "staff consultant" used for consultants who work for one particular company.

Part of my job is analysis, but part of it is also consulting. I'm expected to be the technical expert on our software and to help the customer understand how it works and the best way to do things.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Superior Master Leader Champion Of Shit.

 

[DT4K]

My initial reaction was Automation Engineer or Manufacturing Solutions Engineer. Instead of making one up, you can check with HR so that you know what your actual job title is. That way when a future potential employer calls them up, their answer matches what is on your resume.

I know my title.
It's Solutions Technical Lead.

But that's such a vague term that it doesn't have any inherently obvious meaning outside our company. Internally, we are often referred to as technical consultants. But again, that's a very vague term that could mean so many different things.

It was much easier to compare salaries and look at job postings when I was a Senior .Net Developer.

 

[Ns1]

The consultant term is one that can be used in so many different ways. I've seen the term "staff consultant" used for consultants who work for one particular company.

Part of my job is analysis, but part of it is also consulting. I'm expected to be the technical expert on our software and to help the customer understand how it works and the best way to do things.

business analyst/technical consultant?

 

[T9D]

Just make up any word and put "technician" after it. That's what all the fast food people do to feel special and more important than they are.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Sounds a lot like a Systems Engineer. But you do it in the world of software engineering. Some of what you describe is almost like a blend of project management and software engineering.

I'd look at the average for similarly experienced systems engineer or software engineer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering

But I'd guess that you work for a small company right now. Like 10 people kind of small so you have to wear many hats.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Head receiver

 

[Krazy4Real]

neffer

 

[DT4K]

Sounds a lot like a Systems Engineer. But you do it in the world of software engineering. Some of what you describe is almost like a blend of project management and software engineering.

I'd look at the average for similarly experienced systems engineer or software engineer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering

But I'd guess that you work for a small company right now. Like 10 people kind of small so you have to wear many hats.

I think of Systems Engineers as people who design entire systems.
For an average project, our software handles 90% of the customers needs out of the box. So about half of my job is focused on training the customers, assisting them with configuration, integration, testing, and implementation, and the other half is working with the customer to design the custom pieces to bridge the gaps between the customer requirements and the OOB functionality.

I think our company has around 300 employees right now. We have distinct teams for product development, sales, marketing, qa, and services. I'm in the services group. We are the ones who travel all the time and work directly with customers during their implementation project. It's kind of like working for a value added reseller that is hired to assist a company with an implementation of something like MS Dynamics, SAP, etc. The difference is that our company is both the software vendor and the VAR.

 

[gorcorps]

expendable