Future in Engineering...

[polus]

I’m beginning to ponder my future and the longevity of Engineering in the UK in my field (embedded systems - software and electronics).

Outsourcing seems to be continually eating away at the juicy bits and while I’m in a good job now with a good wage and even some lucrative contract work on the side I’m beginning to think medium-long term what I could move into if a walk off the plank is required.

I suppose I could move into programming financial applications but that field doesn’t seem exactly stable!

Leaves me pondering what exactly is going to be stable when China, India and various others get into full swing; are we even going to have an 'vibrant' economy left?

Edited by polus on Monday 7th April 20:17

[stuthemong]

You got any experience in Blackfin or DaVinci chips?

Stu

[polus]

Not exactly (well no ), but lots of experience with ARM processors and a reasonable amount with TI DSPs (C54/55) which I see isn't a mile away from the guts of the DaVinci.

Interesting project?

Edited by polus on Monday 7th April 21:00

[stuthemong]

possibly, I'll send you an email

[dilbert]

I'd say that the future of engineering is brighter at the moment than it has been for a long time.

When people with money have nowhere profitable left to invest it. They have to risk it on development. That's good for engineering.

[NoelWatson]

polus said:

I’m beginning to ponder my future and the longevity of Engineering in the UK in my field (embedded systems - software and electronics).

Outsourcing seems to be continually eating away at the juicy bits and while I’m in a good job now with a good wage and even some lucrative contract work on the side I’m beginning to think medium-long term what I could move into if a walk off the plank is required.

I suppose I could move into programming financial applications but that field doesn’t seem exactly stable!

Leaves me pondering what exactly is going to be stable when China, India and various others get into full swing; are we even going to have an 'vibrant' economy left?

Edited by polus on Monday 7th April 20:17

Polus - might be worth reading this thread if you haven't done so already

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

I can recommend programming financial applications as being a good way to go, especially if you are contracting

[Goochie]

You've been pondering this for some time, I think

I'm still glad I made to move away from engineering, however, the company I'm at now sells electrical accessories to house builders and electrical wholesalers - not exactly the biggest growth area at the moment.

Having said that, my previous employer has started laying people off so I am still glad I made the move. Almost no sector is "safe" given the current climate.

[BigBen]

polus said:

I’m beginning to ponder my future and the longevity of Engineering in the UK in my field (embedded systems - software and electronics).

Outsourcing seems to be continually eating away at the juicy bits and while I’m in a good job now with a good wage and even some lucrative contract work on the side I’m beginning to think medium-long term what I could move into if a walk off the plank is required.

I suppose I could move into programming financial applications but that field doesn’t seem exactly stable!

Leaves me pondering what exactly is going to be stable when China, India and various others get into full swing; are we even going to have an 'vibrant' economy left?

Edited by polus on Monday 7th April 20:17

Currently looking for embedded systems types at my place, one of the big Cambridge consultancies with loads of interesting stuff going on. Should have a better future than engineering linked directly to manufacturing, in fact often we are where the interesting stuff is outsourced to.

Drop me a PM if you want to discuss.

Ben

[ukvoyager.info]

Cambridge Consultants , The Automation Partnership... and so on.

Being Cambridge based I can safely say if you don't mind going small & niche, there is plenty of work out there. Only big stuff & volumes will get done in India, there is always a market with small businesses.

http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/ is a good place to start.

[polus]

Goochie said:

You've been pondering this for some time, I think

hehe, its a constant pondering but I really like what I do and learning new things in the field which are never far around the corner.

ukvoyager.info said:

Cambridge Consultants , The Automation Partnership... and so on.

Being Cambridge based I can safely say if you don't mind going small & niche, there is plenty of work out there. Only big stuff & volumes will get done in India, there is always a market with small businesses.

http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/ is a good place to start.

Thanks for the link

BigBen said:

Currently looking for embedded systems types at my place, one of the big Cambridge consultancies with loads of interesting stuff going on. Should have a better future than engineering linked directly to manufacturing, in fact often we are where the interesting stuff is outsourced to.

Drop me a PM if you want to discuss.

Ben

Thanks, I will.

Edited by polus on Wednesday 9th April 22:25

[BigBen]

Second the suggestion to look on Cambridge network, certainly the main source of business networking round here. Not so sure about the networking events they run, mainly subbies selling themselves with the problem being they are the only ones there !

Ben