After the background of Control Theory

seryuz wrote:

Look at product lines that seem to need control systems expertise; think
creatively.  Most groups that aren't selling control hardware yet still
have control engineers on staff have maybe 1 control engineer for every
dozen or two other flavors of engineer; many smaller companies don't
have anyone who specializes in control, rather they'll have folks who do
control as part of their job, and they'll hire consultants when they
need them (or well after they needed them).

Companies that I can think of that would have control engineers on staff
would be: printer manufacturers, semiconductor processing equipment
manufacturers (but they're in gloom and doom mode right now), automotive
companies (engine management, transmission management, antilock breaks,
airbag controls, ...).  There are probably more.  Defense contractors
will have control engineers on staff, but if you're not a US citizen
your range of divisions that you could work for is severely curtailed --
but it wouldn't hurt to check.

If a company looks at anything it'll look to see if you know
Matlab/Simulink.  Personally, I'd be much more interested in knowing
that you understand the basic theory; without a theoretical background
using a simulation tool is like sitting in a mud puddle and paddling
your hands -- it's fun, but it's unproductive and messy.

The thing that'll give you the best chance of being hired is to have
experience turning your pretty little Matlab algorithms into code
that'll work in C or C++.  Yes, Matlab can do this for you, and yes,
many companies will send a boatload of cash off to the Mathworks for the
toolbox that does it.  But some old-timers (like me) view this method of
generating code with a jaundiced eye, and you'll never generate tight
code that's a good match for your processor this way.

That depends on the company.  A GPA will help to get you by HR, and will
be impressive up to a point when you interview with the engineering
staff.  Many engineers are leery of a guy with a perfect 4.0 GPA -- a
3.8 GPA means you're smart and effective.  A 4.0 GPA could mean that
you're smart and effective, or it could mean that you can memorize books
and regurgitate them onto exam sheets without understanding them, or it
could mean that you're an 'A' level brown noser, or it could mean that
you went to a school that really isn't very good at all.  (note that I
got a 4.0 in my Master's program.  I like to think that it's because I'm
smart and effective, but who knows?).

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" gives you just what it says.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

Tim Wescott wrote:

(snip)

And do something practical with all that theory!  Few companies are
looking for math slingers -- they're looking for people who can make
their machines work.

If you're still working on your educational program do projects; if you
aren't then highlight any project work -- even in-class -- on your resumes!

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" gives you just what it says.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html