I'm an experienced software developer who is considering making a career change in the hopes of finding better employment opportunities. One of the options I'm considering is getting an A.S. Degree in Electronics (or Photonics). What is the job/career outlook for hands-on electronic techs in the USA?
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Peter
change in the hopes of finding better
an A.S. Degree in Electronics (or Photonics).
I really don't know about the demand in the US as a whole. I know we (small company of 40 or so engineers and techs) are always looking for good techs. We recently had the local ITT Tech. campus send us several recent graduates for interviews. We have a simple test we give techs. It has 10 questions/problems, all of which are very simple. It includes things like voltage across a resistor in a dc circuit, parallel combination of resistors, questions on identifying the symbols for differnt types of transistors (pnp, npn, etc). I have not done anything with electronics or dc circuits for 7 years and I can answer every question. Out of 6 or so applicants, none could pass. None even got more than 3 correct!!!!!!! We ended up hiring a guy whose only training was electronics school in the Airforce several years ago. He answered all 10 questions correctly with no problem. We called him back and had him answer some oral questions and also do some simple things like solder. He is a keeper.
If you do go back for an A.S., please learn something. Don't just beat in your time to get your grade and go on. A good electronics tech with a strong software background can do quite well in my opinion.
Charles Perry P.E.
Are positions like that ever filled by EE graduates? It seems like a job in the meantime, till you get a real engineering position.
Matt
Yes. We had an engineer in a tech position for about 6 months. We both understood that it was a temporary arrangement. He wanted to work a while and then go back to school. We would hire an engineer into such a position. However, we have to consider that fact that the engineer is more likely to up and leave. Of course the engineer might also work himself up to an engineering position in the company when one became available.
Charles Perry P.E.
Seeen alot of tech jobs, been called to interview for a bunch of tech jobs. Not many engineering jobs though :(
change in the hopes of finding better
A.S. Degree in Electronics (or Photonics).
An AS degree is pretty much an entry level degree. Our "techs" are mostly Engineers (degree outside EE) and BSEETs and they're few, outside manufacturing. However, with your software background it might be a very good career move, if you can do it without going broke. A technician with extensive software experience could find a very good job. Perhaps not in six figures, but all life isn't $$.
If you're looking for a recession-proof position, well they don't exist. However, the more diverse your education/experience the better off you'll be. In your case, (given that you can step "down" - salary wise - into a technician position) you should be in a very good position.
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