What is an engineer?

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I personally reserve the term engineer for people that have a professional engineers license, otherwise your a technician. I've known plenty of un-papered people that could run circles around the professionals, but they still aren't engineers.

So a BSEE and a BSEET are the same thing? Cool!

Er..wait...I should have went with the easier BSEET then!

 

[JohnCU]

i don't have my PE yet but i still consider my self an engineer

 

[drinkmorejava]

I wonder what would happen if I told all of the Aeros at Edwards AFB that they're not real engineers.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: JohnCU
i don't have my PE yet but i still consider my self an engineer

So you're an engineer in the sense that I'm a lawyer (haven't taken the bar yet)?

Fantastic. Too bad there's absolutely no question that I'm not allowed to provide legal services right now. Engineering is sweet!

 

[Glitchny]

Originally posted by: drinkmorejava
I wonder what would happen if I told all of the Aeros at Edwards AFB that they're not real engineers.

hopefully they would laugh at how retarded the statement is and give a response of "who the fuck cares what it's called, we get the job done"

I mean seriously this is one of the most petty/childish arguments from supposedly "educated" people in awhile. Who cares what it is called? Why/how does it matter in any way other than to inflate your ego or let you ridicule others?

I design software, and it has been called "Software Engineering", "Programming", "Software Technician" etc etc and I don't give a shit. Have a coke and a smile and stfu.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

To me, you're an engineer if you graduated from the college/school of engineering. So if you graduated from college of letters & sciences with a comp sci degree, you're screwed. EECS for us is the only way to be a true CS engineer.

Also, you need to hold a job where your title says "engineer."

That's my personal requirement.

 

[CanOWorms]

You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

 

[josh0099]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: JohnCU
i don't have my PE yet but i still consider my self an engineer

So you're an engineer in the sense that I'm a lawyer (haven't taken the bar yet)?

Fantastic. Too bad there's absolutely no question that I'm not allowed to provide legal services right now. Engineering is sweet!

Eh...I wouldn't go that far cause to even be able to take the PE, you have to have 5 years "Engineering Experience" and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, you can go take the bar at anytime....So if you have 5 years engineering experience you must of been acting as a engineer at some time.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

Looked down upon? That is definitely not the case.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

Looked down upon? That is definitely not the case.

The largest group that takes the PE are Civil Engineers, who are usually looked down upon by other more technical disciplines.

Working with building codes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. is looked down upon by most other engineers. Those are not "glamorous" tasks as opposed to working with fuel cells, embedded systems, semiconductors, etc.

How many patents are there related to civil engineering? How many technical journals? How often is the state of the art advancing? Not very much.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

Looked down upon? That is definitely not the case.

The largest group that takes the PE are Civil Engineers, who are usually looked down upon by other more technical disciplines.

Working with building codes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. is looked down upon by most other engineers. Those are not "glamorous" tasks as opposed to working with fuel cells, embedded systems, semiconductors, etc.

How many patents are there related to civil engineering? How many technical journals? How often is the state of the art advancing? Not very much.

Structural engineers take the PE. Your entire world was built by CEs and SEs. You better hope they are bright enough.

But I noticed that Aerospace.E look down on everyone.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

Looked down upon? That is definitely not the case.

The largest group that takes the PE are Civil Engineers, who are usually looked down upon by other more technical disciplines.

Working with building codes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. is looked down upon by most other engineers. Those are not "glamorous" tasks as opposed to working with fuel cells, embedded systems, semiconductors, etc.

How many patents are there related to civil engineering? How many technical journals? How often is the state of the art advancing? Not very much.

Structural engineers take the PE. Your entire world was built by CEs and SEs. You better hope they are bright enough.

But I noticed that Aerospace.E look down on everyone.

I'm not saying that they are dumb. My comments are regarding their actual work, not their humanity. Your life is more than your work.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
You can be an engineer without the degree. It's what you do, not what degree you have.

Also, most engineers that are in positions that require PEs are usually looked down upon. That sort of work is not admired, mainly because it is not very high-tech. It's interesting that some would say that designates an engineer.

Looked down upon? That is definitely not the case.

The largest group that takes the PE are Civil Engineers, who are usually looked down upon by other more technical disciplines.

Working with building codes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. is looked down upon by most other engineers. Those are not "glamorous" tasks as opposed to working with fuel cells, embedded systems, semiconductors, etc.

How many patents are there related to civil engineering? How many technical journals? How often is the state of the art advancing? Not very much.

Structural engineers take the PE. Your entire world was built by CEs and SEs. You better hope they are bright enough.

But I noticed that Aerospace.E look down on everyone.

I'm not saying that they are dumb. Your life is more than your work.

At a funeral the other day, I talked to a rocket scientist that worked on the ATLAS I and II boosters. Yes, he was literally a rocket scientist. Has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.

I mentioned my engineering degree, and he said that if I had practiced rather than pursued law school, I would be practicing grade school math on a daily basis.

 

[Tiamat]

Anyone who can apply mathematics and scientific knowledge while keeping in mind real-world and theoretical constraints in order to develop solutions to problems is a person who practices engineering habits. These people would ordinarily be scientists except that their work is more strongly tied to the "needs" of the society rather than simply furthering state of knowledge.

A technician is similar to an engineer except that they only have medium understanding of the underlying theory. They generally (should) have (far) better technique than the Engineer with a better idea of real-world constraints and variables specific to the task.

A PE is not required to be an "Engineer" unless it is a requirement specific to a field (like civil/structural engineering).

A BS degree establishes a minimum set of scientific knowledge in order to be considered an engineer rather than a technician. This obviously does not necessarily mean that a person has to actually have the degree in order to have said minimum set of scientific knowledge.

 

[0roo0roo]

don't forget domestic and sanitary engineers

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
don't forget domestic and sanitary engineers

LOL, they actually quality as technicians - which isn't a bad thing. Some people think that just because you are a technician means that you are lesser. Technicians usually are better connected to the real-world, know how to get things done 95% correctly while cutting the time in half. etc...

Not sure why all the negative stigma for technicians and that engineers are treated better. You need both!

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: sjwaste

Originally posted by: JohnCU
i don't have my PE yet but i still consider my self an engineer

So you're an engineer in the sense that I'm a lawyer (haven't taken the bar yet)?

Fantastic. Too bad there's absolutely no question that I'm not allowed to provide legal services right now. Engineering is sweet!

Professional Engineers can work on their own, and work as independent consultants in the state of their license.
Someone with a B.S. in engineering can work as an engineer under a company where their work will eventually be looked at and signed off by a licensed Professional Engineer.

I don't know though if that's how things work in the legal field with respect to the bar exam.

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: Safeway

At a funeral the other day, I talked to a rocket scientist that worked on the ATLAS I and II boosters. Yes, he was literally a rocket scientist. Has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.

I mentioned my engineering degree, and he said that if I had practiced rather than pursued law school, I would be practicing grade school math on a daily basis.

Yeah, and if you taught instead of practiced law, you'd be working with the difficult, borderline areas. Safely as a professor, of course.

Safeway, I don't know if you're actually an attorney yet (see my sarcastic comment above, about taking our respective licensure), but you and I will deal with the bullshit "gradeschool math" equivalent in the legal profession.

Let's face it, the money is in the routine. Whatever firm you're going to will be billing clients that largely want the same shit. Hell, I'm going to the government, which is predictable enough

We all practice "gradeschool math" if we hope to make a living from it. Most of this world is simple in the realm of our expertise. People pay us because it's not simple to them. That's economic specialization.

My intellectual challenges certainly don't come in the form of billable work, that much is certain.

Things in your area of expertise will become simple to you, but not to them, and vice-versa. If you need a reminder, just barter services, that's a very good reminder.

 

[pmoa]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie

Originally posted by: Aharami
you're not an engineer unless you have a PE cert

So all the aerospace engineers that design spacecraft and airplanes aren't engineers? PEs are worthless in most engineering fields.

I vote that an engineer (by education) is someone who has an ABET-accredited engineering degree.

I agree. Certs dont mean anything....they are just new fangled BS created by the IT field...No offense to IT folks, but IT is not considered engineering. Also, I have no idea what an industrial engineer is...such an easy way out!

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
I've always thought of an engineer as someone with the right mix of science and know-how to get enormously more real stuff done than either plain scientists or mere handymen. I dunno what certifications that takes, though.

This is how I've always seen it. You have to be able to do cool McGyver shit if you want people to consider you an engineer.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Safeway

Same path I took, except I took Vector Cal and PDEs the same semester. I tested out of Calculus 1 and 2, and went straight to Vector Calculus (Calculus 3) and PDEs (Calculus 4) my first semester.

:Q nice, my HS didn't have much to offer in the math department so i had to start with college algebra first

18 AP classes and tests.

texas must have a hell of an education system.

well, it's what gave us "No Child Left Behind."

 

[yh125d]

After two years of pre-engineering in high school, a summer as a drafter, and my first semester as a aerospace/mechanical engineering student, I have come to the conclusions that engineers are...





... assholes



I'm a drafter now

 

[TecHNooB]

The closer you are to being Tony Starks, the better engineer you are

 

[aloser]

Originally posted by: Aharami
you're not an engineer unless you drive a train

This.

 

[iGas]

Originally posted by: yh125d
After two years of pre-engineering in high school, a summer as a drafter, and my first semester as a aerospace/mechanical engineering student, I have come to the conclusions that engineers are...





... assholes



I'm a drafter now

I agree whole heartedly.

I have to work with structural & mechanical engineers almost everyday, and on 2 occasions I have put in geothermal heatpumps into mechanical engineers/homeowner houses. They have to have absolute control over the design, and over complicate the design instead of the designs that we & our engineers come up with (but heck, its their money & they can burn it anyway they want to).

IMHO most engineers that I have met or worked with do not understand the term KISS.