CpE Orientation Bayog, Josel A.

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Computer Engineer: A Better Tomorrow

Computer engineers with proper training will absolutely have a greater opportunities to receive higher salaries. Individuals interested in this field may select either a systems or application concentration. Computer engineers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are divided into two categories: applications engineers and systems engineers. Individuals in the applications sector develop and modify computer applications to meet a need. Engineers in the systems sector configure and maintain an organization's computer operational systems, which may include intranets and other networks. Computer engineers create the technologies that facilitate computers such as systems, networks and artificial intelligence. This field is versatile and professionals can work for industries in telecommunications, software technology or digital hardware. As with all engineering disciplines, computer engineers use mathematics and science to solve a variety of technical problems. Due to the constant advancements in computer technology, these engineers must be able to adapt to changes. Most jobs require a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a related field. Computer engineering programs include sequences in calculus and physics, in additional to courses in computer programming. Advanced coursework may explore topics in electrical engineering, such as circuits, digital systems and signal processing. Aside from lectures and discussions, students may be required to enroll in computer lab courses in which they use computers to analyze data and generate models. Both divisions of computer engineers are expected to see significant growth. The BLS notes that overall employment for computer engineers is expected to grow 32 percent between 2008 and 2018, with the systems sector growing 30 percent and the applications sector growing 34 percent. This growth is due to the increasing reliance on computers and the need to replace computer engineering professionals who move onto management positions or transfer to another career field.

Job Opportunities for the Computer Engineering Fields Students who wish to pursue a career in computer engineering need a strong foundation in both

math and science, particularly chemistry and physics. Students who wish to pursue bachelor's degrees in computer engineering should try to enroll in more advanced math classes like trigonometry and precalculus while still in high school. High school students who want to pursue a degree in computer engineering can take advantage of membership in the Junior Engineering Technical Society, which offers students numerous opportunities to test their skills through competitions and scholarship programs. For students attempting to gain entrance to some of the country's most prestigious schools, these extracurricular activities can provide an important edge during admissions reviews. The field of computer engineering constantly changes to accommodate new technologies, new inventions, and new consumer demands. To keep up with the frequent expansion of their field, many professional computer engineers participate in continuing education programs. Computer engineering is a constantly changing field. Therefore, engineers are constantly updating their skills, expanding on older achievements and learning new tricks. Also, engineers frequently need to learn a little bit about related fields they may work with, especially in ancillary industries. For example, a computer engineer who starts a career with a large bank may find it advantageous to pursue continuing education in finance or business, so she can make engineering decisions in an appropriate context. With slight changes in electives or concentrations, computer engineers from the same graduating class could wind up in very different kinds of careers: (1) Design engineers set the stage for the development of innovative new products and services. Working in conjunction with specialist designers, a computer engineer may be called upon to build the hot new product dreamed up by marketers or managers. Taking current trends and emerging technologies into account, a design engineer must solve problems in a way that can be easily replicated on a factory floor. With software pervading just about every kind of consumer product, design engineers with a computer engineering background could find themselves developing everything from toaster ovens to trucks. Students who enjoy living and working on the cutting edge of trends will love the opportunity to shape new generations of consumer goods. (2) For computer engineering graduates who want a little more predictability in their daily routines, large companies need quality control engineers. In this capacity, a computer engineer must use his or her keen observational skills to quickly analyze the output of a factory or an assembly line. They must quickly

pull defective items from the distribution chain, to prevent malfunctions that could cause inconvenience, injury, or even death. In addition, quality control engineers must be able to identify consistent problems in a manufacturing process. By providing constructive solutions to ongoing problems, quality control engineers can improve the efficiency of a production facility. Their diligent work can produce a tremendously positive impact on a company's bottom line. (3) Development engineers take responsibility for a product after its initial production run. Unlike a design engineer, who dreams up new ideas from scratch, a development engineer examines ways to improve unpopular products and reinvigorate proven hits. In many cases, a development engineer's job can prove even tougher than that of a design engineer, since a development engineer must produce results that meet the existing expectations of diverse customer bases. Constant improvement and innovation are hallmarks of the development engineering field. Fierce competition between companies produces stronger and faster equipment, along with groundbreaking new software applications. Many development engineers with computer engineering degrees work on advanced artificial intelligence projects designed to automate more and more of our mundane, everyday chores. Likewise, teams of designers integrate computing breakthroughs into medical research by developing intelligent pacemakers that alert authorities to a pending heart attack. (4) Just as a commercial architect must figure out how to get more use from limited space, a computer architect examines new ways to make computers smaller while increasing their efficiency. Fueled by constant demand from businesses and consumers for lighter, cheaper, more powerful systems, computer architects work in highly competitive companies who want to gain market advantage by releasing the hottest and most popular systems. Computer Engineer: Career Information Many computer engineers start their career in this field with testing. As they acquire more experience and skills, they get involved in the designing and development of a variety of software programs. Those gain extensive experience working as a software engineer, may also get promoted to senior level job positions like a project manager, information systems manager or a chief information officer. Many engineers also work as consultants. Job responsibilities of engineers may vary depending on the type and the size of the employer. Typical job duties of software engineers include designing and development of software programs, modifying existing computer software, testing of software systems, performing the related documentation

work and consulting with other engineering professionals to assess the interface between the hardware and software. Computer engineers perform their software development work in accordance with the performance and consumer requirements. While working on a large project, engineers may closely work with other information technology professionals including programmers, engineers and system analysts. To ensure that the software design is feasible, engineers analyze the specific requirements of users. Computer software engineers need to complete their development work within the provided time limit and budget requirements of the software project. Apart from developing new software programs, engineers also work on exiting programs. Engineers work on existing software programs to check for errors and eliminate them for improved performance. They also consult with consumers to comprehend the design requirements. They use a variety of scientific and mathematical techniques to predict the outcome of software designs. Usually, software engineers work as part of a team which may consist of professionals from fields like engineering, production and design and marketing among others. Professionals who work as computer systems software engineers work to maintain the computer systems of businesses for improved performance and future growth. Most of these engineers earn an annual salary ranging between $67,790 and $104,870. They earn an annual salary varying between $73,200 and $113,960. With several years of work experience and excellent skill sets, these software engineers can earn as high as $135, 780 annually.

Job Opportunities for Engineering

Engineering is a profession in which knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences is applied to develop ways to use the materials and forces of nature economically for the benefit of humanity. At Rutgers, four-year undergraduate curricula leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science are offered in the fields of applied sciences, bioenvironmental, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical and computer, industrial, and mechanical engineering, and materials science & engineering. Numerous areas of concentration are available within these disciplines, such as aerospace, biochemical, environmental, and packaging engineering. Electrical and computer engineering is a diverse field ranging from microelectronics and integrated circuits to information and communication systems and computer engineering. Over the past two decades, increasing numbers of electrical and computer engineering graduates have been engaged in the

development and application of semiconductor devices, higher capacity and more diversified computers, and data processing systems, including a mass transmittal of information, better known as the "information superhighway." Graduates also pursue careers in computer hardware and software engineering. Computers!! - are slowly becoming a quintessential aspect which can be found everywhere; i,e in car engines, watches, microwave ovens, telephones, video games, x-ray machines, ATM's, touching every facet of our lives. Due to the rapid growth of Information Technology, computer industry has become one of the fastest growing segments of our economy. As a result, there exists a huge demand for Computer engineering professionals for the development of faster hardware components, new communication systems and software. Here comes the importance of Computer Engineering. Computer Engineering involves designing and testing of computer components. It is a branch of Engineering, which studies elements from both electrical engineering and computer science angles, combining the principle and techniques of these two for the making and development of computer and computer-based systems. Professionals who work with computer hardware and software are termed as Computer Engineers. Computer engineers are a part of a team who apply their knowledge of mathematics and science for the design and development of a computer. Those who deal with the computer equipment as such, are termed as computer hardware engineers and those who deal with the computer programs are called computer software engineers. Computer software or software is a collection of computer programs, procedures and documentation that performs the major tasks on a computer system. Software engineers should have strong programming skills as they are concerned with the design and development of many types of software, including computer games, word processing and business applications, operating systems and network distribution and compilers, which convert programs to machine language for execution on a computer. Hardware engineers are involved in the research, designing, testing, manufacturing and installation of computer hardware such as computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems and related equipments. Their work is similar to that of electronic engineers but their work is exclusively limited to computers and computer-related equipments. Computer engineers have the option of moving into hardware or software positions or blending the two. On projects, both these engineers usually work together as a team. It is these computer engineers who design software and hard ware computer-based systems for embedded micro controllers, designing - VLSI chips, analog sensors, mixed signal circuit boards and operating systems.

Major computer engineering technology career opportunities are available in a variety of industries, including: Business, Communications, Consumer products, Manufacturing, Medical, Research and Security

Engineering Carreer Training And Job Qualification

Most employers have a preference for candidates who have at least a bachelor's degree, a broad knowledge, and experience with a variety of computer systems and technologies. The common degree concentrations for applications software engineers are computer science or software engineering; for systems software engineers it is computer science or computer information systems. A Graduate degree is preferred for some of the more complex work. The academic programs in software engineering emphasize software and might be offered either as a degreeoption or in conjunction with computer science degrees. The increase of emphasis on computer security proves that software engineers with advanced degrees, including mathematics and systems design, will be sought after by software developers, government agencies, and consulting firms which specialize in information assurance and security. Candidates who seek software engineering jobs will enhance their employment opportunities by participation in internship or co-op programs which are offered through their schools. These experiences will provide the students with both theoretical knowledge and experience, making them more attractive candidates for employers though inexperienced college graduates will usually be hired by large computer and consulting firms which train new hires in intensive, company-based programs. Many firms mentor the new employees are mentored and the mentors usually have an input into the new hires evaluations. For systems software engineering jobs which need professionals who have a college degree, a bachelorsdegree in computer science or computer information systems is common. For systems engineering jobs which place less emphasis on employees having a computer-related degree, computer training program which lead to a certification are offered by systems software vendors, including Microsoft, Novell, and Oracle. These programs usually extend from 1 to 4 weeks, but the worker is not required to attend the classes in order to sit for a certification exam; many study guides and materials are also available which help students prepare for the exams. However, many training authorities are of the view that that program certification alone is not sufficient for most software engineering jobs. That is the reason that professional certification is now being offered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. In order for a candidate to be classified as a Certified

Software Development Professional, he needs a bachelor's degree as well as work experience which shows a persons mastery of a relevant body of knowledge, and they must pass a written exam. The people who are interested in jobs as computer software engineers require strong problemsolving and analytical skills. They must also have good communication skills so that they can efficiently interact with team members, other staff, and the customers they meet. Also, a good deal of concentration as well as an eye for detail is required of these candidates because they often deal with a number of tasks simultaneously. Like in most occupations, the opportunities for promotions for computer software engineers directly relate to experience. The entry-level computer software engineers are likely to test and verify ongoing designs and as they gain more experience, they may be involved in designing and developing software. Eventually, these engineers may advance to become project managers, managers of information systems, or chief information officers. Some computer software engineers with an experience and expertise of several years may be offered lucrative opportunities to work as systems designers or independent consultants or may start their own computer consultation firms. These days, because of the rapid technological advances in the computer field, employers always demand new skills. Thus computer software engineers must continually strive to keep abreast of the changes in this dynamic field and upgrade the level of their knowledge and skill. In order to help them keep up-to-date with the advancing technology, continuing education and professional development seminars are offered by employers and software vendors, colleges and universities, private training institutions, and professional computing societies.

References:

http://www.careeroverview.com/computer-software-engineering-careers.html http://www.devry.edu/degree-programs/college-engineering-information-sciences/computer-engineeringtechnology-career-opportunities.jsp http://education-portal.com/articles/Computer_Engineer%3A_Starting_a_Career_in_Computer_Engineering.html