Introduction
This memo is designed to help you, the student engineer, to decide which industry to work for after graduation that will best fit your goals, style and career ambitions. It compares computer hardware manufacturer industry with the power industry using the following criteria: education, salary, companies to work for and products.
Computer Hardware Manufacturer
The education required to work as an engineer at computer hardware manufacturing company is either a bachelor’s in computer science or electrical engineering. The ideal way to prepare for a career with a computer hardware firm is to build a solid foundation in science and math. Computer hardware engineers typically work both with hardware and software in their day to day jobs. Therefore, the more computer science coursework taken, the better. An excellent way to acquire practical, real world education is to obtain an internship or co-op position at a local firm. This can provide valuable on the job educational training while the student finishes their degree. Some firms will require master’s degree or higher in computer engineering for more technical roles. Engineers who may wish to advance into management roles will commonly attain their MBA as well. Because of the rapid pace of technological advancement, engineers must plan to continuously further their education throughout their careers.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median annual salary for a computer hardware engineer as of May 2015 is $114,000 per year.(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Median annual salary indicates the figure at which fifty percent of workers earned more and fifty percent of workers earned less. In 2015, the bottom 10th percentile of earners received an average wage of just over $65, 500, while the top 10th percentile of earners received on average $167, 100.(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
A diverse range of companies employ computer hardware engineers for a range of products and services. the direct production of new technologies including Amazon.com, Intel, Hewlett Packard, Cisco, IBM. Amazon.com, for example, is currently seeking hardware design engineers to assist with the development its hands free, “smart” speaker system, called Amazon Echo. In the financial services sector, both J.P. Morgan and Chase bank seek computer hardware engineers to manage the building and deployment of their extensive IT infrastructures. A number of military-defense technology firms such as General Dynamics, Inc. require computer hardware engineers to design and develop hardware equipment for “information processing purposes.” General Dynamics provides systems integration, data management and networking services to the Department of Defense primarily, as well as other agencies in national security. (“Computer Hardware Engineer Job Market.”)
Power Companies
The education required to work in power engineering with a Power Company is at minimum a bachelor’s of engineering in electrical engineering. Electrical and electronics engineering bachelor’s programs contain necessary coursework in digital systems design, electrical circuit theory and differential equations, all subjects utilized by engineering teams at power companies. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Coursework in drafting is also considered desirable, as many power engineers will need to prepare technical drawings as part of their job(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Similar to Computer Hardware Engineering, learning how to be an electrical engineer is much about practical hands-on experience. Thus, internship programs and co-ops are highly encouraged for students while they complete their degree in order to acquire the hands on education to attain solid employment after graduation.
Salaries for electrical engineers are very favorable, with the median annual salary just under 6 figures ($97, 340 in 2015). In 2015, at the top 10 percent of earners, workers received an average annual wage of $146, 820, while the bottom 10 percent of earners received an annual wage of $59, 240. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
An Electrical Engineering degree qualifies you for a range of careers with Power Companies. Regional companies include both publicly owned and private companies in US states that are deregulated. Some of the biggest regional companies include Pacific Gas and Electric (Pacific Northwest), Xcel Energy (present in 8 midwestern and Western States, or Ameren the largest investor owned electric utility in Missouri and the second largest in Illinois.(Detwiller) Utility companies provide electricity to a range of consumer bases including residential, commercial, industrial and electric generation.
As a power engineer, what kind of products does one work on or make? Power engineering is involved with the production of power from three main areas: generation, distribution and transmission. Working on generation, the main product for the engineer is to turn energy such as natural gas, wind power or fossil fuels, for example into electric power.(“Insights from Engineers.”) Engineers focusing on distribution focus on producing systems that enable power to be distributed to end users at the right voltages.(“Insights from Engineers.”) For engineers working in transmission of power, the work concerns transporting power from the site of generation at the station to locations close to end using customers.(“Insights from Engineers.”) At power companies, engineers work with analog devices like motors and capacitors as well as processes like conversion of power, handling drops in power and even blackouts. Producing environmentally sustainable power systems is a further area of substantial activity and emerging prominence for power companies today.
Conclusion
When considering which industry and role you wish to have as an engineer, remember that engineering roles may differ at Computer Hardware Manufacturers and Power Companies based on education, salary, companies to work for and products.
If you want a role practicing primarily digital design, pick a career as a Computer Hardware Engineer working for a Computer Hardware Manufacture.(Rodda)
If you want a role as an analog expert, working with generators, power transmission and stuff related to motors, go to work for a power company as an electrical engineer.(Rodda)
References
Detwiller-Kelly, Peter, “Want A Secure And High Paying Job? Get Into Power Engineering.” Forbes.com.
29 May 2013. Web. 20 May 2016.
“Computer Hardware Engineer Job Market.” Sokanu.com 2016. Web. 20 May 2016.
“Electrical Power Engineering Job Market.” Sokanu.com 2016. Web. 20 May 2016.
“Insights from Engineers.” Tryengineering.org n.d. Web. 20 May 2016.
Rodda, Ben. "Ben Rodda's Answer to 'What is the difference between a 'Hardware Engineer' and an
'Electrical Engineer'?'" Quora.com 28 March 2014. Web. 20 May 2016.
“Top 20 Largest Hardware and Software Companies.” The New Global Ecosystem in Advanced
Computing. National Academies Press, 2012. Web. 20 May 2016.
United States. Dept. of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Computer Hardware Engineers" 2015
Occupational Outlook Handbook. May 2015. Web. 20 May. 2016
---. ---. ---. “Electrical Engineers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. May 2015. Web. 20 May.
2016
---. ---. ---. “Occupational Employment and Wages: Electrical Engineers.” Occupational Outlook
Handbook. May 2015. Web. 20 May. 2016
---. ---. ---. “Occupational Employment and Wages: Computer Hardware Engineers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. May 2015. Web. 20 May. 2016
