Computer-Aided DesignJason Bohn11/20/2010Period 4Mrs. Drake JobComputer aided design (CAD) is the use of computer programs and systems to design detailed two- or three-dimensional models of physical objects, such as mechanical parts, buildings, and molecules.OutlookThe U.S. Department of Labor predicts that the employment outlook for drafters and designers will grow slower than average through 2012. The best opportunities will only be available to those who have experience and skills. Many companies in the future will feel pressures to increase productivity in design and manufacturing activities, and CAD technology provides some of the best opportunities to improve productivitySalaryIn 2002, the U.S.
Department of Labor reports the average wage for drafters and designers was $37,300. The lowest 10 percent made less than $24,570 annually, while the highest paid 10 percent made more than $56,620 annually. With two to four years experience, the average wage was $40,018 annually. Salaries vary widely depending on location, job requirements, and training needed for the specific job. Benefits may include insurance, paid vacations and holidays, and sometimes stock-purchase plans. Working ConditionsComputer engineers can work anywhere there are computers.
They usually work 40-hour weeks, but can work longer hours on special jobs or projects with deadlines. Computer engineers often work with teams of other engineers or scientists. The computer engineer will work as part of a team helping to solve technical problems and pass that information on to other software engineers who are working on the project.EducationTo become a computer engineer, you will typically require a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering, computer science or electrical engineering.
ResponsibilitiesComputer engineers are responsible for designing, developing, implementing and testing computer-based hardware and software, including the components that are found inside computer equipment, as well as the actual devices that contain the computers and the software that runs on those machines. They may also design networks that connect computer systems, and work on integrating software programs with computer hardware.SkillsDeveloping the right skills is the next important step.
The skill-set includes: A good programming ability, scientific problem solving ability, understanding and troubleshooting a problem, logical reasoning and approaching the problems to find an appropriate solution to the problem, understanding the paragraphs and reading comprehensions that are related to the computer hardware and software, and excellent communication skills and writing ability with a proper information ordering ability.Service ProjectFor the past 3 summers, I have been going to my aunt??™s house that lives in North Salt Lake. When I visit her, I would clean her house, mow her lawn, and spend one on one time with her. She would call me if I was needed and I would go help her even if I was busy. This connects to computer designing because my aunt relies on me being there for her at all times.
If I am designing a program, I would need to be there to help my team who is working with me. They would also need to count on me to do the job right.InterviewI interviewed James Mourra, a professional computer programmer via email.Tell me about your engineering career. Where did your interest in engineering start How is your career unfolding My interest in engineering started with a love of music, actually. I wanted to find out what was going on inside my stereo, and inside my guitar amp. My career is going in a slightly different direction, but the basic idea remains the same, only now I get to design and build electronics.What do you enjoy most about your current position Your career I enjoy traveling when the opportunity arises, and I like the people I work with.
I think the best thing about my current company is that it is small. You dont get lost in the shuffle.What was your greatest success Biggest setback Ive only been out of school for three years, so I havent hit too many of either yet. I suppose the greatest success is when you complete an important project, and people want to buy your product. Setback Probably when your project inexplicably fails in the field after working fine in the lab. What are some of your favorite projects completed in your career and why I work for a government contractor, so Id rather not say. What are some of your personal and/or professional goals for the future Ideally, I will remain an engineer for as long as possible, without floating up into the world of management and stress.
I want to design and build and tinker as long as I can. Also, I would like to keep my hobbies alive, and hopefully continue to play music with friends and maybe see if I could sell an album some day. Tell me about your engineering education. Which schools did you go to, and which degrees were you awarded I went to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
I graduated with a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering in 2002, and with an M.
S. in ECE in 2004. You earned your masters degree in engineering. What drove your decision to return to school, and how did you choose the program The job market sank from after the dot.com recession, and tech workers were being let go, so it was difficult to find work immediately.
Luckily, CMU had an integrated masters/bachelors (IMB) program, and it seemed perfect. My grades were right, and I knew that it would give me an edge later on.What do you know now that you wish you knew before you pursued your engineering education Its hard to pick out anything of note…I learned so much at college, that I wouldnt want to tell my former self. You need to make a decision and stick to it. Life is about going for it, and making your mistakes, and learning from them.
What are the most challenging aspects of your job Juggling multiple projects, especially when everything hits the fan at once. But it keeps you on your toes.What is the average salary for your field What are people at the top of the profession paid This is different from city to city. On the west coast, salaries are high, but the cost of living is proportionally too high.
I have some friends in California who lament the fact that even though they are raking it in, they could never afford that $750,000 two-bedroom house. Here in Pittsburgh, the cost of living is so low, the average starting salary of $50,000 to $60,000 goes a long way. The people at the top, well, it depends on what they are doing. Once you reach a certain level of competence and stature, many engineers start companies. I dont know for sure, but Id assume you could easily make $100,000 or more, depending on your location.What advice can you give to students thinking about an education and career in computer engineering If you like math and science and you stay up late watching Mythbusters marathons, then give it a shot. There are not enough young people going into the engineering field in the United States, and were starting to fall behind other countries.
Some kids think engineering is too hard, but its not. Youll be a valuable resource.Works Cited”computer-aided design.” The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008.
Encyclopedia.com. 28 Nov.
2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition, Computer Systems Design and Related Services , on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs033.htm “computer-aided design.” The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008.
Encyclopedia.com. (November 28, 2010). http://www.encyclopedia.
com/doc/1E1-computerAD.html “computer-aided design.” The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008.
Retrieved November 28, 2010 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-computerAD.html C
