B-2705-04 (LA) SPIE_Seminar_Talk 1 Confessions of a Computer Engineer Peter Raeth Ball Aerospace &...

B-2705-04 (LA) SPIE_Seminar_Talk 1

Confessions of a Computer Engineer Confessions of a Computer Engineer

Peter Raeth

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.


What We Will Talk AboutWhat We Will Talk About

• Type of occupation

• Education and training required

• Career path and current salaries

• Advantages and disadvantages

• Questions, answers, discussion


Lots of opportunity in the worldLots of opportunity in the world

http://www.bls.gov/oco/images/ocotjc07.gif(Occupational Outlook Handbook )


What is a computer engineer ?What is a computer engineer ?

From a Personal Perspective

• Produces solutions to hard problems• Uses computer as primary implementing tool• Thinks about both hardware and software• Relates technical subjects to people’s needs• Employs knowledge that goes beyond the technical


Skills neededSkills needed

• Ability to think• Creativity and intuition• Mathematics and physics• “Soft” subjects

– philosophy and psychology• Interpersonal communication

– reading and listening– writing and speaking

• Software programming• How hardware is and can be arranged


For learning to use a computerFor learning to use a computer

• The best course I ever took– formal logic– taught by philosophy department– the word “computer” never came up

• Second best course I ever took– Boolean algebra– taught by math department– the word “computer” never came up


But……But……

• Knowing only technical things is not enough• Career success requires the soft subjects mentioned earlier• In the end, it is people and their needs that matter• Technical subjects and the computer are secondary• Being smart about computers is necessary but insufficient• If peoples needs are not satisfied, the engineer has not succeeded• Companies hire because they believe the engineer can contribute to

the bottom line (profit) of the company• If that contribution is not there, the employee will not have a career• Profits come to a company when customers’ needs are satisfied,

when difficult problems get solved• Then the customer says, “We need more of that”• This is what leads to career success, not just being smart


How this engineer got thereHow this engineer got there• As a late bloomer, my path was not direct• Could not handle college prep in high school• Could hardly pass an arithmetic test though high school junior year• Lucky to meet a teacher from Greece who took me under his wing• Too immature to start college right after high school• Too poor anyway - Parents could no way afford to help• Enlisted in Air Force instead• Grew up a lot - saved money - earned scholarship• Departed Air Force - started college• Spent 13 years earning four technical degrees

– AS Electronics Engineering Technology 1975– BS Electrical Engineering 1979– MS Computer Engineering 1980– Ph.D. Computer Science 2003

• Each degree completed with no debt and money in the bank


No accident of birthNo accident of birth

• Grew up in the deep woods of the deep south (dirt roads and forest)• Parents received GED late in life• Enlisted in USAF• Earned partial undergraduate scholarship• Joined ROTC• Worked half time (computer programming consultant)• Attended full time classes

– 6 years, 12 months out of the year– spent a tremendous amount of extra time in the laboratory– published two peer-reviewed papers as undergraduate

• Earned full scholarship to another 1.5 years of graduate school– began graduate school while still working on undergraduate degree

• Company provided partial scholarship for terminal degree• So, birth is not what matters

– How hard are you willing to work? How persistent are you?– Do you do more than is assigned? Do you take initiative?


Jobs along the wayJobs along the way

• Consultant in computer applications• Mathematics programming• Computer research scientist• Scientific analyst• Sensor data applications• Image and signal processing

• Worked during AS, BS, and Ph.D. degree programs• Spent 21 years total in Air Force• Nine years so far with Ball


Typical salariesTypical salaries

• Varies

– accomplishments– education– industry– location

• From a national perspective

– starting salary $40,000 to $50,000

– 10 years experience $80,000 to $95,000


Outlook is Very Good for our FieldOutlook is Very Good for our Field

• The following articles may be of interest to you since they contain information on the outlook for employment in our area of study.

http://www.networkworld.com/research/2006/100206-hiring-struggle.html

http://www.networkworld.com/you/2006/072406-you-salary.html?brl

• Information provided by Jack Davis, Campus College, IS&T, Central FL


Careers paths as varied as peopleCareers paths as varied as people

1. customer service

2. programming

3. training

4. marketing

5. supervisory

6. managerial

1. technician

2. engineering

3. research and development

1. told exactly what to do and how to do it

2. given a problem to solve

3. has to figure out what problem to solve

4. leads others in discovering and solving difficult technical issues


Working conditionsWorking conditions


Something to think aboutSomething to think about

Lots of jobs but more people than jobs

Less jobs but balance between people and jobs

Fewer jobs but even fewer people

Skills/Jobs TriangleSkills/Jobs TriangleIf you want to be in demand, acquire skills that few people have, to do essential jobs.


DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Have to really know your way around to find the jobs• Must be good at selling yourself• Need an independent streak to rise above the crowd• Where the jobs are, you need to be• Beware of becoming overly specialized


AdvantagesAdvantages

• Solid job opportunities at high pay• Tenure is excellent• Companies can not find and keep enough good people

– regardless of job market


What to look forWhat to look for

• Of course benefits and pay matter• But, career success comes from working for good companies• What do I look for?

– vision from which measurable performance metrics can be derived– strong corporate desire to achieve the vision– focus applied to important activities so that vision can be achieved– funding to proceed


Ideas to Think AboutIdeas to Think About• Here is a quote from long ago that bears well on our future vision and our path to that

vision.

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

- Michelangelo (as quoted in Linux Journal, Jan 01, p 8)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Another good quote bears on one's selection of career.

If lots of things were easy, anyone and everyone would do them. The term for this,commoditization, really means nobody makes any money doing it. It's the hard that keepsaverage participants away from some things, and makes the effort of the few who tacklethe problem and deliver results valuable. The way to financial success is to take something hard, so much so, few other people can do it, and make it look easy.

- Don Dingee, Industrial Embedded Systems, Spring/Summer 2006, v 2, # 1, p 7


More Ideas to Think AboutMore Ideas to Think About

• Sometimes well-managed risk is necessary.

The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.

The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.

– Dale Carnegie

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------• Work ethic has a lot to do with success.

The number one rule is simple. You've got to go above and beyond your job description.

If you just do your job, you don't get a raise and you don't get a bonus; you get a paycheck.

- SmartMoney magazine from Wall Street Journal. http://www.smartmoney.com/mag/index.cfm?story=march2006-millionaire&pgnum=6


You graduate and find a jobYou graduate and find a job

• What do you do with that first pay check?• Likely more money than you have ever seen in one place at one time• Represents opportunity, not invitation to spending

– need to live below your income– not necessary to chase fads or follow the crowd– newspaper shows where the crowd has ended up regarding debt

• Most people graduate and promptly go into such debt that they will be years paying for things that depreciate much faster than the debt can be repaid

• Big difference between needs and wants– not at all the same things– don’t kid yourself into turning wants into “needs”

• Be excessive in satisfying your wants and you will always be poor


Be Master of Debt – Not Mastered by DebtBe Master of Debt – Not Mastered by Debt

• Don’t be suckered into the slavery of debt• Debt does not just go away, you can’t easily wash your hands of it

– very hard to get out of debt caused by excessive “want” satisfaction• Instead of spending, save and invest• Establish your financial foundation – Thereby your financial freedom• You are in fact NOT free to choose if you are enslaved to debt

– your first focus has to be earning money now to pay past debts• You can’t make the choice, for instance, to start new career• Slaves to debt are not free, they have to focus on near-term income• It becomes a vicious cycle


Some thoughts on financial foundationsSome thoughts on financial foundations

• I’m not a financial advisor, just a common layman• Always seek good advice from a fee-based certified financial advisor• Just want to share some thoughts with you from personal experience• Want to alert you to something most don’t consider until too late

• Run your life like a business– plan for future– due diligence– provide to market– maintain what you provide– improve what you provide– manage income– manage expenditures– make profit– invest that profit wisely

• Watch cash flow– if you want to leave a job,be sure you have a way toreplace that income first


Basic financial foundationBasic financial foundation• Insurance

• Health– extremely expensive to cover on your own– for instance: one car accident can wipe you out financially

• life– to protect your family and your estate

• disability– it happens– I myself have been on medium-term disability due to eye surgery

• auto– covers your health and the other partys’– also covers damage to material things

• possessions– no need to lose everything because of an accident


Basic financial foundation (more)Basic financial foundation (more)

• Savings (liquid)– 4 to 6 months operating capital without working– don’t let layoff put you into foreclosure or bankruptcy

• Investments (less liquid)– balanced for your point in life– a good financial advisor can guide you in this– don’t just “play the lottery”– don’t’ respond to pump-and-dump emails– if nothing else, read Value Line

• aid to “due diligence”

• available at most libraries• highly regarded investment newsletter


Future planningFuture planning

• What outcome you want to achieve in life?• Educate yourself so you can make good choices• Where are you now financially?• Where do you want to be, when, doing what, having what?• Work with a good financial advisor to develop a solid plan• Review that plan annually – Keep that plan up to date• Be sure to address negative possibilities• Plan too for life’s big events• Implement the plan – Don’t let “gotta have” get in the way• Adjust your plan over time according to results, conditions, events


Let time work for youLet time work for you


Plan necessary debt vs. incomePlan necessary debt vs. income

• Want all major debt paid by age 55• Want minor debts paid at end of each month• Develop self-sustaining income, independent of work hours

– lots of ways to do this– wise investments necessary– consult good fee-based financial advisor

• pick this person carefully

• due diligence absolutely necessary

• you can’t just work on “trust”

• Self-sustaining income gives you freedom to choose


What specifically does my job entail?What specifically does my job entail?Turning data into informationTurning data into information

Collect Analyze Decide


Fundamental approach to workFundamental approach to work

• Study• Learn• Demonstrate• Document• Publish

• Strike a Balance– technology push: Original ideas

vs.– technology pull: What funders say they want

• Think independently but solve funders problems• Know their goals, their critical missions, and arena of activity

– gives basis for original ideas, suggestions, and recommendations– establishes trust if done with a focus on the funder– focus on what THEY want and need


Example: Aircraft with no pilotExample: Aircraft with no pilot

• Sent to fly around specific area• Sends back data• Data has to be analyzed• Result has to be given to people• People use the information• Decisions get acted upon


Real equipment that generates real data for Real equipment that generates real data for real applicationsreal applications

L3 / Cincinnati Electronics NightConqueror is the primary sensor on several platforms

– Avenger Short Range Air Defense System (Army)

– Stryker Mobile Gun System (Army)

– F-18 SHARP Recon Pod (Air Force)

– MK46 Optical Sight System

• Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers

– Optronic Masts• Navy Virginia, Ohio, and Astute class submarines


One particular type of solution a person One particular type of solution a person like me createslike me creates

Original Data Stream

Predicted Data Stream

Target NominationPrediction Error

• Lots of data (numbers) that arrive very fast• Too fast and too much for people to look at it all• Want to just show them what is important• This is a good reason to learn math


Other types of data analysis problemsOther types of data analysis problems

Infrared DataInfrared Data

Audio Data StreamAudio Data Stream

Video Stream With Active BackgroundVideo Stream With Active Background

Filter dynamic background

Computer Network AccessComputer Network Access

Determine possible hacking via polling

Find variationsin audio background

Detect and trackmoving targets


• Computer engineering is a good career field

• Many personal and financial advantages

• Lots of opportunity to be creative

• Offers real chance for achievement

• Can lead to great success

• Plenty to do – The work is there

• Boredom has not been a problem

OverallOverall

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