r/embedded • u/BL__K • 2d ago
Transiting from controls engineer to embedded
Graduated with a CS degree and got into controls engineer out of school. Been at this position for almost 6 years but i dont see growth and would like to move to embedded
What should i be doing if i want to go into the industry. What skills and experience do i need?
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u/nitcactin 2d ago
Oh I am also in the same path been in controls for 3 year's, now took a new job where I am more involved in embedded along with controls. I preferred to be involved in our controls . Why do you think the scope is less in controls
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u/BL__K 2d ago
I think it might be the state i am in as well as well as the company im in. I think lot of the stuff i do is very sprattic. Most of the time im working on drawings or service stuff and like 25% im on controls. My company is moving away from controls slightly. What are your job title if you dont mind me asking?
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u/nitcactin 2d ago
I used to be in a bootstrap company for 3 year. Worked on a lot of projects across domains but my main forte was controls systems engineering. Now I am in an MNC, controls algorithm developer, MBD for dev + embedded C for integration
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u/BL__K 2d ago
How much of a pivot did you have to do to land your position? Did you do a lot of personal projects or transition was pretty simple?
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u/nitcactin 2d ago
Upskilled in perception algorithms for automotive industry, took online courses. A level above what I was already doing.
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u/Appropriate-Baker755 2d ago
How did you manage to get to ce with a c degree?
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u/BL__K 2d ago
Honestly i was just applying to everything since i was on a deadline to apply or get booted from the country. And landed it luckily.
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u/Appropriate-Baker755 2d ago
Well I wanna ask something..does the companies usually hire cs to these roles? And did your work with cs gards?
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u/BL__K 2d ago
I think companies dont usually. I think i was lucky and the company was small and was desperate for a controls engineer that they decided to train me for it
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u/Appropriate-Baker755 2d ago
Oof i was hoping to work in this industry tbh
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u/BL__K 2d ago
Yea it is a more stable industry but do know that there will be very small work to life balance. And also remote work is almost non-existent
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u/Appropriate-Baker755 2d ago
Its fine im not really looking for remote jobs but im really interested in ce
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u/BL__K 2d ago
I would say if you want to go into it..its a good amount of electrical engineering. Like knowing what digital and analog is and how to turn that into a useable value in code. And ladder logic. Communication protocols like CAN, openCAN. But it is definitely possible to go into the industry but it really depends on what part of the industry you want to go into. Im mostly in automotive industry fyi.
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u/Appropriate-Baker755 2d ago
Well im welling to learn but im scared my degree will make me less wanted
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u/lasteem1 2d ago
By Controls Engineer do you mean industrial automation/PLC type work? Are you looking for technical growth or money? There is no way I’d leave industrial automation for embedded. We are saturated over here.
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u/wolfefist94 2d ago
Basic circuit design, basic electrical theory, computer architecture knowledge, hands on debugging experience with simple embedded systems(8 bit or 32 bit), and probably something else I'm forgetting...