46 ms·

Please, do tell what lofty work you do that deserves the holy moniker of engineering.

by ng12 9y ago

sidlls 9y ago
I work in data science and machine learning. I interview and as the lead on the team I strongly advocate for practices that are very close to the engineering practices in real engineering, insofar as it's possible. My academic background included engineering (aerospace) and most of my undergrad friends went that route. We all have a good laugh at the practice of "engineering" in the software industry now and again.
- ng12 9y ago
  I wasn't actually interested, mostly just trying to point out that your holier-than-thou attitude isn't really helpful to the discussion. I really doubt that you're some kind of data science deity because you got an engineering degree.
auxym 9y ago
I'm not trying to make a point (namely, that programming isn't engineering) here, but for kicks, here's something I was told by an experienced (mechanical) engineer when I obtained my engineering license after 3 years experience as a junior engineer (aka Engineer In Training in a lot of jurisdictions): "The only difference now is that you'll constantly have an ethical and deontological loop running in your head." As an licensed Engineer (once again, PE in most jurisdictions, Quebec just can't agree on using the same terms as everyone else), you have an ethical, deontological and legal obligation to ensure that your work conforms to the "state of the art". You constantly have to think about the consequences of your work on everyone downstream, from workers on the shop floor, to the final customers, maintenance workers, etc. It's not so much about the actual work (many drafters, technologists, etc could often do something an engineer has done), but about the profound care that went into making sure it was right.
- Terr_ 9y ago
  Hey, software developers do that too... Management just doesn't reward us for it.

Please, do tell what lofty work you do that deserves the holy moniker of engineering.

by ng12 9y ago

Please, do tell what lofty work you do that deserves the holy moniker of engineering.

I work in data science and machine learning. I interview and as the lead on the team I strongly advocate for practices that are very close to the engineering practices in real engineering, insofar as it's possible. My academic background included engineering (aerospace) and most of my undergrad friends went that route. We all have a good laugh at the practice of "engineering" in the software industry now and again.

ng12 9y ago
I wasn't actually interested, mostly just trying to point out that your holier-than-thou attitude isn't really helpful to the discussion. I really doubt that you're some kind of data science deity because you got an engineering degree.

auxym 9y ago

I'm not trying to make a point (namely, that programming isn't engineering) here, but for kicks, here's something I was told by an experienced (mechanical) engineer when I obtained my engineering license after 3 years experience as a junior engineer (aka Engineer In Training in a lot of jurisdictions): "The only difference now is that you'll constantly have an ethical and deontological loop running in your head." As an licensed Engineer (once again, PE in most jurisdictions, Quebec just can't agree on using the same terms as everyone else), you have an ethical, deontological and legal obligation to ensure that your work conforms to the "state of the art". You constantly have to think about the consequences of your work on everyone downstream, from workers on the shop floor, to the final customers, maintenance workers, etc. It's not so much about the actual work (many drafters, technologists, etc could often do something an engineer has done), but about the profound care that went into making sure it was right.

Terr_ 9y ago
Hey, software developers do that too... Management just doesn't reward us for it.