4 ms·

I'm not in the hardware engineering space but in advertising and finance common languages seem to pay more: java, python, ruby javascript. In my 20 some years

by phibz 5y ago

I'm not in the hardware engineering space but in advertising and finance common languages seem to pay more: java, python, ruby javascript. In my 20 some years working I've never worked a project where my ability to code in C was a plus. Rust? They couldn't care less. I think there's just way less demand for those lower level languages. Combine that with they might have trouble filling the position, so they out source it. Each sub, sub sub, etc contractor takes more of the pie. You wanna make bank as a contractor? Look at cloud architecture, big data, devops, java or something important but obscure like cobol.

UncleOxidant 5y ago
C++ is a pretty good paying skill. I've had contract gigs at other places doing similar things to what I listed above (compiler, LLVM, C++) making $100/hr (that was 6 years ago now) so it's not like the skills aren't in demand - if anything it's going to be a lot harder to find someone with C++ and a good understanding of LLVM and compiler development than it will be to find folks with Java or Python skills. What I've noticed consistently, though, is that Intel pays contractors significantly less. (note that the compiler job above also wants some machine learning skills - definitely in demand)
- phibz 5y ago
  I'd argue $100/hr isn't enough for that work, but sounds about right from what I've seen. Whereas I've done a java, scala, kafka, spark, postgres job and easily gotten $150/hr, and that work isn't anywhere as technically challenging. I think my point is business doesn't understand how to value technology experience and they skew towards business value vs difficulty and skill.
  - killtimeatwork 5y ago
    If they're still getting qualified applicants at $100/hr, then it's all good from this point of view. In general, if jobs paid proportionally to technical difficulty, then theoretical astrophysicists would be making millions a year - while in reality they make much less than someone fresh out of a Javascript bootcamp.

by phibz 5y ago

UncleOxidant 5y ago

C++ is a pretty good paying skill. I've had contract gigs at other places doing similar things to what I listed above (compiler, LLVM, C++) making $100/hr (that was 6 years ago now) so it's not like the skills aren't in demand - if anything it's going to be a lot harder to find someone with C++ and a good understanding of LLVM and compiler development than it will be to find folks with Java or Python skills. What I've noticed consistently, though, is that Intel pays contractors significantly less. (note that the compiler job above also wants some machine learning skills - definitely in demand)

phibz 5y ago
I'd argue $100/hr isn't enough for that work, but sounds about right from what I've seen. Whereas I've done a java, scala, kafka, spark, postgres job and easily gotten $150/hr, and that work isn't anywhere as technically challenging. I think my point is business doesn't understand how to value technology experience and they skew towards business value vs difficulty and skill.
- killtimeatwork 5y ago
  If they're still getting qualified applicants at $100/hr, then it's all good from this point of view. In general, if jobs paid proportionally to technical difficulty, then theoretical astrophysicists would be making millions a year - while in reality they make much less than someone fresh out of a Javascript bootcamp.