Realtime embedded technologies

[Addanc]

A lot of the contracts appearing in the realtime embedded area at the moment appear to be DVB STB/PVR related. Has anybody broken into this potentially lucrative market? How the feck did you do it when the DVB companies insist on specific domain experience?

What other emergent technologies are worth further study?

[tim123]

Nope, spent the last three years trying. Often, I have all of the must haves except previous experience of working in DTV. Never even managed to get so much as a phone interview.

There was a job going a couple of weeks ago, wanting someone with some very specific experience in NAND Flash (that I had). There must be less than 20 people who could have ticked this box and yet they still said "must have previous experience of DTV". (As I'm struggling to work out what type of DTV project can usefully use a NAND, I doubt that they will find this mix). I'm fixed up for 6 months, so I can't actually follow this up.

How do people break into this area. By starting off a a permi I would guess. If you find another way please tell me.

Tim

[VectraMan]

I work on related stuff, and with people who do this, but I've never done it myself. I did wonder if I could talk my client into giving me some embedded experience, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Also I got the impression embedded development generally had lower rates than "pure" software development.

VoIP (video not voice) and video on mobile phones are probably worth looking at.

[tim123]

I work on related stuff, and with people who do this, but I've never done it myself. I did wonder if I could talk my client into giving me some embedded experience, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Also I got the impression embedded development generally had lower rates than "pure" software development.

VoIP (video not voice) and video on mobile phones are probably worth looking at.

VM. Getting a company that you work for letting you loose on embedded programming is not quite the same thing as an experienced embedded programmer working on say, defence work moving to automotive work.

The basic skill set is the same, the 'mindset' is the same, all that is different is the knowledge of the end application. So, it is clear that someone from one sector can't turn up on day one and do a system architect job without some retraining, but there's no reason at all why they can't be up to speed 'implementing', in half an hour.

But for some reason, in the contracting world, it's become very hard to make this type of switch. Though I see perms do it all the time.

What do you mean by 'pure' software. What's impure about an embedded system? IMHO a lot of jobs in the finance sector aren't pure software. Writing SQL isn't programming!

tim

[VectraMan]

But for some reason, in the contracting world, it's become very hard to make this type of switch. Though I see perms do it all the time.

That's the nature of contracting: you're expected to already know what you're doing, and specific industry experience can be as important as technical skills. In my case I have a lot of experience of video, low-level graphics and comms, which are often what's required in the embedded world, but my experience is all PC based so for the same reasons you say it's near enough impossible to make the leap. Which I understand, I'm not arrogant enough to think there's nothing to it, but I'm confident I'd get there pretty quickly.

What do you mean by 'pure' software. What's impure about an embedded system? IMHO a lot of jobs in the finance sector aren't pure software. Writing SQL isn't programming!

Poor choice of words, perhaps "generic" is better. My impression is that the hardware/embedded guys earn less than the likes of me writing Windows applications, and then at the other end of the scale the people who failed basic C++ for dummies earn a fortune doing .NET and SQL.

[Addanc]

Which I understand, I'm not arrogant enough to think there's nothing to it, but I'm confident I'd get there pretty quickly.

I can sympathise with that sentiment. To much emphasis on the domain knowledge in the recruiting process; should be more emphasis on the embedded S/W knowledge.

[DimPrawn]

That's the nature of contracting: you're expected to already know what you're doing, and specific industry experience can be as important as technical skills. In my case I have a lot of experience of video, low-level graphics and comms, which are often what's required in the embedded world, but my experience is all PC based so for the same reasons you say it's near enough impossible to make the leap. Which I understand, I'm not arrogant enough to think there's nothing to it, but I'm confident I'd get there pretty quickly.



Poor choice of words, perhaps "generic" is better. My impression is that the hardware/embedded guys earn less than the likes of me writing Windows applications, and then at the other end of the scale the people who failed basic C++ for dummies earn a fortune doing .NET and SQL.

[tim123]

That's the nature of contracting: you're expected to already know what you're doing,

I do!

and specific industry experience can be as important as technical skills.

For some jobs yes. But for device driver level and RTOS stuff, the application on top is completely irrelevent. Even for embedded gui work, you will learn all that you need to know in a few hours.

In my case I have a lot of experience of video, low-level graphics and comms, which are often what's required in the embedded world, but my experience is all PC based so for the same reasons you say it's near enough impossible to make the leap. Which I understand, I'm not arrogant enough to think there's nothing to it, but I'm confident I'd get there pretty quickly.

Why would you want to? It's dying. I wish I could get back to Windows programming.

Poor choice of words, perhaps "generic" is better. My impression is that the hardware/embedded guys earn less than the likes of me writing Windows applications, and then at the other end of the scale the people who failed basic C++ for dummies earn a fortune doing .NET and SQL.

agreed

I earn less money for doing a tougher job with no future. I could make the switch to 'easier things', be up to speed in six months and earn more money. I'd happily work the six months for free, it would be a damned good investment.

tim

[Hogan]

Just to put my two pence worth in ...

I've been working in the DTV market for the last three years or so - initially as a permie. I've found that many of the permies were taken on without any such experience (just good all round embedded skills etc) as you may expect.

On the contract side, they tend to be a bit more picky, but not as much as I'd probably have figured. A few of the contract guys I work with have had no DTV experience to speak of - but may have experience with the processor family used for example.

I think once you get one of the big players on your CV it definitely opens a lot of doors.

Rates vary, depending on how desperate they are :-)

[tim123]

Just to put my two pence worth in ...

I've been working in the DTV market for the last three years or so - initially as a permie. I've found that many of the permies were taken on without any such experience (just good all round embedded skills etc) as you may expect.

On the contract side, they tend to be a bit more picky, but not as much as I'd probably have figured. A few of the contract guys I work with have had no DTV experience to speak of - but may have experience with the processor family used for example.

I think once you get one of the big players on your CV it definitely opens a lot of doors.

Rates vary, depending on how desperate they are :-)

Which company is this please (PM me if necessary)?

Thanks

tim