Contracting in Embedded systems

[Contreras]

@Contreras - I agree embedded covers lot of area these days. I am into device driver development (windows/linux) mainly related to video,audio, dvr's.

@nomadd - yes I like the work, its very challenging but tulipe pay (in 40's). so how did you move into banking from embedded? Or were your expertise in higher level programming/management.

By the way I have picked some interesting vocabulary on here ...tulipe, bob, gig...

Where are you based and are you prepared to travel?

Linux kernel and device drivers were carrying premium rates around this time last year, both for contract and permie roles - so it depends why you are considering a switch and if it's mainly about money consider that there are some attractive permie roles too.

[encoder]

yes its mainly for money. I get zero benefits/perks with my current employer and was the same with previous one.
Am based in cambridgeshire, prepared to travel anywhere for right price.

[SueEllen]

yes its mainly for money. I get zero benefits/perks with my current employer and was the same with previous one.
Am based in cambridgeshire, prepared to travel anywhere for right price.

You need to decide whether a permie employer who may be in a different part of the country would give you the increase in salary plus some of the the perks and benefits you want, rather than going contracting and having to commute all over the country or abroad.

[Contreras]

yes its mainly for money. I get zero benefits/perks with my current employer and was the same with previous one.
Am based in cambridgeshire, prepared to travel anywhere for right price.

ah, Silicon Fen, you shouldn't have far to travel then.

Zero benefits/perks means no paid annual leave, sick pay, or pension...? Sounds like you've had a raw deal.

[Mich the Tester]

Quite a lot of embedded work in Holland in the Eindhoven region; send me a PM and I can put you in touch with an agent who supplies Philips, Vanderlande, VDL, ASML, TomTom and the like. Pay is OK, about the same as in Dutch banks and insurers or only a little bit less and cost of living in the region's lower than A'Dam or the Hague. I'm testing so-called 'high level control' software right now but am having more and more to do with 'low level' PLC and so on. Very enjoyable, completely different crowd of people to the banks and so on; a lot less arrogant and wanky. Also; big skills shortages in industry here in NL, so lots of opportunities and rates are slowly going up.

There's a company called Fluidwell across the road that have a huge banner on their building saying they need embedded HW and SW engineers. Careers - Fluidwell

Dunno who they use for hiring contractors, but worth mentioning to an agent.

[BlasterBates]

Do your calculations on travelling, costs a lot, and lost time, if you need an extra 8 to 10 hours a week.

It looks to me these days that is it is only worth contracting if it is on your doorstep. That´s why I went permie.

[encoder]

Thanks for the replies guys.. Your comments helps me better idea. As suggested I should send my cv to few agents (for permie/contract) and see what comes along.

@Contreras - yes near fenland and also the dreaded A10 and A41!! Guess still better than M25/M4's
I do get paid holidays and sick pay but nothing else. No bonus seen in last 3 years..


@BlasterBates - agree about the travelling bit, has to balanced against net income.

@Mich - sent you a PM

[SueEllen]

Thanks for the replies guys.. Your comments helps me better idea. As suggested I should send my cv to few agents (for permie/contract) and see what comes along.

@Contreras - yes near fenland and also the dreaded A10 and A41!! Guess still better than M25/M4's
I do get paid holidays and sick pay but nothing else. No bonus seen in last 3 years..


@BlasterBates - agree about the travelling bit, has to balanced against net income.

@Mich - sent you a PM

Bonuses are a con.

[v6g]

Quite a lot of embedded work in Holland in the Eindhoven region...

. Also; big skills shortages in industry here in NL, so lots of opportunities and rates are slowly going up.

Same thing here on the West Coast (USA / Canada) in embedded software - plenty of opportunities and salaries going upwards.

I, too, have been following the embedded jobs market in the UK and I'm somewhat puzzled how it seems so different. Particularly odd how some of the companies around cambridge are paying effectively half what the same company is paying in their West coast office for exactly the same skillset and job. What's going on?

I noticed recently that the company in the UK where I started my career 15 years ago is now paying 5% less in actual pound terms for a graduate than they paid me all those years ago!

Strange thing is there are some companies (in the UK) who have had open vacancies for several years for my particularly-specialized skillset but their salaries on offer are simply too low to consider applying (I wouldn't have minded a few months in the UK a while back).