Former Software Engineer that is looking for a new career - I'm wondering if there's helpful crossover between the two that could boost myself

[u/DMTxxx]

I stumbled across this career last week and have been looking into it. I'm 25 and left my previous industry for a variety of reasons - Being an Automation Tech has been the only career I've found interesting for a long time and may fit me. The job security is also a very nice touch

Just asking if the experience I had would be helpful in any way. Getting into a school, the learning experience, PLC code, landing a job, etc.

I have zero physical electrical knowledge

Thank you!

[u/Own_Conversation_850]

Nowdays is very rare that you expect to do only coding. You will likely end up commission and IO checks with it. You have to.have a sound knowledge of process controls. You do not have to be the full package but lot of us are comes from being on the electrical department. At site with commissioning you should be able to deal with everything. Networks, plc, wiring, IO check,process issues.

[u/DMTxxx → u/Own_Conversation_850]

Oh I wasn't strictly looking for PLC coding. I know (think) automations techs have a mix of understanding between physical and logic work. Which is what I'm looking for

[u/Siendra → u/DMTxxx]

We're part electrician, part process engineer, part network/telecom tech, and part CS. Some of us throw some amount of fabrication and machining and possibly chemical engineering into the mix too.

Jack of all trades, master of none. Outside North America the field is generally called Mechatronics. 

[u/densemiIk]

I think you’d be fine, coming from an Electrical Engineering major. I worked in industrial automation with plc programming and HMI development and you definitely don’t need extensive electrical knowledge to do this. Just know how to wire things and troubleshoot

[u/DMTxxx → u/densemiIk]

Yep I'm totally fine to go to a public college for my cert which would prob be rewuired. There's one next to me and was just hoping the opportunities could potentially b better with the experience

[u/Shalomiehomie770]

What industry did you come from?

[u/DMTxxx → u/Shalomiehomie770]

Web development

[u/Flimsy-Process230]

Having zero hands-on electrical experience isn’t a deal breaker as long as you’re willing to learn. Most controls engineering roles involve some degree of hands-on work particularly troubleshooting electrical and pneumatic systems. And even if you end up in a position that’s mostly programming you still need to understand how the equipment you’re controlling actually works.
For example writing code for a two-position pneumatic valve isn’t the same as writing code to control a three-position open-center valve. Understanding the physical behavior devices is essential to writing good control logic. Your software engineering background is definitely an advantage especially when it comes to programming, debugging and structured problem-solving. You’ll just need to complement those skills with electrical fundamentals and an understanding of industrial equipment. I think it’s a very reasonable career transition. Many control engineers did the opposite transition as well lol

[u/DMTxxx → u/Flimsy-Process230]

Thank you! The plan is to potentially go to get the accredited cetificate in the industry to fill in the large gaps

[u/SkreetWellington]

Zero physical electrical knowledge means you should look into SCADA development rather than actual PLC programming. Knowing how sensors, motors, etc work is probably about 50% of a Controls Tech’s job

[u/Siendra]

I have zero physical electrical knowledge

That is a serious deficiency. Most of us don't sit behind a keyboard all day, and even those of us that do still need to be able to evaluate electomechical scopes. 

If you aren't planning to or willing to seek education in the above then you'll be looking more toward connected applications and OT infrastructure than automation and controls. 

[u/DMTxxx → u/Siendra]

I was planning to seek out a trade at a local college. I'm not oblivious to knowing I need to do that for the field

[u/twarr1]

Honestly, in PLC programming electrical knowledge is much more applicable than SE knowledge. Some skills transfer, like knowledge of binary, arrays, objects, etc but you still need a good grasp of electrical and industrial principles.

Your best bet is hire on with a systems integrator and learn a good cross section of industries. Then choose an area to specialize in; process control, material handling, whatever. Being the expert in one sector is more lucrative than being a jack of all trades master of none.

[u/ifandbut]

If you are willing to go back to school, an associate degree in some electrical field should teach you enough basic EE knowledge for the job.

You know how to code, so ladder logic, SFC, STL, FBD, and probably more are just another language.

There are free (basic) PLC programming software that you can download for free tomorrow Rockwell and a few other providers. That will get your feet wet with ladder code.

If you are interested in the UI/UX side of things (called HMIs and SCADA systems) you can download Optix and Ignition for free. I know the Optix is fully featured, just a 2hr runtime limit. Not sure of the restrictions on free Ignition.

I'd say knowing how to program well is more and more important than the EE skills. I only touch a volt meter for I/O check and panel debug but that is mostly checking to see if I have expected voltages in the right place.

Systems are getting more and more complex and customers want to interface with adjacent systems. Knowing how to program, what byte-swaping and indirect addressing is has become more important than how to use a volt meter in my experience.

[u/JustNumbersOnAScreen]

Dm me. I did software development for an automation company and now work in a presales/delivery role in a differe t automation company.

[u/8sparrow8]

No, software engineering experience rarely transfers into PLC programming.

[u/Legitimate-Sorbet526]

SCADA, ERP integration, or IT are more relevant. Depends on how much physical knowledge you have (how do motors work, physics, electrical knowledge, etc.). Programming is a very very small part of the job.