You need a bit of luck, but if you’re willing to travel a lot, employers usually love that.
The field varies from the 4-5 guys building little machines in a workshop, with software written by a guy “who’s good at computers”, to the giant corporation with frameworks, guidelines and huge teams of engineers.
I think the median is closer to the first than the latter, with simple logic running on a PLC and with an HMI (touchscreen) as interface. Often the same person takes care of both… Of course things can and do get complicated, but from a computer programmer/engineer/whatever’s point of view, it shouldn’t be complex.
The most common languages are those specified in IEC_61131-3, essentially Ladder, where you draw logic circuits, FBD, where you draw MORE COMPLEX logic circuits, and structured text, which is a sort of Pascal.
You need a basic grasp of electricity, as long as you know what Amperes and Volts are, and remember Ohm’s law, you’re fine. Most devices have quirks which only experience can teach you, but whatever.
Of course there’s more advanced programming as well, but it’s usually on the SCADA side, and there it may get interesting for you, as some of those now support web technologies, like Inductive Automation’s Ignition.
Pay is usually good, and gets better with travel pay, and seeing machines DO STUFF and make people’s work easier is a great feeling.
Technically yeah! How do I do it and how hard is an entry level job to acquire?
You need a bit of luck, but if you’re willing to travel a lot, employers usually love that.
The field varies from the 4-5 guys building little machines in a workshop, with software written by a guy “who’s good at computers”, to the giant corporation with frameworks, guidelines and huge teams of engineers. I think the median is closer to the first than the latter, with simple logic running on a PLC and with an HMI (touchscreen) as interface. Often the same person takes care of both… Of course things can and do get complicated, but from a computer programmer/engineer/whatever’s point of view, it shouldn’t be complex.
The most common languages are those specified in IEC_61131-3, essentially Ladder, where you draw logic circuits, FBD, where you draw MORE COMPLEX logic circuits, and structured text, which is a sort of Pascal.
You need a basic grasp of electricity, as long as you know what Amperes and Volts are, and remember Ohm’s law, you’re fine. Most devices have quirks which only experience can teach you, but whatever.
Of course there’s more advanced programming as well, but it’s usually on the SCADA side, and there it may get interesting for you, as some of those now support web technologies, like Inductive Automation’s Ignition.
Pay is usually good, and gets better with travel pay, and seeing machines DO STUFF and make people’s work easier is a great feeling.