Barbara Woodworth

 

As the demand for computer systems continues to grow, so, too, does the demand tor professionals working in this field. The field is home to a wide variety of job types, from computer and information research scientists to computer network architects, programmers, support specialists, systems analysts, database administrators, information security analysts, network and computer systems administrators, software developers, and web developers.

 

For their efforts, computer industry professionals can anticipate attractive salaries and abundant job opportunities. Computer analysts, for example, can expect to earn between $50,000 and $125,000 annually. According to The Bureau of Labor 2 Statistics, employment of computer systems analysts is projected to grow 25 percent, resulting in 127,700 new jobs, from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and mobile networks will increase demand for these workers.

 

ADDING VALUE AT AVNET, INC.

 

Hien Pham enjoys drawing upon the engineering skills he acquired while studying for his BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering at Louisiana Tech University. Now a field applications engineer - with ten of his 15 years of professional experience spent at Phoenix, AZ-headquartered Avnet, Inc. – Pham credits his past experiences with preparing him well for his chosen career.

 

Pham was working as design engineer when he applied to Avnet (www.avnet.com) for a field applications engineer position. He had developed the customer skills and design knowledge needed to be successful at this 18,000-employee company, one of the world’s largest global distributors of electronic components, computers and IT solutions, and embedded technology and services. In his current role he works with suppliers to learn about, and apply, new technologies and products to various electronic board designs. “I additionally introduce customers to new electronic components, provide technical support, and assist with board design cycles,” explains Pham.

 

To obtain success as a field applications engineer, technical expertise and patience is essential, as well as enjoying working with people. “If I did not enjoy interacting with my customers on a regular basis, I do not think I would be as successful,” Pham says.

 

The growing area of field applications engineering is especially vital in times of supplier consolidation, Pham explains. While mergers often cause some confusion on the part of customers, field applications engineers typically stay put, working with the same customers before, during, and after the merger process.

 

What Pham particularly enjoys about working at Avnet is the customer interaction, meeting customer needs, and winning customer trust. He also notes the company’s ability to add value and accelerate the success of its business partners.

 

He is also proud of Avnet’s efforts to promote STEM education to students to encourage minorities to pursue engineering. One highlight is Avnet Tech Games, an annual Arizona college level competition that highlights science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To date, more than 2,800 students and 100 faculty members from 85 colleges have participated. “So far the Avnet Tech Games has awarded more than $330,000 in student scholarships and faculty honorariums,” says Pham.

 

He does his own part, too. Pham volunteers at his son’s school, bringing his demonstration board to show students how things are made related to the technologies they are familiar with.

 

A VIABLE CAREER AT SYNOPSYS, INC.

 

Coming from an engineering family, it’s no surprise that Ron Duncan followed suit. He graduated from Mass - achusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a bachelor’s de - gree in electrical engineering and com puter science, followed by a master’s of engineering in electrical engineering from Cornell University.

 

“Two undergraduate courses that really sparked my interest were ‘Struc - ture and Interpretation of Computer Programs’ and ‘Micro Devices and Circuits,’” he recalls. As his studies progressed, his professors guided him toward more advanced classes, graduate school, and summer internships where his projects involved model transistor physics in software.

 

Today, Duncan is senior corporate applications engineering manager at Mountain View, CA-headquartered Synopsys, Inc. (www.synopsys.com), He has been with this 10,000-employee, billion-dollar leader in Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and semiconductor intellectual property (IP) since 1992, albeit through a series of mergers and acquisitions. “Although the company has changed, I’ve been with the same technology group for 23 years,” he notes.

 

Over the years, Duncan held a series of interesting EDA positions. “I’ve been a verification products expert, worldwide head of technical support with a team of 350 engineers, and a product line manager with responsibility for R&D, marketing, and support teams,” he comments. Currently, he manages a team of corporate applications engineers (product experts) that drive the development and support of Synopsys’ physical verification tool, IC Validator.

 

“My team collaborates with key Synopsys customers who are working on the most difficult designs on the most advanced foundry process nodes,” he explains. In this capacity, he and his team advise customers as to how to create flows necessary to achieve accurate results and rapid turnaround times. “We also leverage our experience by working on advanced designs to specify new features and improvements in the company’s software,” he adds.

 

According to Duncan, although the EDA industry is relatively small, it is a key enabler for all electronics designs and the electronics industry in general. “The fact that we make software tools for all electronics engineers, indicates with surety that as long as there is a need for advanced electronics products, the EDA industry will be a viable career,” he states.

 

Needed by those pursuing this sector is a deep understanding of the chip design process, familiarity with software and scripting, the ability to communicate technology, and excellent problem-solving skills. The Synopsys culture is built on integrity and a commitment to help semiconductor and electronics companies around the world accelerate their innovation. “From engineering to programming, design, R&D, and support, Synopsys provides unparalleled opportunity to learn, grow, and be on the cutting edge of technology,” remarks Duncan.

 

A member of the Educational Council for MIT, Duncan has been interviewing, advising, and mentoring local students for the past 18 years. He enjoys speaking to high school students about STEM courses as well. At work he is particularly fond of learning about rapidly changing semiconductor and IC design technology, working with key customers on critical projects and, above all, coaching and mentoring a team of expert engineers.

 

MAKING A PERSONAL CONNECTION AT JUNIPER NETWORKS

 

As former software engineer at Sunnyvale, CA-headquartered Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net), electrical engineer Benjamin Chen elected to “switch gears” and direct his career toward the company’s human resources department. Today, he serves as talent acquisition manager within the 8,800+ employee company that provides networking services to more than 100 countries.

 

A credentialed “techie,” Chen holds a BSE in electrical engineering with minors in music performance and engineering and management systems from Princeton University and a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University. During his seven years with the company, Chen held various engineering positions, including his start as routing protocols software engineer and as release program manager before transitioning into his prior role as software productivity lead. He credits the company with affording him the opportunity to participate in an HR rotation during his early tenure. “That’s where I recognized my passion for working on the “people side” of engineering,” he remarks.

 

Reflecting on a call he received as a college student from a mentor and former IBM exec, Chen says, “The one thing he basically wanted to tell me was to think broadly about how to apply my engineering training to people systems - optimizing how all the different parts of a team fit together, how companies organize their people, and what they do with their talent. That in itself is a very complex and interesting engineering problem to solve, given the constantly changing parameters.”

 

Chen notes that the link between engineering and people not only remains with him, it ultimately became a prominent reason for his career shift. Engineering allowed Chen to work with a multitude of people and gain a greater appreciation for their talent. “I love my role in talent acquisition, and I love engineering just as much—it is not a question of one over the other. I can still fully be an engineer, but right now taking care of Juniper’s talent is where I believe I can be most helpful,” he says.

 

As for his take on the future of computer systems-related careers, Chen says, “Computer networks are the basis of the modern world and they are here to stay and grow. I was initially drawn to Juniper Networks because I felt I was playing a role in making something stable, lasting, and reliable. It is exciting to work on products people count on every day, products that will not be obsolete in a few months or years.”

 

Discussing current talent acquisition at Juniper Networks, Chen stresses the company’s intention to hire more Millennials and fresh talent. “In the past, I think we focused more on hiring extremely experienced people and for good reason - but now we look toward balancing that with new ideas and perspectives by recruiting recent university graduates and people from a variety of backgrounds,” he says.

 

Addressing the fact that many people may be unaware of how much innovation is involved in computer networking, Juniper Networks is committed to getting the word out and, in the process, help potential interns and new hires understand both the company’s global impact and realize the abundance of career opportunities.

 

“We strive to make a personal connection with candidates and help them connect to the company’s culture and the industry as a whole,” says Chen. “I was given the opportunity to do a job rotation in HR and that’s where I stayed.”

 

Juniper Networks, he adds, is very supportive of assisting in the development of their associates and placing them in positions where they can do their best work.

 

PUSHING BOUNDARIES AT ACCENTURE

 

Darlene Colon knew early on engineering was her future. From her days as a student at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, where she graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Colon recognized the importance of professional experience and organizational participation. “My previous co-op at a pharmaceutical company, my internship at Accenture, and my participation in student chapters of professional organizations led to my full time employment immediately after graduation,” says Colon. She is now technology consulting senior analyst at Chicago’s Accenture office (www.accenture.com).

 

Accenture is a global company with more than 358,000 people of diverse backgrounds and experiences, notes Colon. “People in this arena come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives. There is also a multitude of available professional development opportunities. In an environment such as this you not only learn something every day through the perspectives of others, you have the opportunity for a robust career.”

 

As technology consulting senior analyst, Colon credits cross training for multiple roles with enabling her to gain invaluable experience. “On my latest project, for a leading power generation company, my team helped bring three utilities into one standard platform for work management and supply chain operations,” remarks Colon.

 

She sees the growing sector of technology consulting as an opportunity to help transform leading organizations and communities around the world. “Technology drives how we operate, communicate, and manage our personal and professional lives,” she remarks. “The way we collaborate, operate, and deliver value provides ample opportunities to grow and advance.”

 

For example, Colon designed and developed of training materials for approximately 8,000 end users. “As technology evolves we must assist our clients in becoming more innovative, efficient, and relevant by successfully delivering our expertise, insight, and capabilities. Delivering innovation is a daily duty,” she adds.

 

As a Latina in tech, Colon notes she constantly pushes her boundaries, steps out of her comfort zone, and makes it a point to learn every day. “I’m always encouraging others – especially women and minorities – to do the same. Coming from a Spanish-speaking country, even though English was taught in school, I found it a culture shock to write, speak, and even think in my second language. Despite difficulties, however, challenges should never be treated as obstacles to success,” she states.

 

Above all, Colon enjoys working with people from around the world. Involved in Accenture’s diversity recruiting efforts at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), she works with the University’s Buddy Program where potential Accenture hires are paired with mentors who assist them through the interview process. She also participates in the company’s global corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed, mentoring young adults. “It’s a great way to give back to the community,” she says.

 

A PASSION FOR IT AT CDW

 

While on active duty as a Marine assigned to some of the world’s most remote locations, Aundre Dudley jumpstarted his networking career. Charged with setting up military networks for forward Marine units in his capacity as tactical network administrator, Dudley gained hands-on networking experience. “I spent considerable time reading and studying Cisco’s self-study certification guides,” says Dudley, who holds Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and Cisco Certified Internet Expert (CCIE) certifications. Now, some 12 years later, Dudley is employed at CDW (www.cdw.com), headquartered in Vernon Hills, IL, as principal consulting engineer. “I credit much of the preparation for my success as a civilian consultant to the approach I followed while studying for certifications during my time in the military,” he remarks.

 

Dudley learned the material on his own, assuming the role of consultant to explain the information to himself in the same manner he would to a customer. “I would also reverse roles and emulate the customer by asking and answering a variety of questions to myself in order to defend my design choices. As it turned out, this approach prepared me for the work I do today,” he explains.

 

In 2012, after earning Cisco Certified Internet Expert (CCIE) certification, a CDW recruiter contacted Dudley, interested in his role as consultant. “I believe earning my CCIE certification gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to join CDW as consulting engineer,” he states.

 

That was three years ago, and today he remains immersed in designing and implementing medium-tolarge- scale security data centers and routing and switching networks for CDW customers. A Fortune 500, 7,200- employee, leading provider of integrated information technology solutions, CDW’s broad range of offerings include discrete hardware and software products as well as IT solutions that include security, data center optimization, cloud computing, and virtualization, among others.

 

Optimistic about networking as a career, Dudley states, “The Internet of Everything is a reality. Almost everything we do as consumers involves IT. All industries, from healthcare to manufacturing, to finance and beyond, rely on computer systems and the engineers who ensure that IT needs are successfully met.”

 

What particularly appeals to Dudley about some computer systems-related careers is that individual success is not necessarily directly tied to a college degree – unlike many highly professional careers. According to Dudley, those with the right attitude and innate intelligence can self-study and achieve respectable credentials that translate into good paying jobs and challenging work.

 

That said, Dudley, who holds a master’s degree in management information systems from Bowie State University, strongly endorses higher education. Still, he adds, “The knowledge I gained from my certifications continues to play a much larger role in my day-to-day duties than the knowledge garnered from my degrees. To be a successful IT professional, you must live IT, have a passion for it, and regard your involvement in it as much more than a 9-to-5 job.”

 

Citing CDW’s Associate Engineer Program, where participants work and train with senior engineers, Dudley says, “This program provides hands-on opportunities to work with engineers and architects in varying capacities.” He is mentor to two individuals currently involved in this program, and enjoys watching and being part of their progress. “Not only is it gratifying, I love doing my part to impart knowledge and implement cuttingedge technology,” he states.