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Ask HN: Any electrical engineers?

14 points by dimitar ↗ HN
Hello guys!

I'm an electrical engineering student with a focus on control and automation. My dream is to build my own plant, to better society using technology.

Do you know any electrical engineers starting businesses?

Can you recommend any good stories or internet communities for this?

6 comments

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deltriggah
I've been looking as well. I'm an electrical engineer with focus on HV electrical power systems and been working with the power utility for a decade. Development in this area are mostly on renewable energy. The only experience I have in coding is creating Python scripts to automate Siemens (PTI) PSS/E software for load flow, fault, dynamics simulations, etc. Since you are interested in control you may want to look at SCADA systems and perhaps develop a cheaper system or a better implemented one than what the major players like Siemens, Alstom, Schneider, Areva and ABB offer.
fburnaby
Agreed. I'm aware of a few small businesses that seem to be doing well at undercutting the big players with SCADA.
riltim
I never went to college for engineering but I've worked in the electrical engineering field for the past 11 years doing controls and automation. I have programmed A-B, Modicon, GE and Siemens PLC and HMI/SCADA systems.

The only businesses I really hear about anyone starting is an integrator shop. Not much smaller time software stuff other than OPC servers and active-x or .NET controls for SCADA work.

fburnaby
I'm also an electrical engineer, planning to start working this summer. I took a little detour to study for a M.Sc in mathematical ecology after finishing my B.Eng. I did some fairly heavy programming, algorithms and data visualization in MATLAB to support my thesis on scallop population dynamics. I'd love to get into doing control and/or sensing for ocean applications.

Ideally, I'd like to start a business in this field eventually. But don't feel that I have the connections or expertise yet. This type of engineering is not hacking, so the "ramen profitable, learn as you go" paradigm seems to be less applicable. My plan is to learn some more in industry over the course of however many years. As it stands I can build things, but I don't understand enough about the market to make sure I build the right things.

PS: Is anyone looking for recently graduated EEs with a little more math and programming than typical? You don't have to be in the ocean, though that could be a bonus.

joshu
I did EE in school but never practiced as a professional.

I am hang my head in shame.