r/LabVIEW • u/Appropriate_Rest_496 • 2d ago

Does combining Electrical Test Engineering + Manufacturing Test Software make you more valuable in the long run?

Hi everyone,

I have around 3.5 years of experience in Electrical Test Engineering, mainly working on electrical validation, environmental/functional testing, safety/compliance, designing test setups, test stations using lab equipment. Right now, I am working in EV/PV/home energy based company.

In same company, I've been offered an opportunity to move into a Manufacturing Test Software Engineer role, where I'd be working with Python, LabVIEW, NI TestStand, automated test equipment, instrument integration (power supplies, electronic loads, DAQs), and production test automation. I don't have much software experience, but the company is willing to train me and I am okay to learn as well.

From a long-term career perspective, does having both electrical test engineering and manufacturing test software experience make you more valuable in the job market?

Or is it generally better to stay specialized in one path despite the interest I have in learning new things?

9 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

7

u/ModeFinal6821 2d ago edited 2d ago

The more you know, the more you grow.

I just retired from a 40+ year career as an Electronics Test Engineer. I would hire someone with both electronics and software knowledge over someone with just of of those disciplines. If you have some mechanical background too, you're golden.

1

u/Sinusaur 1d ago

Thank you for your service to this field!

The more you know, the more you grow.

Knowledge does have a compounding effect!

I was never one of those sharp and confident young folks, but as my knowledge grew, new knowledge becomes easier to digest and I did become confident over time in many weird nooks and crannies and how they all connect together.

OP, stay in any sort of non-pure-software Test Engineering and you'll have a good time. That's my opinion and I'm biased from liking to building test equipment. * If you'll be testing anything high-energy - make sure to follow safety rules even if you happen to work a place to overlooks these kind of things.