Re: A few Questions about Obtaining Design Help.

On Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:06:19 -0800, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:52:12 GMT, Eric Tappert
<e.tappert.spamnot@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:03:27 -0500, "Patrick Keenan" <test@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Hello All,

I'm working on a small project and I find myself thinking that it would be
prudent to engage the services of a person with a very good grasp of op-amps
in an audio context, plus with op-amp/microcontroller interfaces - perhaps
an engineer or a competent engineering student.

The task is, from the research I've done so far, very simple. It would
involve some design based on existing parameters, and a small amount of
construction, with explanations of the process, possibly a little bit of
small board design.

I could spend waaaay too much time researching and learning and pestering
people here, or I could just hire someone to get the job done and tell me
how it works, and I can move ahead to the next parts. At this time, I would
see this as an occasional contract position.

So, here are my few questions:

How do I go about finding such a person? Where do I look, do I advertise?

How are they paid - naturally in untraceable internationally negotiable
funds - but on what basis? Hourly? Is there an average rate?

What would I look to avoid?

There do happen to be a number of major universities in my area, if that
proves to be a source of candidates.

Any comments appreciated, and if I need to rephrase the question, I'll do
so.

Thanks to all.
Patrick Keenan

Avoid anybody who doesn't have the required licenses to do the work.
You are asking for engineering work and, at least in the USA, that
requires a state issued professional engineering license. Any
disagreements that may arise that lead to litigation can run into
serious problems if the other party doesn't have the proper license.

I suspect the same kind of rules apply in other than USA
jurisdictions.

Some states require a PE license to advertise yourself as a consulting
engineer. It's not strongly enforced.

Most PEs are civil or architectural or chemical engineers. EEs, and
especially circuit designers, are much less likely to be PEs.


Contrary to popular belief, calling oneself a "consultant" doesn't
eliminate the licensing requirement for engineering work.

In fact, calling yourself a consulting engineer is what *requires* a
PE license in some states.


Also, contrary to popular belief, there are electronic engineers who
have the proper licenses and are available for such work.

Yes, but you'll be severly restricting the available pool if you
insist on it.


And finally, I trust the backlash of irate folks who think the
licensing requirement is BS and are more than willing to break the law
is miinimal...

Irate? No. Just indifferent. We sell critical stuff into the biggest
scientific and aerospace projects on the planet, and nobody has *ever*
mentioned PE status to me.


John


My next door neighbor at the time I got my P.E. was an undegreed
architect.

He told the state too shove it, and to come and get him if they
thought they could make it stick. Arizona State Board of technical
Registration left him completely alone.

And he even designed two story commercial buildings ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine Sometimes I even put it in the food
.

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