Is it true that we do not have much locals picking up jobs as Control Engineers

think_too_much

Master Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2019
Messages
4,041
Reaction score
1,975
Of all the EE/ EEE graduates I've met, I've never met anyone who specialises in control feedback systems and PLC.

In the industries, almost all the control engineers I've met are foreigners.

In my current company, we got four. One Portuguese, one Filipino and two Malaysians.

Is it true that we do not have much Singaporeans who are qualified and willing to take up such a job?
 

Hyruga

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2007
Messages
18,645
Reaction score
3,772
Everywhere is foreigners la.

You may find the pay low but they find it okay and now they dominate the industries.
 

archie7

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
13,523
Reaction score
9,516
depends on who control the job of who are the control engineers
 

WWH123

Arch-Supremacy Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2006
Messages
10,987
Reaction score
1,885
There is a company in Bedok that provides DCS/SCADA systems. Google and easy to know which company I am referring to. All pinoys/pinays. Not a single sinkie.
 
Last edited:

tokong

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2015
Messages
46,085
Reaction score
14,283
Of all the EE/ EEE graduates I've met, I've never met anyone who specialises in control feedback systems and PLC.

In the industries, almost all the control engineers I've met are foreigners.

In my current company, we got four. One Portuguese, one Filipino and two Malaysians.

Is it true that we do not have much Singaporeans who are qualified and willing to take up such a job?
It is very niche. You need to be in a production environment for many years to get a grip on plc and its control on robots, machines and conveyor belts. The pay is not high, about 4.5k, plus the unattractive environment, it always fails to attract youngsters. You can see the reality: got uni grads apply bus driver but no one apply manufacturing. You drive bus at least you can see outside and see people, driving got some form of freedom too. You are not confined to a hectic environment. Production very siong one you know, during production if got machine faulty you have to get it running immediately otherwise they production lead cannot hit their target.
 

cyke69sg

High Supremacy Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2005
Messages
29,305
Reaction score
15,592
It is very niche. You need to be in a production environment for many years to get a grip on plc and its control on robots, machines and conveyor belts. The pay is not high, about 4.5k, plus the unattractive environment, it always fails to attract youngsters. You can see the reality: got uni grads apply bus driver but no one apply manufacturing. You drive bus at least you can see outside and see people, driving got some form of freedom too. You are not confined to a hectic environment. Production very siong one you know, during production if got machine faulty you have to get it running immediately otherwise they production lead cannot hit their target.
4.5k for engineer?
That's damn sad.
 

Zephyr777

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2018
Messages
36
Reaction score
53
Not limited to that. Seemingly any perceived 'difficult and technical' job that starts with lower pay doesn't entice locals. That's a fact. But I can tell you with roughly a decade of experience with a senior eng, payscale grows to close to 10k, with some may exceed that and comes with international opportunities. Being niche comes with demand thus stability. Locals are just more drawn to quick money and titles such as PM, scrum master, administrative, sales, account manager, 'analyst', 'manager-titled', rando stuffs like that and when they hit 30's when you realise their skillset is generic and not niche-ly deep. Seen like >80% pivot out from eng during their early years, and now all ended up in random not-so-high-value jobs which otherwise FT had to be filled in. And mind you such jobs require YEARS and YEARS of experience and knowledge built-up which skillsfuture bootcamp does f all to bridge these gap. Being a proper full fledge eng is not akin to many other fields where you work only 1-3 years and slap yourself a glorified 'project manager' title. at least in my field the PM's come with 20years exp minimum and that draws close to 20k and yes difficult to hire; and whom all started from scratch with measly 2-3k. How many locals can slog through/durable in the mind before ending up as FA, property, own business, etc. mid way?
 

dreamcast18

Master Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2016
Messages
3,305
Reaction score
3,129
control systems and comms systems are very difficult classes back in college i recall - only took them cuz core classes; only matched in complexity by my VLSI design class.

in US....electrical/electronic engineers get the highest fresh grad pay.
 

ninjaghost

Supremacy Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
9,295
Reaction score
3,717
what is the base pay for uni fresh grad?
when they recruit these engineers, are they have few yrs working experience in their origin country? how much your coy pay them?

If you can truly reply above, then you got the answer when you consider the median pay of fresh grad that reported in news.
 
Important Forum Advisory Note
This forum is moderated by volunteer moderators who will react only to members' feedback on posts. Moderators are not employees or representatives of HWZ. Forum members and moderators are responsible for their own posts.

Please refer to our Community Guidelines and Standards, Terms of Service and Member T&Cs for more information.
Top