What defines an engineer? - Job Judging Jeremiad

The Amp Hour · 6 Nov 2013 · 1h 15m · Episode 170

What this episode covers

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the definition of an engineer, contrasting those who perform engineering work with those who merely hold the title, using Ashton Kutcher's role at Lenovo as a case study. They explore the economics of hardware, noting how low-cost consumer devices squeeze out engineering value, while industrial products like those from Agilent or Fluke require extensive testing and reliability. The hosts also share practical advice on debugging, tool selection, and PCB design, such as solder-filling vias to reduce resistance and using simple mechanical tools like solder paste dispensers.

Mentioned

Companies
Lenovo, IBM, Agilent, Fluke, Motorola, Thin Film
Also
EEV blog, Contextual Electronics, embedded.fm, Zombie Tech, Ask an Engineer, Steam Power Podcast, DigiKey, Tandy, Radio Shack, Forrest Mims, Ashton Kutcher, Steve Jobs

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