Where do signal engineers go after Undergrad?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the educational and career pathways for signal engineering students, particularly those considering graduate studies. Participants explore topics related to relevant coursework, potential career directions, and areas of knowledge that could enhance their understanding of signal engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to focus on signal engineering and seeks guidance on subjects to study for graduate school.
  • Another participant questions whether the inquiry is about job opportunities or graduate school options.
  • A participant shares their experience at Cisco Systems, noting that many engineers in wireless networking were focused on signal engineering.
  • Some participants emphasize the importance of a solid grounding in communications theory and information theory for future roles in developing 5G communications technology.
  • Questions arise regarding additional courses related to antenna theory and prerequisites for studying information theory.
  • Participants suggest advanced topics such as phased arrays and adaptive array processing as continuations of antenna theory.
  • Discussion includes the importance of understanding various modulation schemes as a foundation for studying information theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of foundational knowledge in communications and information theory, but there are varying opinions on the specific courses and topics that should be pursued. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best path forward for the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the specific career paths available after undergraduate studies, and there are differing views on the relevance of job opportunities versus further academic study.

icesalmon
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I'm going into my sr. year in EE and I want to focus as much as I can on signal engineering for my technical electives(digital filter deisgn, digital signal processing, comm. systems, antenna theory etc.) and I was curious where a path in that field would take me if i decided to go to graduate school in the future? In terms of the types of subjects I could read up on to better familiarize myself with more and more information in that area. What else could I be studying in my free time to learn more about the field? I just want to learn as much as possible
 
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icesalmon said:
I'm going into my sr. year in EE and I want to focus as much as I can on signal engineering for my technical electives(digital filter deisgn, digital signal processing, comm. systems, antenna theory etc.) and I was curious where a path in that field would take me if i decided to go to graduate school in the future? In terms of the types of subjects I could read up on to better familiarize myself with more and more information in that area. What else could I be studying in my free time to learn more about the field? I just want to learn as much as possible
From the title and body of your post, it's not clear to me whether you are asking (1) what jobs are available with an undergrad degree, or (2) which grad schools you should consider, and what specialties in grad school you should consider?
 
When I worked for Cisco Systems in wireless networking, most of the engineers in that part of the company were signal guys. I was the lone physicist.
 
CrysPhys said:
From the title and body of your post, it's not clear to me whether you are asking (1) what jobs are available with an undergrad degree, or (2) which grad schools you should consider, and what specialties in grad school you should consider?

I'm not concerned with jobs, I'm concerned with what i can learn in the field after I've covered all my undergraduate coursework.
 
Dr. Courtney said:
When I worked for Cisco Systems in wireless networking, most of the engineers in that part of the company were signal guys. I was the lone physicist.
more work for you! :biggrin:
 
icesalmon said:
I'm not concerned with jobs, I'm concerned with what i can learn in the field after I've covered all my undergraduate coursework.
(1) Are you planning for a MS or PhD in grad school?

(2) Have you given any thought to your ultimate career (e.g., academic research or industry)?
 
CrysPhys said:
(1) Are you planning for a MS or PhD in grad school?

(2) Have you given any thought to your ultimate career (e.g., academic research or industry)?

1). MS
2). Industry, other than that i haven no clue.
 
Dr. Courtney said:
When I worked for Cisco Systems in wireless networking, most of the engineers in that part of the company were signal guys. I was the lone physicist.
what kinda work did they do?
 
icesalmon said:
what kinda work did they do?

They designed wireless networking equipment.
 
  • #10
If you get a solid grounding in both communications theory and add information theory, you'll be well-placed for a position developing state-of-the-art mm-wave 5G communications equipment, which is just starting to take off now and will be the dominant communications technology for the next couple of decades. Early systems currently being deployed are fairly simple, so you'll enter the field at a time when advanced technologies such as MIMO will be developed. Whether you decide to work on hardware or not, additional courses in microwave electronics and antenna theory would make you even more marketable.
 
  • #11
marcusl said:
If you get a solid grounding in both communications theory and add information theory, you'll be well-placed for a position developing state-of-the-art mm-wave 5G communications equipment, which is just starting to take off now and will be the dominant communications technology for the next couple of decades. Early systems currently being deployed are fairly simple, so you'll enter the field at a time when advanced technologies such as MIMO will be developed. Whether you decide to work on hardware or not, additional courses in microwave electronics and antenna theory would make you even more marketable.
what additional courses, that are continuations of antenna theory, could i look into? and what subjects should i be comfortable with in order to begin a study on information theory?
 
  • #12
Continuation of antenna theory? Maybe phased arrays and adaptive array processing.
For info theory, comms theory is a definite pre-req. Consult your university course catalog for other pre-requisites.
 
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