Huh.

[moominmolly]

IBM has decided to change everyone's titles to fit in with their own title schema. Apparently, my new title is senior staff software engineer. Personally, I think that's a crock, since it implies that I, oh, I don't know, engineer software. Ahhhh, no. I'm a software mechanic. A well-paid bit janitor, perhaps. But an engineer? Flagrant abuse of the word!

Comments

[fishfoo.livejournal.com]

That's okay. Apparently I'm a network engineer. I know nothing about either networking or engineering.

[smerk1116.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I've only been with IBM a few days, so I don't know my title, but following that scheme I must be a Thinkpad Mobility Support Engineer.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

That makes it sound like you fence laptops. :)

[smerk1116.livejournal.com]

hmmm...I could try a remote thinkpad support engineer.

[ectropy.livejournal.com]

It could be worse - you could be engineer, mechanic, and janitor... with the janitor's pay.

Although if I had a job title, I would want it to be Multifunction Software Monkey. :)

[mendel.livejournal.com]

No, think trains -- you don't get to decide where it goes, but if it doesn't get there, it's your ass. See? Engineer!

You need a stripey hat.

toot toot

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I see your point. Hat! Stripes! Stripey hat!

Re: toot toot

[coraline]

that's ADORABLE!

(since i went to MIT, i have the button "now that i'm an engineer, when do i get to drive a train?")

My last semi-official job title was "Evil Genius"

[lightfixer.livejournal.com]

But I was a nice evil genius.
Of course I'm still trying to get paid for that gig. last time I try to take ovext">e world for someone on credit.
:)

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'd been wondering what exactly it is that you do.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

If that cleared it up at all, I'm doing something wrong. Well, no, I guess it would, a bit. At the moment, I'm trying to get paid for reading livejournal, but it's not working out too well.

I make people feel good!

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

If that cleared it up at all, I'm doing something wrong.

Well, ya know, "working at IBM with engineer in the title" eliminates a whole lot of possibilities. So I don't know exactly what you're working on, but you're probably not a cryptanalyst or grad student or translator or necromancer, any of which I could also imagine you doing.

I make people feel good!

Oh, OK. "Phone sex operator."

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

"Phone sex operator."

Got it in one! Phone sex operator for the man.

Engineer?

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

Perhaps this phases you because you went to U of Chicago instead of MIT?

Maybe you can get them to say "scientist" instead.

Have things settled down there enough for them to be doing any hiring?

Re: Engineer?

[ratatosk.livejournal.com]

It's true that MIT people are trained to think of themselves as engineers. On the other hand, my department has actively resisted getting the word "engineer" added to our titles for years now, and a lot of us were from MIT. I'm still a "consultant".

[dnereverri.livejournal.com]

No, see, you're putting the parentheses in the wrong place -- you're a senior ((staff software) engineer). So you're supposed to play with the minds of other staff members.

Which, judging by the cafeteria lady, you seem to be doing pretty well.