Career / Job opportunities after course completion

Open Discussions
,
1

Hi,
This topic is in addition to the post by @trav “Any Success Stories”.

I have been taking courses on Construct for more than 3 months and really appreciate the way the courses are structured and enjoy the learning process.

Eventually, I aim to convert what I learned from Construct into a paying job (or a startup). Unfortunately, I could not find much information on the forum regarding career opportunities after course completion, hence this post.

The only other places i came across with detail on career in ROS was : ROS Discourse

I would love to hear from members of the community about their journey to securing a job or starting a company as a ROS developer. I would also like to hear your view on the following topics:

  • Is it safe to say the robot technology we should be focusing are the following:

    • Mobile robots (farm robots, defense robots, warehouse and logistics, construction etc)
    • Manipulator (used mainly for pick and place operations)
    • Mobile robots + Manipulators (mobile robots with manipulator attached on top, performing pick and place while traversing)
    • Humanoid (eg Tesla bot, for construction, manual labor)
    • Drones (Ariel and underwater)
    • Industrial robotics

  • Since ROS is the open-source version for robotic software, wouldn’t companies that are already in robotics stick with the software they have rather than shift to ROS or hire ROS developers? (from a point of employment in companies like amazon robotics)

  • For those with Masters in Robotics and Automation or similar masters, Would you recommend doing a master for better prospects in already existing robotic companies, in addition to ROS.

    • Is there a major salary difference between a person with 2yr masters in robotics and automation versus a person who studied ROS online and worked in the ROS sector for 2ys?

    • Can you share what are the content that you learned during your masters, which was a great addition to ROS for robotic projects in general.

    • How much of the content on Construct is similar to the content that would be taught during a master’s program since Construct covers machine learning, AI and almost everything in between.

  • Is it possible to work on small snippets of a larger project from existing ROS companies (to gain experience on real projects), perhaps in the form of competitions.

  • In robotic companies that do not use ROS, on what robotic software do they rely on?

  • In addition to construct courses, what other credentials(Eg: Masters) or skillset would be helpful to enter into a career in Robotics.

  • Is it possible to get hired to work remotely from your country on projects abroad? has anyone had success in working this way?

In case i am not clear on any of the above-mentioned queries, let me know. Thanks in advance.

1 Like
2

Hi! Great Idea to open this post, let me fill it with my own experience an dothers can do the same ;):

Since ROS is the open-source version for robotic software, wouldn’t companies that are already in robotics stick with the software they have rather than shift to ROS or hire ROS developers? (from a point of employment in companies like amazon robotics)

Thats true. But a lot of companies do use a custom version of ROS ( adapted to their machines ) and also a lot of companies are starting to use ROS. So its sure to say that knowing ROS will help you get inside those companies for sure.

Is there a major salary difference between a person with 2yr masters in robotics and automation versus a person who studied ROS online and worked in the ROS sector for 2ys?

Experience in robotics is one of the things more values. Masters are ok but normally dont give the necessary tools to be good in Robotics Jobs. Also having a personal robotics project git portflio is KEY to get hired nowadays, more than Masers.

Can you share what are the content that you learned during your masters, which was a great addition to ROS for robotic projects in general.

In masters, the most important subject to learn are: Programing Skills, Control and AI related topics.

Is it possible to work on small snippets of a larger project from existing ROS companies (to gain experience on real projects), perhaps in the form of competitions.

A lot of companies have OpenSource code that you could improve apon and contribute. A company will always preffer to hire someone that they already know that they work well and are interested on the subject.

In robotic companies that do not use ROS, on what robotic software do they rely on?

It depends on the company an drobot itself. Some companies use moded versions of ROS, others use DDS based systems, others just plain old C++ complex threaded structures. They even use PLCs systems that dont even use high level programming… It depends soo much on the application…

In addition to construct courses, what other credentials(Eg: Masters) or skillset would be helpful to enter into a career in Robotics.

By far Autonomous Driving Skills. There are several courses on that matter in Udemy and coursera.
AI also is key, specially perception based.

Is it possible to get hired to work remotely from your country on projects abroad? has anyone had success in working this way?

For sure! Our company for example works that way. Butnow a days there are many companies that do that also. Its true that 100% remote is quite rare, specially if its a hardware robotics company.

3

@duckfrost2 Thank you for sharing your experience in the field and taking the time to answer all of my queries. This was very insightful and gave me a rough direction to take my robotics career.

@duckfrost2 Can you also share how much of the content on Construct is similar to the content that would be taught during a master’s program since Construct covers machine learning, AI and almost everything in between.

I am also excited to hear from more members on their own career approaches and success stories with ROS.

4

Can you also share how much of the content on Construct is similar to the content that would be taught during a master’s program since Construct covers machine learning, AI and almost everything in between.

I woudl say that Now with the more theoretica courses in AI, its pretty close to what you would get in a Generic Rbotics Masters. Obviously a master of years only of AI will have a lot more content, but not necessaryly better in knowing how to apply it in robotics. I would say that with TheConstruct Courses and some other very specialised AI course Online and some AI basic Books you will be quite prepared to get started.

5

@duckfrost2 , I agree with you. Most of today’s online courses’ content are good enough to compete with University content at fraction of the cost.

Yet, doing a masters abroad makes it easy to get a job in that country, since many companies in countries like Germany only hire students who studied in their Universities.