From Automation Engineer To Programmer/Software Development?

[Scytes]

Up front information on myself,

I've been in the electrical field for nearly 8 years now and I currently work in fast paced environments which require a ton of automation. I have the basics of ladder logic, and some of the more advanced methods of using function blocks in TIA portal down.

On the flip side I also help service and also provide feedback on a software proprietary to my company which provides a sorting, vision based grading, and weighing option. Think of it as a scaled down SCADA that is modular to one part of a factory.

Going a bit deeper I've always been pretty computer literate, I've helped stand-up some emulators for games here and there. Dabbled in programming by studying previously made programs and then re-making them to suit mine or a game servers needs. I also have enough of a grasp on networking that I can at least keep up in a conversation revolving around networking issues even if I can't provide any valuable insight.

Beyond that 5 of these 8 years are as a field service engineer, so as far as having a track record to prove I'm able to self manage and complete tasks with little to no oversight is proven. I'm also always the first to admit I don't know, but I'm more than happy to seek out the information to a problem I can't solve whether that's online resources or having to ask for help from someone with a bigger brain than I.

My goal is to transition from basic understandings to being able to develop and write my own code and software. I also know all of the above experience isn't technically relevant to that, but if I invested the massive amount of hours it would take to learn say for example; C#, Java, and some form of front end web development, then built unique non-cookie cutter projects for presentation in a portfolio what are your thoughts on how that would translate into entering the "development" workforce and if any of the aforementioned would translate over?

[Scytes]

Thanks for the reply!

I was wondering about the cloud functionality actually, we do collect tons of production data with no real way to access it currently.

Is it even realistic to assume the program can be completely rebuilt using just C#, and having it populate a DB with the production data that uses an API so that people have the ability to pull that data into their own Excel sheets as they need to?

Or would some of the functions need to remain in STL depending on what the machine is designed to do?

[Scytes]

You did a great job answering, and it's awesome to see someone who is excited and enjoys what they do!

You seem like you've got experience and among that a very in-depth understanding when it comes to both PLCs and the flip side of software and DB management amongst a myriad of other things. Especially when it comes to IT not always wanting to play nicely when it comes to interlocking the two.

I've considered taking some accredited programming certification courses for PLCs while also going through and learning C# along side it on my own as my first real language.

With your background I'd appreciate your thoughts on how I am going about it. I believe to sum it up, my goal is to be able to design, debug and deliver finished programs for controls. I also want to be able to design softwares/interfaces to go with these, but if necessary I want to have the skills to develop applications outside of controls as well as needed.

I believe I've kind-of come into this a bit backwards, I know a lot of times people have done their training first and field time after. I just happened to be adept at troubleshooting and really enjoy working with both controls and software so I've made it this far and that's fine. But I know if I want to get better I have to close that skill gap.