The Engineer to Executive Translation Layer
https://refactoring.fm/p/the-engineer-executive-translation
#HackerNews #Engineer #to #Executive #Translation #Executive #Leadership #Career #Development #Tech #Insights
Dear Mastodon,
I am a mechanical engineer who is about to make a major #career change. I have received a job offer from an international company for an Application Engineer position. The role involves supporting #CAD (computer-aided design), #PLM (product lifecycle management), and #PDM (product data management) systems and their underlying infrastructure.
As far as I know, most of the applications are #Windows-based, but there are likely some #Unix-like systems involved as well. I do not have formal system administration experience, so I am looking for guidance on which technologies I should focus on to make this transition as smooth as possible. Could you recommend useful books, technologies, or keywords to explore?
For context, I have homelab-level experience with Linux, networking, SSL, reverse proxying, ZFS, Solaris zones, bhyve, and FreeBSD, and I have been using OpenBSD as my desktop operating system for years.
Thank you in advance for any #advice or recommendations.
TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Implementation, configuration, and maintenance of software and systems related to the supported area in line with corporate requirements.
- Installation, configuration, and maintenance of critical software systems, as well as providing expert-level support to end users.
- Management of application-related changes, handling major upgrades, and the introduction and testing of new systems and developments.
- Publishing and testing new releases.
- System administration and monitoring to ensure the performance and proper operation of supported software and systems.
- Troubleshooting and problem resolution, including the management of system updates and fixes.
- Analysis of business requirements and implementation of related processes.
- Support for project management, including the preparation of documentation and reports.
- Communication with clients and business units to maintain synergy between business requirements and system solutions.
dch :flantifa: :flan_hacker:
boosted
Featured Job: FreeBSD Foundation is seeking a Graphics Stack Developer to contribute to its Laptop Support and Usability Project
https://opensourcejobhub.com/job/28636/freebsd-graphics-stack-developer-position/?utm_source=smm
#FreeBSD #developer #graphics #jobs #career #RemoteWork
Featured Job: FreeBSD Foundation is seeking a Graphics Stack Developer to contribute to its Laptop Support and Usability Project
https://opensourcejobhub.com/job/28636/freebsd-graphics-stack-developer-position/?utm_source=smm
#FreeBSD #developer #graphics #jobs #career #RemoteWork
David B. Himself
and 10 others
boosted
Working full time on the Social Web
In January 2026, I will begin working full time in my role as Director at the Social Web Foundation. I am looking forward to the challenge of growing this young non-profit and fulfilling our mission to make a bigger, better Fediverse.
As a refresher: I have been working in the area of federated social networks since starting Identi.ca in 2008. Federated social networks are social platforms that let users on one platform connect to and interact with users on another platform. Linked up with open standard protocols, these platforms together form a Social Web that puts people first.
In 2018, I was a co-author of the ActivityPub standard for social network interoperability. I currently maintain the spec for the W3C and develop extensions for it. In 2024, I wrote ActivityPub: Programming for the Social Web for O’Reilly Media. And I co-founded the Social Web Foundation to further encourage the use of ActivityPub in social networks.
For the last year, I’ve been working nights, lunchtimes and weekends on SWF while holding down my full-time role as Director of Open Technology at the Open Earth Foundation. I love working at OEF; the organization build Open Source software to help cities fight climate change. I have felt very fulfilled in my work there, and I’ve made really strong friendships with the team. It’s been a very special place to work that has changed how I think teams can be.
But over the last year, SWF has had some really amazing opportunities, and in 2026 we’ll be making some big steps forward for the Social Web. I can’t keep doing both jobs, and I feel like, after 4 years at OEF, I’ve done what I can to build up that organization, and I am ready to start on this next one.
It will feel good to have my full attention focused on the Social Web. I’m looking forward to seeing my Open Source friends at FOSDEM 2026 in Brussels at the end of January where I’m helping to organize the Social Web track. I’m speaking at Princeton mid-February, and I’ll be in the Bay Area at the beginning of March. All this time, I’ll be working hard to get the next version of ActivityPub released and to push out several software projects to make the Social Web more fun and interesting.
Thanks to everyone who’s put time, effort and help into the SWF. Thanks to my coworkers at OEF for encouraging me on my next steps in my career. Thanks to my wife and family for tolerating yet another leap into the void.
I hope you have as exciting a New Year as I will.
Working full time on the Social Web
In January 2026, I will begin working full time in my role as Director at the Social Web Foundation. I am looking forward to the challenge of growing this young non-profit and fulfilling our mission to make a bigger, better Fediverse.
As a refresher: I have been working in the area of federated social networks since starting Identi.ca in 2008. Federated social networks are social platforms that let users on one platform connect to and interact with users on another platform. Linked up with open standard protocols, these platforms together form a Social Web that puts people first.
In 2018, I was a co-author of the ActivityPub standard for social network interoperability. I currently maintain the spec for the W3C and develop extensions for it. In 2024, I wrote ActivityPub: Programming for the Social Web for O’Reilly Media. And I co-founded the Social Web Foundation to further encourage the use of ActivityPub in social networks.
For the last year, I’ve been working nights, lunchtimes and weekends on SWF while holding down my full-time role as Director of Open Technology at the Open Earth Foundation. I love working at OEF; the organization build Open Source software to help cities fight climate change. I have felt very fulfilled in my work there, and I’ve made really strong friendships with the team. It’s been a very special place to work that has changed how I think teams can be.
But over the last year, SWF has had some really amazing opportunities, and in 2026 we’ll be making some big steps forward for the Social Web. I can’t keep doing both jobs, and I feel like, after 4 years at OEF, I’ve done what I can to build up that organization, and I am ready to start on this next one.
It will feel good to have my full attention focused on the Social Web. I’m looking forward to seeing my Open Source friends at FOSDEM 2026 in Brussels at the end of January where I’m helping to organize the Social Web track. I’m speaking at Princeton mid-February, and I’ll be in the Bay Area at the beginning of March. All this time, I’ll be working hard to get the next version of ActivityPub released and to push out several software projects to make the Social Web more fun and interesting.
Thanks to everyone who’s put time, effort and help into the SWF. Thanks to my coworkers at OEF for encouraging me on my next steps in my career. Thanks to my wife and family for tolerating yet another leap into the void.
I hope you have as exciting a New Year as I will.
Fox Trenton 🎱
and 2 others
boosted
I asked AI researchers and economists about SWE career strategies given AI
#HackerNews #AI #Career #Strategies #SWE #Future #of #AI #Research #Economics
