[quote=flyer]This is an interesting thread, but since I’m not in the tech field, (although I received my degree in Aerospace Engineering before becoming a pilot)after reading all of the posts, I was just wondering what the “shelf life” of an engineer, (in all disciplines) is today?

I’ve heard stories that if you don’t make all of your money by at least 50, you’re SOL, and that it’s difficult to find and/or keep a job. Is that true, or just rumor?[/quote]

I’m probably more paranoid than most people….My personal take about tech software in areas like mobile…. that if you haven’t gotten out of pure technical work and moved into senior management, you’re pushing it by the time you hit 40ish… Your shelf life goes quickly down afterwards….

Why? You’re more expensive than your peers, you’re probably less efficient than your peers, and even though you might have experience, people care more about how quickly things get done these days….And since things move rather quickly, you really have to stay on top of your game if you want to stay in business. This rule probably doesn’t apply as much if your work for the government or for the defense business, or if you run your own show and have established your connections…..but for tech companies in cut throat businesses, consider yourself warned….

I work in a cut-throat business… We compete in foreign markets with other foreign players. And frankly, some of the competition are on 7 day work weeks. We’ve been getting by… by employing people in 3-4 locations around the world so we can do roughly 24 hr development… The difference between winners and losers is drastic…. Winning means you probably have job security more/less at the same company most of your life… Losing at a company really means losing the farm….When you’re younger you had the energy and time to hop around…

It’s really funny because it’s really different from other professions like doctors or lawyers. You hear doctors/lawyers practicing in their 60ies…Much less in engineering…

I predict in about 1-3 years, I will probably be set off to greener pastures, whether it’s voluntary or not…But it’s expected…. I chose to remain technical all my career, since it was where my personal comfort and passion was….But it’s a double edge sword when you’re older.