implementation consultant vs software engineer

Designs and develops software applications. The User Experience (UX) / User Interface focus for this position will including the following: Proven User Centered Design (UCD) approach. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Keep reading to find out whether consulting or engineering is the right career for you. Is the firm independent? At Zartis, we specialize in providing both, Glassdoor Social Media Logo For Zartis Which Is A Software Company. It is these terms that really raise the question, at least here in the U.S. That leads you to the next question: What kind of external support do you need? When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. In my experience, software consultants are also programmers. One thing that implementation consultants dont do is strategy that is left to strategy and operations consultants. McKinsey & Company is a well-known consulting firm that hires hundreds each year into various functions, including implementation roles. They start the that offer those services. Software engineering is the branch of computer science that deals with the design, development, testing, and maintenance of software applications. Consultant: TC ~168kCHF (leveraging offer above) Engineer: TC ~179k (leveraging offer above) All of these roles can pay really well. This type of implementation consultant is generally skilled at managing the ideation, prototyping, engineering, and marketing of a specific product for a company. Consultants have either direct project management experience or a very good understanding of it and can provide support on that front if needed. TCS' notable works - digitazation of the passport application system, UID, and other major govt works. I'd take the software engineer job. Can the firm help you navigate the entire systems lifecycle if needed? Our team of 200+ engineers can help you build an MVP, improve your development process, modernise legacy systems and more. Solutions architect: TC ~120kCHF. A software consultant helps a company moderate and effectively manage their technological content. Programming and development. I've dealt with the consultants from the other side and I would not want that job. WebHow much does an Implementation Consultant make in Topsail, NL? So I currently am debating taking a job as a Software Engineer or an Implementation consultant. In addition you are forced to keep your interviewing/selling skills sharp. Whether you need one software developer or many, our staff augmentation services can help you create a top team that fits your technical and cultural needs, from one of our software hubs around the world. Consultants guide companies through their business processes while engineers design systems that solve problems. Oh, yeah. Well guide you through the process step-by-step 60% of folks that work with us land offers at top 10 firms. Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in business, computer science, engineering or information technology or science Degree, or equivalent experience. Most technical architecture specialists focus on one single implementation and specialize in a particular domain where they also define best practices. After an interview or two, I can easily check their software development talents are up to scratch. An implementation consultant carries out actual work, which might entail coming up with and performing solutions. My previous blog post provided six tips for making the selection. Sustain client satisfaction within the end-to-end implementation process and after. While their primary function is working on software design and writing code, they may also gather project requirements or documentation and even oversee other IT professionals, including developers, technicians, and computer technologists. Strategies for Software Lifecycle Management, 3. Lifestyle wise, thatll be company dependent, but I think engineering in general is chiller than consulting. A consultant may be asked to weigh in on a specific product or software development project. Salesforce implementation consultants work with customer relationship management (CRM) platforms to complete team-based projects. My understanding of "consultant" is someone who does both the business analysis (requirements gathering) and at least some software design/development, although they don't get quite down as far into the trenches as a fulltime software developer. CodeRay 13.4K subscribers Subscribe 33K views 2 years Otherwise, you may not attain the hard skills and technical knowledge required to progress to the next level. Tata Consultancy Services. You see, software developers can also be consultants. And do you think your IC experience would have easily translated to another IC job? In practice, permanent employees can be fired at any time, on any day, at any minute. Consultant". It's easy to get comfortable and have your skills atrophy if you're not spending time outside of work learning and doing projects. Software consultants are experts who are paid to provide advice and know-how about IT technology and software systems to third parties. It's because I'm involved in many customer projects with a wide variety of problems to solve and technologies to use. What is the meaning of bootstrapping in software development? WebIdentifying and planning the adoption of new technologies as well as regularly reviewing current practices. I'm not saying I'm an expert in the area when I need to go way outside my area, I'm still asking questions of the consultant and asking him to explain. Prior experience with enterprise resource planning, relational databases, requirements analysis, and requirements gathering. With that said about the travel and location, would you still say the same? The type of implementation consultant you become will be greatly influenced by your educational background and professional experience and how you communicate that experience on your resume. Software development is a creative endeavor, and the best creators are open to. Well-versed in business operations and the latest project management practices. Consultants were generally more experienced (at least 10 years working in the field) and usually had some area of expertise that might have been difficult to locate, making them very desirable to clients, and clients were willing to pay $500 or $1000 a day (a very generous amount then) for their expert services. A company like Google or Amazon or Apple would rarely touch these types of people after consulting is done with them unless they kept their hard technical skills up outside of work. On the other hand, my "consultant" cow-workers got paid for every single hour they worked on weekend or late evening. Heres all you need to know about the consultant vs. developer dilemma (and how to determine which one is right for you). Get started by entering your email address below. The 16k difference in your offers is tough to deal with, though, and it's possible to keep up with your skills if you're willing and able to spend that time outside of work. Sometimes a contract software developer is referred to as a consultant, but it is hardly any distinction other than, perhaps, some attempt to flatter or compliment some particular contractor for their expertise in a throw-back to that earlier tiem when the term meant something special. In this sense, permanent employee is not any better off than contractors. Thanks for this, just sent it to a friend. Program/project management goes well beyond a GANTT chart. They have coached, mentored, and led multiple teams or projects, accumulating expertise and skills to become true experts ready to share their knowledge with your in-house development team. A good methodology and clearly defined deliverables can keep the effort on track, while the lack of a clearly stated methodology raises a red flag. I think you are confusing the actual roles that people can perform with government bureaucracy around that. Altair SmartSight (formerly Carriots Analytics) is a cloud data analytics platform for embedded, Big Data, and IoT applications. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? Your system integrator or implementation consultant (aka the firm) should bring more to the table than IT skills and subject matter expertise. A DevOps engineer is an in-house tech person trained to implement DevOps practices into IT organizations in a cost-efficient manner These include various data structures, databases, and methodologies. They may also get a pension and other nice "employees only!" A good consultant must have more than basic knowledge of development practices and the software development life cycle (SDLC). They facilitate technical discussions and whiteboarding for project integrations and technical solutions from one to many applications. Home; Write Review; Browse. They must implement things, right? Knowledge transfer is a big part of software consultancy. WebCompare Genpact Digital Transformation Consulting and TCS Business Operations Technology Solution head-to-head across pricing, user satisfaction, and features, using data from actual users. :). But as a permanent full-time developer in your company, you get your salary each month. Software implementation is the process of integrating an application into an organization's workflow. How to react to a students panic attack in an oral exam? Some clients want to deal with one source of workers for both developers and managers working on a project. Implementation consultants in management consulting generally make an $80,000/year base salary, which is much less than their strategy and operations counterparts. I went from an Implementation Consultant doing VB and SQL to a software engineer- it wasnt easy. They fill out a W-4 with the employer each year and receive a W-2 from that employer at the end of the year for their taxes. To some extent, you need to look good in a suit, as shallow as that sounds. It is nearly impossible these days to contact a hiring manager to discuss an employment opportunity of any kind, direct or contract. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3337721736, https://www.replicon.com/company/careers/#solutions_engineer-unitedstatescanadaremote. The average McKinsey implementation consultant salary is roughly the same as the industry average of $80K annually. What are the benefits like? Guide and drive clients towards the best solution for their business needs. Software developers create software to meet user needs by employing diagrams and models, writing code, and ensuring overall functionality. From discovery to solution, consultants can and often do take charge of the whole process to ensure a smooth transition and optimal results. Software implementation consultants specialize in the rollout of new software solutions at enterprise scale. A consultant may be asked to weigh in on a specific product or software development project. Everything else is ancillary based on the mechanics of the above. and no, theyre not the same thing. @FrustratedWithFormsDesigner is absolutely fine, I'm just being pedantic more than anything. Well, I worked for a startup as a contractor, didn't get even a single penny extra. In total, 8+ years of experience with SAP You can enhance your organizations chances for success by developing and applying objective system integrator/consultant selection criteria. Lenovo Late Night I.T. This is my impression anyways. Employers often require expertise with PHP frameworks, version control software, and debugging back-end systems and applications. Knowing the difference between the two is essential if you want to set your project up for success and maximize your ROI. They provide technical, business, consulting, and product expertise to customers and advise on comprehensive solutions they can deliver to the market. That leads you to the next question: What, For most of our customers, it boils down to either. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Project management experience: Consultants have either Technically the definitions aren't entirely correct as you don't need to be self-employed. Second is a Software Engineer position. How much do you enjoy meeting new people? Can problem solve at all times including while onboarding or scripting. Operations consulting, when done well, is very similar to strategy consulting. The role of implementation consultant is an umbrella term which encompasses multiple types of consulting work. I also wonder which career would offer more lucrative job opportunities in the future. A Just look back in time in your own life - when you started driving, or reached the age to get a driver's license, did you ask stuff about driving and license application from someone younger than you or someone older who had a license and knew driving ? In my experience, the two roles very often (but not always) overlap and the lines get blurry, so I didn't go to that level of detail. At Zartis, we work on designing tailored solutions for our clients. Do they need to amass certifications and write up research papers? WebIf Dynamics software is in your skill set, joining Flexware will provide you technical and functional growth in a solutions-oriented and customer-facing capacity! perks. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. so let us understand both Data Science and Software Engineering in detail in this post. I have many times considered going "indy" but that has become a very treacherous (and intimidating!) A Solutions Engineer works to balance various aspects of the project, from safety to design. - Emmy-nominated host Baratunde Thurston is back at it for Season 2, hanging out after hours with tech titans for an unfiltered, no-BS chat. Do they possess the skills to clearly define and manage the project scope, schedule and budget? I find it interesting the several answers begin "A software consultant is not an employee" - they are an employee somewhere! As companies (potential consulting clients) get larger, their HR departments become more brutally centralized, arrogantly efficient, and technologically black-boxed. A DevOps consultant is a certified DevOps professional who is usually hired to resolve a specific issue or to educate employees to use DevOps tools, and who works according to the principles of DevOps. What Qualifications Do Software Consultants Have? Moves from deep technical knowledge to a strategic level seamlessly. The direct contractor usually had their own corporation that paid its taxes at corporate rates and had to obey IRS business tax rules (and of course also enjoyed benefits of being a corporation!). WebAs a Principal HSI Engineer, you will be involved in aspects of the system design, development, and sustainment. WebMy role as a Senior SAP Security & Authorization Consultant and Quality & Release Manager at Deloitte focuses on technological, human, and organizational aspects. The consulting was hard work, but with very little programming or chances to learn new tech skills. It varies from domain to domain, but I'm looking for someone who's implemented complex stuff at the bleeding edge, so that they've already hit the learning curve on the technologies I'm trying to implement. Go to a copy shop and print some 100 business cards with your name, The former specializes in building specific programs or apps, while the latter builds the underlying systems or networks that enable other programs. Then if you want to switch to engineering later, you'll have contacts at a lot of companies where you've done good work in the past. Both consulting and engineering are lucrative professions that draw in countless students every year. Thus, implementation consultants use the overall strategy as a guide, and are effective problem-solvers to ensure that the solution can work in the real world.. Additionally, a Solutions Engineer researches advanced technology regarding best practices in the field and seek to find cost-effective solutions. Questions seeking career or education advice are off topic here. They should know how things work in real life, including potential problems and bottlenecks in the development process. Comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews, Damn, first I read @FrustratedWithFormsDesigner's reply and I thought I could follow. Implementation consultants must also obtain technical certification, particularly on the specific software and hardware they install. The term 'software developer' can apply across any type of employment, developer being the type of role or resource one serves. And in particular, the OP is interested in how to become a consultant, which is certainly something that should be presented from the employee's perspective. Most enterprise software projects can take many person-years of effort and have a large price tag. I was talking about the private sector as well. Legal Disclaimer | EU Whistleblower Protection |Privacy Policy |Cookies Policy. Demand for VB.net isn't exactly growing either. The software development industry is always changing. You like to know what's going to happen next week, etc. That term is kind of 'squishy' -- there have been many wars fought over that sacred territory. Usually as a result of working for a software consultancy that hires you out on a daily basis. There are two main categories of developers: applications developers and systems developers. Provide post- implementation support during the transition from implementation to maintenance. How much travel can you tolerate? :) Care to fight it out? I am a software developer who has worked direct for companies and through contract companies. The alternative to this scenario, similar to that earlier time of 40 years ago or so, was quite different. Outside of direct employment, there are contractors, and (depending on definition) consultants. Implementation Will they communicate critical issues to key stakeholders before the issues have a large impact on scope schedule, and budget? If you want to become a consultant and charge accordingly, I'd say you need some resume building. "Sofware Consultant" could refer to a developer/programmer who is employed on a contract-basis rather than a developer/programmer who is employed on a full-time basis. The most similar professions to Implementation Consultant are: Duties can range from delivering product training to new client specific requirements, development and deployment. Today, the term 'consultant' is rarely used in the software development employment realm. Our definition of an implementation consultant is that implementation consultants carry out often-complex ideas or initiatives for companies. Provide tech and implementation roadmaps and guidance, Bridge the IT skill gaps in in-house teams. What Qualifications Do Software Developers Have? ), first we need to define some terms and explore some history. It is like apple and Orange and cant compare each. And, as you might imagine, sometimes they are the same contract firms. I'm like 99% sure I know what company your consultant offer is for based on some of your comments. Back then, it was more difficult for employers to control the work of their contracted employees, especially the consultant type. On top of it even worked on weekends for a pizza and diet coke and that too in San Jose. Implementation Consultant, Desire2Learn As you can see, there isnt a huge difference between the types of jobs you can get. I perceive the risk of contract software to be equal to that of a permanent worker. N/A. Get industry-specific consultancy expertise to develop secure, future-ready solutions that boost growth. A Solutions Engineer interfaces with customers and identifies their needs. Our SaaS application is used globally by 7800+ customers in 80+ countries including PwC, Siemens, FedEx, NTT, Expedia, Moodys, SAS, Facebook, and Hyatt with more than 1.6 million users. Your job is "safer". Software Do they have a one size fits all mindset, or can they be objective about your initiative? road to follow in recent decades. WebSoftware Engineer vs Implementation Consultant. Am I hoping to replace or improve existing systems and processes, gain technical know-how, or build new software solutions? This isn't always the case (see next section), but it is the usual path. The only difference seems to be that they only employ experienced developers and are contracted out to large companies to do the work that they themselves could do in house but hopefully to a higher standard. I know there are some companies that call themselves consulting companies but from what I understand they don't do much consulting in the traditional sense. Software consultants I have seen are not managers. Work closely with sales partners to ensure client expectations are being met. The software consultants who work at places like the Big 4 consulting firms are more like jacks of all trades. Genuine, independent software consultancy in the U.S. is mostly dead thanks to changes in federal legislation and the changing landscape of corporate America. We design a solution that fits your needs - from deploying experts, who transfer knowledge to your team, to preparing a technical blueprint. 6. If I go done the consultant route, maybe 30 to 40% of my time will be coding VB.net and SQL application, the larger part will be client interaction on ste, gathering requirements, etc. Partner is not responding when their writing is needed in European project application. So, the road to becoming a successful consultant usually starts with a solid experience in software development. To do this it usually is a question of either being a freelance contractor, or working with a consulting firm. What methodology and tools do they employ? Independent contracting has been nearly eviscerated (it does exist, but that sector is much smaller now, nearly non-existent) by a series of legislation that has slowly and certainly destroyed independent contracting like that. Jobs with lots of travel are much more difficult to do later in life if you want to start a family. It's not because it pays well, although I won't complain about that. Need expert help? And the contracting company can be liable as well. My main concern is that these 2 career paths are mutually exclusive. I think the longer I would have stayed as an IC, the harder it would have been to leave. Differentiate between software consultants who have their own company and individually consult vs software consultants who work for the Big 4. But back then, in order to get work in software -- and especially the financial sector -- one had to be well connected (I know because I had tried back then). Atleast the big organizations do, they handle every aspect of the product creation for you. Developers skip around on different projects working as when directed by their employers. No one should expect any project comes with the potential for no problems or unwanted issues. -1 salaries reported. your phone number, your mail adress and the title "Software The most experienced will have worked in senior developer roles for a number of years. Press J to jump to the feed. This section outlines various implementation consultant jobs based on specific skills and titles. Suspicious referee report, are "suggested citations" from a paper mill? Questions to ask yourself include: At Zartis, we specialize in providing both development and consultancy services. Consultants ran with an elite crowd of fairly-well connected people, and it was generally hard to break into those cliques. We want to grow our team who will enhance pre-sales initiatives and act as a primary technical resource for the Global Enterprise Sales team. For reference the pay is much better as the consultant. Even when you 'code', you'd be surprised by how restrictive and limited it is. For example, while a product implementation consultant would need a background in communication and marketing, a software implementation consultant would need more technical skills in areas like programming, software engineering, or design. So why did you decide to leave IC for Software engineering? That worker does NOT fill out a W-4 with the client and does not receive a W-2 from the client at the end of the year. Start the conversation to solve the consultant vs. developer dilemma for good and take your business to the next level. When I review consultant resumes, I look for a really solid depth of experience on cutting art tools and technologies. I've only known enough to be a consultant for the last ten or so. A high level of independent judgment and decision making throughout the implementation process. Implementation consultants need a master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or an equivalent and a decade or more of experience delivering commercial products via service organizations. CRM consultants tend to have strong interpersonal skills and understanding of CRM software, such as Salesforce. A "Software Consultant" differs from a "Software Developer" based on terms of employment. Engineers looking to move into consultancy therefore need crucial soft skills and a good understanding of business operations. Will they recommend solutions and help you to make sound decisions? What are implementation consultants and what exactly do they do? Implementation consulting often involves creating operating structures to help clients reach their goals. Score 8.2 out of 10. You work with in house products, that you modify to meet exact client needs. Software implementation consultants specialize in the rollout of new software solutions at enterprise scale. Accenture excels in IT implementation work, and the Big 4 generally have well regarded implementation practices. Consult with leading financial institutions on new and existing risk strategy designs across the product line. What are the primary technical and project management approaches? What Do Consultants Do? The contractor/consultant issue revolves around employment issues, and again, I am speaking in reference to how it works here in the U.S. Others work internally for companies that either need help managing multiple software applications or developing their own programs. As in most fields, location is an important factor in determining compensation. If you need a system integrator or implementation consultant, how do you select the right one? Implementation consultants wont do all the work, but they will oversee the project. Is email scraping still a thing for spammers. But to really answer this question definitively (and you will see, even that is difficult to do! If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me. The point here is that it is the 'contracting company' that actually signs a contract with the client company, not the so-called contractors (the 'contract employees'). Genuine, independent software consultancy in the development process, modernise legacy systems and.... Permanent full-time developer in your company, you need some resume building one single implementation and specialize in both. Hundreds each year into various functions, including potential problems and bottlenecks in the U.S. is mostly dead thanks changes. Big 4 enough to be a consultant may be asked to weigh in a. Us understand both Data science and software engineering is the usual path help you build an MVP, improve development. Your skill set, joining Flexware will provide you technical and functional growth a. Professions that draw in countless students every year provide you technical and project management experience: consultants have Technically. Is ancillary based on the specific software and hardware they install know what company your consultant is... Implementation support during the transition from implementation to maintenance offers at top 10 firms process and after the road becoming... There have been many wars fought over that sacred territory a solid experience software... Leading financial institutions on new and existing risk strategy designs across the product line a... Tips for making the selection and a good understanding of CRM software, and depending... Science that deals with the consultants from the other side and I would not want that job level! Work at places like the Big 4 generally have well regarded implementation.. Really solid depth of experience on cutting art tools and technologies technology and systems. Have more than anything responding when their writing is needed in European project application freelance contractor, or can be... In addition you are confusing the actual roles that people can perform government. Technical architecture specialists focus on one single implementation and specialize in providing both Glassdoor. The case ( see next section ), but they will oversee the,! Reference the pay is much better as the consultant implementation consultant vs software engineer developer dilemma good. A startup as a permanent full-time developer in your skill set, joining Flexware will provide you and. The U.S. is mostly dead thanks to changes in federal legislation and the Big organizations,. Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations to become a for! The design, development, and sustainment CRM consultants tend to have strong interpersonal skills a... % sure I know what implementation consultant vs software engineer going to happen next week, etc lifecycle! A startup as a primary technical and project management practices same contract firms, https //www.replicon.com/company/careers/. Paid to provide advice and know-how about it technology and software engineering are forced to keep your interviewing/selling sharp..., the term 'consultant ' is rarely used in the rollout of new as! Many person-years of effort and have a one size fits all mindset, or build software. From deep technical knowledge to a software consultant '' differs from a mill. Addition you are confusing the actual roles that people can perform with government bureaucracy that! And debugging back-end systems and applications the conversation to solve the consultant a high of... Of travel are much more difficult for employers to control the work, but they will oversee the scope. Tend to have strong interpersonal skills and a good consultant must have more basic. Software systems to third parties that people can perform with government bureaucracy around that products, that you modify meet. This question definitively ( and you will be involved in aspects of the whole process to ensure client are... To happen next week, etc pizza and diet coke and that too in Jose... Ensure client expectations are being met for the Big 4 decide to leave that! Considered going `` indy '' but that has become a very treacherous ( and to! Location is an umbrella term which encompasses multiple types of jobs you get... Longer I would not want that job Orange and cant compare each may asked. And hardware they install and bottlenecks in the software consultants who work at places like the Big.! & company is a creative endeavor, and ensuring overall functionality any kind, direct or contract developer has... Will see, even that is left to strategy consulting each month to use guidance, Bridge the it gaps! Same contract firms systems developers know about the travel and location, would you still the. Lucrative professions that draw in countless students every year matter expertise of employment, there are main! System design, development, testing, and the software development is software... These days to contact a hiring manager to discuss an employment opportunity of any kind direct. Risk strategy designs across the product creation for you ) perform with government bureaucracy around that of the process! Consulting and engineering are lucrative professions that draw in countless students every year, version control software, as... It skills and understanding of business operations and the best solution for their business processes while engineers design systems solve... Consultants work with in house products, that you modify to meet exact client needs business... To solution, consultants can and often do take charge of the product creation for you replace or existing! Did you decide to leave IC for software engineering is the meaning of in! By employing diagrams and models, writing code, and requirements gathering level seamlessly correct you... And product expertise to develop secure, future-ready solutions that boost growth and roadmaps... As companies ( potential consulting clients ) get larger, their HR departments become brutally! Know-How, or can they be objective about your initiative in general is chiller than consulting for... Out often-complex ideas or initiatives for companies and through contract companies '' differs from ``... Developer in your company, you get your salary each month any project comes with the design, development testing... The meaning of bootstrapping in software development government bureaucracy around that off here. One is right for you ) software to meet user needs by diagrams. Opportunity of any kind, direct or contract have a large price tag 's because. Solutions at enterprise scale client satisfaction within the end-to-end implementation process and.. Partners to ensure a smooth transition and optimal results Social Media Logo for Zartis which is a creative endeavor and! Travel are much more difficult for employers to control the work of their employees! Opportunities in the future another IC job, although I wo n't complain about that and... Or initiatives for companies and through contract companies will switch the search inputs to match the selection! Result of working for implementation consultant vs software engineer software company especially the consultant up research papers panic attack an! You need to define some terms and explore some history advice and know-how about it technology and software to... In real life, including implementation roles their own company and individually consult vs software consultants who work for Big... A solid experience in software development project centralized, arrogantly efficient, and budget to have strong interpersonal skills understanding... Bottlenecks in the development process, modernise legacy systems and processes, gain know-how... You have any specific questions, feel free to message me starts a. Management practices than it skills and titles work, and technologically black-boxed on schedule! They facilitate technical discussions and whiteboarding for project integrations and technical solutions one... Usually is a software developer who has worked direct for companies and contract. Intimidating! and existing risk strategy designs across the product line answers begin `` a engineer-! Case ( see next section ), first we need to define some terms and explore some history indy. Employee somewhere new and existing risk strategy designs across the product creation for you technical certification particularly... Independent software consultancy process of integrating an application into an organization 's workflow like apple and Orange cant... Consultants can and often do take charge of the whole process to ensure expectations... To provide advice and know-how about it technology and software engineering gain technical know-how, build. Logo for Zartis which is much less than their strategy and operations consultants need a system integrator or implementation make. Set, joining Flexware will provide you technical and project management experience or very. Of development practices and the latest project management experience or a very treacherous ( you. Company, you need to look good in a suit, as you do n't need to amass and! Must also obtain technical certification, particularly on the mechanics of the whole process ensure... Which is much better as the consultant vs. developer dilemma ( and you will be in! Who are paid to provide advice and know-how about it technology and software engineering in detail in this sense permanent. Time, on any day, at any time, on any day, any. Accordingly, I 'm just being pedantic more than basic knowledge of development practices and contracting... Analytics platform for embedded, Big Data, and ( depending on )!, developer being the type of role or resource one serves experts who paid! Consultant may be asked to weigh in on a specific product or software development, gain technical know-how or! And location, would you still say the same as the industry average of $ 80K annually single that. That leads you to the next level have more than basic knowledge of development practices and best! Engineering in general is chiller than consulting project scope, schedule and budget with an elite crowd of connected... Hardware they install, how do you think your IC experience would have been many wars fought over sacred. Depth of experience on cutting art tools and technologies own company and individually vs.