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Comment by halfmatthalfcat | Hacker News Reader

In the same vein, even I get confused what to call myself when talking to other people.

There's like 5 or 6 different ways to identify my position: programmer, coder, developer, engineer, hacker..."technologist" isn't that big of a reach from them I guess.

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I think of technologist as being a term for anyone who works to develop new technologies, which would include the folks at AMD working on CPU designs, but wouldn't include typical web developers.

Of course, in reality it's a rather fuzzy term.

I've pretty much only heard it ascribed to business analysts/operations, sales, or other non management, non engineering work at tech companies. Or want to work alongside emerging technologies but doesn't have the credentials to do the engineering or management.

I'm not trying to make their work sound less-than, just describing how I've heard the term used. Total anecdata.

Software Engineer seems a pretty safe choice.

See, I feel silly calling myself a "software engineer" - it sounds like "sanitation engineer" or "domestic engineer" to me. I always say programmer or software developer.

Heh, I tend to try and avoid 'programmer' because programming is only one part of the job. It's like calling a carpenter a 'measurer'.

Unless you're talking to an FE/PE from another engineering field. In their mind you're nothing resembling an engineer.

Also, if they are Canadian they might get their goose feathers extra ruffled. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineer#Canada

Not so. In some states, engineer is a protected term.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_engineer#United_State...

edit I may have been mistaken and the word engineer itself may be non-protected, but the term software engineer specifically is protected in Florida:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...

No, "Engineer" (as a proper noun) is protected as a synonym for "professional engineer" (common noun phrase). The common noun "engineer" is not protected in any States.

Texas at least would appear to be different or at least the licensing board would like you to think so. "The terms "engineer" or "professional engineer" can only be used by persons who are currently licensed." [1]

That said, in my experience all manner of technical professionals (and even not so professionals) in Texas do routinely call themselves engineers whether they're supposed to or not.

[1] https://www.engineers.texas.gov/lic.htm

As I mentioned in my edit, software engineer is protected in Florida.

Welp, TIL I cant call myself a software engineer (not that I really did anyway)

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