Technical consulting for process engineering software vs. "Conventional" process engineering
Hi everyone,
I’m currently weighing two very different career moves. I’d love to get some perspective from those who have been in either position.
The Options:
Option 1: Senior Process Engineer. Focusing on process design packages (PFDs, P&IDs, equipment sizing, etc.) in energy sector. I consider this as the "conventional" process engineering path.
Option 2: Technical Consulting at a Process Software Company. Moving to a vendor like AspenTech (HYSYS) or AVEVA. This would likely involve technical consulting/sales or product implementation for the industry, very much client facing role.
My main worry with Option 2 is that moving to a software company might mean "leaving" the world of core process engineering. Am I wrong to assume that?
Does it become difficult to move back to design/operations later on? What is the typical pathway after?
For those who have worked for software vendors, how has it impacted your technical growth?
I’d appreciate any insights or experiences you can share.