r/ElectricalEngineering

Hey guys,

I'm planning on building a nixie clock, but I'm afraid of the lifetime of the tubes. I'm thinking about buying IN-8 tubes, and I found that they usually last 5-10k hours. Which is pretty short imo.

Do you have any tips? Should I choose other types of tubes? Or am I wrong about the lifetime?

Thank you!

I graduated with my Bachelors in EE in December of 2024. For about a year after graduation, I was studying for my NERC RC exam, which I failed with a 66% in September 2025. After taking the exam I applied for 100+ jobs before I was finally hired as a Distribution Technician in March 2026. The Technician job was a contract job that was supposed to last until December 2026, but I was blindsided this past Monday by being let go. Ive applied for 10+ jobs since Tuesday. I see all of these engineering jobs, even entry level ones that require 0 years of experience require experience in all of these CAD software's (AutoCAD 3D electrical, Revit, Microstation, PLSS-CAD, PLSS-Tower, etc). When I look on these CAD companies websites to see how much they cost for a subscription to try and self teach, they cost thousands of dollars to subscribe too. My university never offered any classes that I can think of that taught you how to use the CAD programs. How am I supposed to learn and gain experience with these programs if I can't get an entry level job that is willing to teach me how to use it, or pay a reasonable price for a subscription to try and teach myself? I want to work in the Power industry, but I'm also open to manufacturing engineering (especially for electric vehicles), and engineering jobs in the defense industry. I'm worried going back to school for a masters might be my only option, but I dred the thought of having to go through engineering school again as I was only an average student. Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you!

I've been working on subway lines recently, and the third rail is 600v live. I'm not sure of the amperage but I imagine it's around 1k amps (could be wrong lmk) and I saw a few posts on here with mixed opinions on what would actually happen if I touched it while working around it? Realistically, I would have gloves on and arc flash gear. What would happen if I just grazed it with my hand?.

Hey everyone

I graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering this past August and recently started a full-time engineering role through a rotational program. Since starting, I've realized that the areas I'm most interested in are the hardware side of RF, communications, and also DSP. I took an RF course in undergrad and was exposed to communications and DSP through my senior capstone project, but I don't have much formal coursework in those areas.

Looking back, if I had taken some of my senior-level EE electives before accepting my job offer, I probably would have pursued a different path. My current role is in a different area of EE, and I'm concerned that the longer I stay away from RF/communications, the harder it may be to transition into those fields later.

I've been considering pursuing a part-time research-based M.S. in EE while continuing to work full-time. My employer offers tuition assistance, and I've found several professors whose research aligns closely with my interests in RF, communications, radar, and related areas.

For those working in RF, communications, DSP, or defense:

1. Is an M.S. necessary to break into these fields, or is a B.S. typically sufficient?
2. Would self-study, projects, and work experience be enough to transition, or does a master's significantly improve career opportunities?
3. For those who completed an M.S. in EE, was it worth it? How valuable was a research-based master's if your goal was industry rather than academia?

I'd appreciate any advice from people who have been in a similar situation.