Can a Computer Engineer work as a Communications Engineer?

[u/yaso299]

I unfortunately can't study Communications Engineering at my university, even though it's the field I'm actually interested in. My alternative is Computer Engineering.

If I focused on networks, distributed systems, and neural networks/ML, could I realistically move into wireless communications, cellular networks, or telecommunications later?

I understand that Communications has a different foundation, especially RF, antennas, electromagnetics, signal processing, and communication theory, so I'm not expecting the degrees to be identical.

I just want to know if the gap is realistically bridgeable.

[u/cvu_100]

Sure. A lot of the 6G RAN will use a modeling approach for scheduling, power management etc. rather than classical algorithms. Part of the overall softwarization of the cellular network that 5G started and didn’t finish.

RF/antennas/EM etc. are a bit distant from what you will do if focusing on networks/ML/systems but DSP, comm theory and control systems are not too far away

[u/yaso299 → u/cvu_100]

Thank you! This helped me understand where networks and ML fit into future communications.

[u/cvu_100 → u/yaso299]

It will help to be aware of RF basics like link budgets, path loss, SSI, basic transceiver architecture etc. but nothing that you need to really go out of your way to learn in massive detail

[u/yaso299 → u/cvu_100]

Thanks that was really informative to know!

[u/BoogerInYourSalad]

Yup! Friend of mine took Computer Engineering and works in test engineering for RF. It was the first job she got hired from from uni and just learned on the job. Didn’t even take any RF elective course but in our curriculum we do have some mandatory core ECE courses regardless if you’re ECE, CoE or EE.

[u/yaso299 → u/BoogerInYourSalad]

Thank you! It's really reassuring to hear this from someone who actually works in telecom with a CE degree.

[u/Extension-Currency37]

Of course Wireless algorithms Tdm Stochastic routing protocols Dsp algorithms Fpga ... Many things

[u/yaso299 → u/Extension-Currency37]

Thanks that's really assuring

[u/mcTech42]

My degree is in computer engineering and I am j. The telco field. I design optical transport/DWDM networkd

[u/yaso299 → u/mcTech42]

Thank you! It's really interesting to hear that you design optical transport networks with a CE degree.

[u/Emotional_Fee_9558]

For the highly theoretical stuff like RF and antennas, your unlikely to get hired. There's a lot of stuff in there that you simply don't see in computer engineering. For stuff like comms and signal processing, sure you can.

[u/yaso299 → u/Emotional_Fee_9558]

Thank you! That makes sense, I appreciate the insight.

[u/garibaldi_fan]

Yes. Go get a job at Blue, Leo, K2, etc.

[u/garibaldi_fan → u/garibaldi_fan]

Plenty of Systems Engineers studied ECE in school.

[u/yaso299 → u/garibaldi_fan]

Thanks for your help

[u/OldDude2551]

Take as many of the comms classes as possible then get a MS afterwards.

[u/yaso299 → u/OldDude2551]

Thanks really for recommending those courses