As some of you may recall, I posted a job opportunity about a month ago (repeated below). Among other things I'm surprisingly disappointed in the type of applicants it's been attracting. Absolutely none of them are even close to what I expected when I wrote this description. I'm hoping that the list can give me a few thoughts about what's wrong with it and how to fix it. It's attracted many competent "consultant" types that want to work remotely, but due to various corporate concerns this is an absolute non starter. That seems strait forward to correct, a blurb about "Full time, in office position. Relocation to Tucson, AZ required" should help. It's attracted a surprising number of PhDs with zero practical experience at this level. Thesis work in optimizing an image processing algorithm within Linux on ARM9 hardware is not relevant here. And because they have a PhD they want 2-3 times our planned pay structure. Not sure how to fix that. The other group is complete script kiddies that think because they once clicked the "view/source" option on their browser and can identify at least two html tags that qualifies them for an embedded programming job. They're easy enough to toss in the round file but it's another symptom that I've wrote this ad incorrectly. So, what I actually need... I've built the hardware. I've wrote some crude software so we could support a couple demos and trade shows. It works, but I'm under no illusions that it's _good_. The system is primarily a handheld user interface linked by CAN to a 1kW brushless motor and an application specific end effector. All based on dsPICs. The user interface and motor component will be common, but as the product develops we will end up with literally hundreds of different end effectors and even end users with the same end effector will likely need slight parameter changes. Many of these end effectors will be for applications we can't even guess at right now. I need somebody who will be in my Tucson, AZ office full time. Myself or others that better understand the mechanics of the customer equipment this system operates will be available to help define each application, but I need a "code monkey" to actually crank out the details. I don't really care about age, education or "formal" experience. I want somebody who can actually do this task with a minimum of hand holding. I'd much rather have a green kid that actually built an interface to his TI calculator in high school than the above mentioned PhD. So, what did I do wrong with the ad copy below? -Denny JOB DESCRIPTION Responsibilities include firmware development and design, (start to finish), of assigned product project. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE * B.S. in Computer Science, Engineering or other closely related fields * 2+ years experience as a software engineer within a manufacturing environment * Experience working with embedded C programming, low level control processing, (Interrupts, Timers, Digital I/O, ADC), serial communication protocols (CAN, I2C, RS232, SPI) * Experience in application development (C++ or Java) and SDKs (Visual studio/GNU) * Expertise in mechatronics * Expertise on Microchip DSPic and other microcontrollers * Expertise in closed-loop control systems * Excellent communication skills, (written, and verbal) * Strong attention to details, highly organized * Ability to work well in a fast-paced professional office environment As an industry leader, we are committed to maintaining the outstanding level of quality services our customers expect. We strive to continually provide Service, Support, and Solutions to our customers. Our customers are our most important asset, and our employees are essential in maintaining that asset. We are currently seeking quality individuals who desire to achieve a professional and rewarding career opportunity. We offer top industry salaries, and a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, an IRA program with employer match, tuition reimbursement, and much more! --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .