15+ years experience developing embedded software in C. I have dabbled in other languages and platforms but have no extensive experience other than C. I can design/architect, code, debug, write requirements, etc and I bust my ass and work so much I never found time for learning on my own and I'm starting to feel like wasted half my career and I need a change. On here I see salary and benefits at places like Amazon and Microsoft and I'm amazed at what I'm missing. I currently make 125k base and i think it is pretty decent for the industry but the benefits suck compared to these tech companies. No bonus, stock, etc. I'm not sure what skills and/or languages I need to learn to get in the door somewhere like Microsoft. The interview process is a little intimidating too. I'm prepared to start learning so I can land a better, more satisfying, higher paid job! What should I focus on? Thanks in advance!
Don't go for "start at lower band and work your self up" BS. Take time and solve all leetcode from easy to medium to hard and crack interviews. For design related questions search GitHub and you'll get good repositories with design practice problems. If you are willing to shell some bucks get a subscription of one of those interview cake type websites etc and practice at home. This industry is full of posers, never sell yourself short. Ask more than you should.
Check Amazon PrimeAir for example, maybe your skills can get you a better compensation package and a better starting position than going for entry-level web service software engineering. You can then learn and move inside the company.
Going lower than you are is a risk buy the alternative is waiting 6 to 12 months before you're ready. It seems that OP would like to move sooner than later
There are a lot of former avionics people at Microsoft. Do some research and make contacts. If you're on LinkedIn you probably already know someone who knows someone there...
Your skills would be awesome at many robotics projects at Amazon and you will get a much better pay as well. Ping me privately.
Look at outco They train people too interviews well at companies. There needy thing is tech stack. React and node is so popular but the whole JavaScript ecosystem changes once a year it seems
Learn c#/java and leetcode
@chriggle pick a frame work , too. M settling on JavaScript: react & express probably.
Avionics? C ? You kick 99% of all the asses in the bay . Just apply for some serious position on ML in Google or Ms or Amazon , we all need experienced people on hardware related coding
Agreed 100%. I would kill to hire someone like you. I work in robotics and I can assure you that your worth is far more than $125k. From self-driving car companies to drone startups you can make a killing if what you said is true regarding your skills. If I had a headcount open I would be sending you an onsite invite right now.
There's a lot of online code test portals. You can test and build your skills there. However, your interviewers will look for knowledge about systems and technologies their team works with, so choose teams where the gap is minimal. You can try and learn in your free time but the practical experience is always different from reading about these systems. You could also consider starting at a lower band and accepting you'd be learning while working, if that particular team is OK with it. Your base probably wouldn't go up right away but if you're experienced, you can work your way up much faster than a real fresh hire. It's just the matter of learning the specifics of that technology and systems.