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Hypocrisy of Indians
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Principal Software Engineer TC~300K at Microsoft vs 600K at Meta. Is 300k pretty low for Principal scope?
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PM is irrelevant role and will die in next 2-3 years.
I’m an ASIC engineer. YOE: 6 TC 300K. Decent WLB. Not much growth opportunities further or Atleast I don’t see it. All experience at Apple. I like my current work but I feel like in 5 years, I’ll be bored of it. Feel like it is very repetitive. I enjoy breadth in work as opposed to depth. Looking at following options: 1. Try for HW Product manager 2. Try for HW program manager 3. Try SWE/ML - I have background but I can’t get myself to leetcode. I feel like I might get bored in a few years just coding as well. 4. Continue current role. Grass is greener on the other side. Don’t rock the boat. 5. Switch companies in ASIC Other factors : I’m on H1B. Looking to the community for some guidance. Multiple options allowed. #hardware #asic #swe #ai #pm
Please provide your thoughts in comments too.
Most likely switch to sw won’t get you to higher tc. And think about the bar of entry for sw is substantially lower. By the time you are 40+ young blood will replace you easily. And those tells you switch to sw and you will be retired before that is bs for sure.
This is my biggest concern. At 40, I could be replaced by kids out of high school.
But will switch get me a higher TC 5 years down the line?
You're getting paid just as much as Software engineers, hardware is a lot more engineering engineering, software engineering is very peculiar. I used to be an ee, but couldn't get good TC. With your TC I would just try to find more interesting projects, or give pm a shot.
Only risk here is if you lose your job or burn out, unless you get in at just a couple companies your pay will literally cut in half or worse. SWE doesn't have this same effect. Those of us doing hardware at FB, Apple, Amazon, etc. are under unbelievable golden handcuffs that swe just doesn't have because a good swe can bounce between companies for a lifetime and make more every switch. If you wanted to derisk your life it might make sense to go to swe even if the pay is the same. Fortunately I like my job but if that ever changes life is going to get really scary because I'm so financially stuck at my job with absolutely nowhere to go.
That makes sense. I guess if you are a PM, you might have transferable skills too. Don’t SWE have golden handcuffs too? SWE might have more options. Does a SWE with 10-15YOE have the same amount of options?
Anyone made switch from ASIC -> SWE/PM and then back to ASIC? Would there be any issues in trying to come back to ASIC?
Become a manager/system design/atchitect. Maybe challenge your self for a patent filing etc. That helps your H1B situation. Being Manager has challenges of leadership and, of course management, If you are up for it. I think switching to SW has its obstacles.
I’m very honest about my capabilities. I’m great at implementation and getting things done quick without breaking anything. Enjoy juggling multiple hats, multiple projects. I haven’t thought of filing patents because there is no time to spend on that. I’m more of breadth person than depth. But this is food for thought. I’ve seen my manager work and he’s a god - full time manager and full time individual contributor. WLB must be nonexistent but he always is calm and smiling. I always wonder if he can’t go further up the ladder, neither can I.
If you want to try a change of employer try qualcomm QCT, they have good work and I believe the compensation is in par with apple, maybe even more ( again it's only in the case of QCT )
What is QCT?
Qualcomm core technology, their chip design group! They are basically treated as royalty at qualcomm
Same boat as you are in but TC is not as good as yours. I am planning to switch to SWE/ML.
What is your plan ? Want to do this but did not take action and i am 40 :(
My bottom line is to do ASICs/architectures in ML applications. My current HW works are boring and I don’t see good future...
Try to get complete project life cycle experience if you are not bored of problem solving.. see if you can get experience on fpga, and emulation .. or architecture role to be better..
I’ve already worked on innumerable projects on the complete life cycle. All aspects of design, Arch, RTL, synthesis, back end. Not as much post silicon. The only way to add new scope is to become manager and develop soft and people skills.
What is QCT?
Great TC for your yoe. Which grade at Apple and which org, if you don’t mind sharing?
ICT4. Money or promotions have never been a problem. Never even had to talk money even once. Got amazing management who recognize your work. I don’t know how much more the TC can grow though. Don’t see myself making 700K or anything in another 5-7 years.
OP, what kind of hardware work do you do as ASIC engineer? Design or verification?
Good tc.
It is. But these SWE make me feel insecure and I’m not sure what my long term earning potential is.
Not many companies pay this much at your yoe. Probably just fgn.