Do you need a degree to become an embedded software engineer?
While it’s possible to break in without formal training, I think you will have a far easier time if you have a bachelor’s in electrical engineering or computer science. Many hiring managers will ignore your resume otherwise.
Even if you do get hired, you’ll generally have to work harder to win the respect of your colleagues, who will rather resent that you didn’t go through all the schooling that they “had” to. Most skilled programmers I’ve known without degrees ended up being pigeonholed as test engineers who never really got opportunities to work in development.
Here are some things you need to know:
- read electrical schematics.
- how to use a DVM and O’Scope.
- how to program in C and possible some Machine language.
- Math through calculus. A lot of control and PID algorithms depend on this.
- Sometimes we work with FPGA’s and PLC’s.
Generally a degree will get your resume looked at a lot more. And may help you get into the interview process where you’ll be quizzed on you knowledge.
Good luck!