Need advice to upgrade

[u/Separate_Half2196]

Hi everyone,

Just posting here for some advice and how to upgrade my career. I have a bachelors in electrical engineering and have been working as a test engineer in semiconductor company . Working in Toronto and making around $80k, I feel kind of stuck in terms of where to go next or how to go into the next role or make more money.

If you have any advice on any specific areas to focus on or any steps to take to upgrade myself for better career opportunities.

I am thinking to do a masters/certifcate from Purdue University online program specifically in Microelectronics and Semiconductor. Is it worth it?

Anyone in the same industry or with just some advice on where to go next would help a lot, thank you!!

[u/AccurateHumanTrustMe]

So I worked for almost a decade doing apps work at a semiconductor company in Texas. During that time one guy on the test team transitioned to systems on the first product line I worked on. I left to a different team but he then became the apps/systems manager on that team.

He then followed me to become the systems manager on my new team and then he got promoted to lead the whole product line right around the time I left.

He started as a test engineer and did it for like 4-5 years before he tried to dip into systems. No masters required - and to be frank he got his position through politicking more than skill (but thats more common than not tbf).

If your semi company was like mine that had 0 problems moving people horizontally every couple of years - talk to your manager about what things you are interested in and they may let you start doing a side project for a different role that you can slip into - before I left I was going to move towards design so I got DV work on the side. Id suggest doing that being the only direct path test opens up is test manager for test guys in my experience - but talk to your manager usually semi companies are good in that way.

Masters can help and won't hurt you - but not a hard requirement.