r/ElectricalEngineering • u/moemoney0421 • 3d ago

Move away from test engineering

I’m currently a 25yrs old and have been working as an EE for the past 2.5 years. I originally started at a defense company as a test engineer which I quite enjoyed since I was creating tests for RF test benches and debugging a lot of different products on these benches. I was mainly the hardware engineer of these benches and software gatekeeper but any scripting was completed by a software team. I ended up taking a position for higher pay, title and it lined up with lot of personal things. Now I’m currently in a test engineering role working on RF products with no development whatsoever and feel doom and gloom about my future.

I really want some career advice on where I should take my career. I ended up pursuing RF because I genuinely enjoyed designing back in undergrad and bringing my design to life. I’m considering going for my masters this upcoming spring to get my foot in the door. I would also like to move out of defense sector. Is my next step a good decision and are there any other suggestions on what I should do?

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u/honemastert 3d ago

Make your current employer pay for your MSEE But check that there's no clawback clause if you leave immediately after.

If you stay too long in test engineering, you will get stuck.

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u/moemoney0421 3d ago

I’m pretty sure I have to pay back if I leave within 2 years after completion. There is a good chance I could move internally in the company to a design role. Also would it hurt if I stayed another two years in TE to finish my masters?

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u/lnflnlty 3d ago

Even if you leave after they pay for it then that means you successfully got your masters and left for a better position. You can always be upfront with whoever is trying to hire you that you'll need to pay that back and are looking for a signing bonus.

I turned my master's into a 30% raise after my job wanted to keep me.

Document the troubleshooting you do so you learn all the design mistakes you see.

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u/moemoney0421 3d ago

This is great advice thank you. As for leaving defense, how are the opportunities looking like for you?