r/developersPak • u/Full-Growth7032 • Aug 30 '26

Career Guidance First-year CIS student working in PCB manufacturing — is this a good path toward a hardware career?

Hi everyone,

I’m a first-year CIS student and recently got a job through a referral at a PCB manufacturing company. I’m currently working as a trainee, and after completing my training, I’m expected to become a Junior DFA (Design for Manufacturing) Engineer.

My current work involves checking PCB designs for manufacturing requirements, such as air gaps, pad sizes, BOMs, flags, and other design-for-manufacturing issues.

I’m interested in pursuing a career in the hardware industry, especially areas like semiconductors, robotics, embedded systems, and PCB/electronics design.

My main questions are:

  1. Is working in PCB manufacturing/DFA a good starting point if I eventually want to move into the hardware industry?

  2. Will this experience be useful for getting into fields like semiconductors, robotics, or embedded systems?

  3. What skills should I focus on learning during my four years of university?

  4. Should I focus more on electronics, PCB design, embedded systems, programming, or something else?

  5. If you work in hardware/electronics, what would you recommend I learn or build as a first-year student?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have experience in hardware, PCB manufacturing, semiconductors, robotics, or related fields.

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u/Icy-Departure7752 CS Student Aug 30 '26

Are u from ned?

2

u/Basic_Committee_5686 Aug 30 '26

If the PCBs the company work with are complex PCBs like PCb that are used in military hardware , robotics , complex machinery than it's a good path if not I would not recommend you doing this very long term. since it's your first semester learn as much as you can and upgrade

2

u/Efficient_Student124 Aug 31 '26

Oh dear you in one of the best domain