From: Ryan O'Connor <rocifier@gmail.com>
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. <piclist@mit.edu>
Sender: "piclist-bounces@mit.edu" <piclist-bounces@mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2020 12:17:21 -0800
Subject: Re: [EE]: How to find & hire firmware people
Thread-Topic: [EE]: How to find & hire firmware people
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I actually have no idea about this question, but I thought I might share my
experience which is surely all too common, and may help to understand these
weird applicants.

Since I was around 8 years old I have been fascinated with computers. In
high school I taught myself x86 assembly and C++ and loved coding
everything from graphics competitions to windows utilities and trying to
code drivers or hack stuff using softice in windows 98. I remember I took a
miniature hand lathe and built the electronics and drivers to convert it
into a mini CNC lathe, while my father mechanically connected the stepper
motors to the axis.

Then I got to university. I was able to skip the first year because of my
experience and was awarded a scholarship. I learned about writing operating
systems and improved my C++ skills and learned more about algorithms and
object oriented programming. I did web design to help pay my way through
university. Then I graduated.

When I started looking for work I realised that there was only one company
who developed products with firmware in my city. And I liked my city and
wanted to stay there. So instead I continued web development and eventually
got into game development which piqued my interest again in graphics demos.
After starting a company and writing some C++ and java games, I again tried
to look for companies doing lower level things. I ended up moving to the
largest city in New Zealand and doing graphics R&D for multilayer displays
which are used in many casino machines. This was pretty much a dream job
for me. After this job the economy took a slight turn and the only work I
could find was mobile or web development, and I started getting relaxed
about my career and chose web development. After this I just autopiloted
for a while because web development was easy and paid well. Now I still do
web app development and get paid very well.

I want to go back to the low level days and build firmware and robotics or
stuff like that, but I need to take almost a 50% pay cut to shift to that
stuff. I always have feelers out for companies who are doing that kind of
thing. I had a job interview with one company and they really wanted me to
do cloud/web stuff for their products because of my experience but I told
them I spend all my free time doing microcontrollers and designing and
manufacturing electronics. But I would be keen to do the cloud stuff anyway
just to be around the sort of people who are doing the stuff that I love. I
didn't get hired.

I've had multiple experiences like the above, and while my heart is more
towards electronics, I'm kinda just stuck now as a "javascript developer"
but it has allowed me to take 2 mortgages, one of them for a large new home
in one of the most sought after towns of new zealand and work remotely. I
have a great team and I'm very happy. So if you wanted me to do firmware
for you, you'd have to look at my CV and see that technically I have almost
no commercial experience, pay me a senior wage, allow me to work remotely.

Not really sure why I shared all this, after writing it I realised my story
is actually quite unique. But hey it's a story from the perspective of a
web developer! Good luck with your hire!

Ryan

On Wed, 18 Nov 2020 at 08:53, Manu Abraham <abraham.manu@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Nov 17, 2020 at 8:53 PM Neil Cherry <ncherry@linuxha.com> wrote:
> >
> > Sorry couldn't resist.
>
> Use a resistor, as simple as that. :-D
>
> Manu
> --
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