Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Application Engineers
Entry-level applicants should prioritize internships leading to full-time roles as "the two easiest ones" are applications and software engineering positions; however, a strong background in software engineering is highly recommended due to its versatility and the applicability of undergraduate coursework like "data structure classes" to the interview process and the field in general.
Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Entry-Level Positions, Applications Engineering, DevOps
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rasheek Noor
Staff R&D Application Engineer
Broadcom
UC Davis
UCLA Anderson - MBA
Engineering - Electrical
Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
None Applicable, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Internships can often lead to full-time roles.
2. Entry-level positions include applications, software, and hardware engineering roles; software engineering is often the most versatile.
3. Strong skills in data structures are highly valuable for entry-level positions, particularly in software engineering.
Transcript
What entry-level positions in this field might an undergraduate college student consider pursuing?
First, if you can get an internship that moves towards a full-time role, I would say go for it. There are several entry-level positions you can consider, such as applications engineers, software engineers, and hardware engineers.
The easiest roles to start with are likely applications and software engineer positions. While there are entry-level hardware engineering roles, many sometimes require a master's degree to advance in that field.
From a software perspective, you could look at roles like DevOps. For hardware or embedded software, you can consider failure analysis, QA, and other support or quality assurance positions.
If you can get a position in software engineering, that might be the best option. Software engineering is very adaptable to many different fields. You can work in hardware, software, ML, or cloud computing.
It develops a core set of skills that are very important. These skills, along with interview questions, are typically taught in undergrad. Classes like data structures become very important for acquiring those entry-level positions.