Depends, of course. If one is original, inventive and noticeably smart with at least an MA degree then the ideal job would be working in an R&D department.
If more of a scientist mindset focus on the research side and if more of an engineer focus on the development side.
I came across an engineering agency awhile back in my city that is kind of a multi-disciplinary (hardware + software + design) group that enables companies that maybe cannot justify a multiple team member R&D department a place they can outsource development of their out their kinds of ideas.
This kind of agency might be most satisfying because of the variety of challenges and industries.
If more of a scientist mindset focus on the research side and if more of an engineer focus on the development side.
I came across an engineering agency awhile back in my city that is kind of a multi-disciplinary (hardware + software + design) group that enables companies that maybe cannot justify a multiple team member R&D department a place they can outsource development of their out their kinds of ideas.
This kind of agency might be most satisfying because of the variety of challenges and industries.