[colechristensen]

This is an overreaction, and really not a very nice way to interact with people.

I was talking about embedded development which doesn't really have anything to do with PCB design, power, FPGA, etc. You don't need those things to be a programmer working on embedded systems or microcontrollers.

Implementing a serial interface in software flipping GPIOs up and down will expose you to a whole lot of the necessary ecosystem and if you can do it, you're well past the point where you should be able to get paid to do it and the point where you need a roadmap to tell you where to expand your skills. I didn't say doing it would get you a senior level position or a masters degree in EE.