Ask HN: Stick to Embedded dev or switch to Web dev?

[lzzzam]

Hi, I need an advice from experienced developers. I have a master´s degree in electrical engineering, I am 32 years old and based in Europe, and I have 6+ years experience in Embedded software development. In the last 2 years I switched to independent contracting cause I want to work independently and remotely from my hometown in south Italy :). With my current client I now reached 100k+ euros and the possibility to work remotely 80% of time, while remaining 20% I have to fly to Austria to spend some days on-site. With this solution I can save lot of money at the moment, but looking at the future I am scared that I won´t be able to afford this lifestyle if I want to have a family and a more stable life in a place, specially because I feel like I had some luck with this specific client and I won´t be able to reproduce the same working condition in the future.

I love working independently and from remote, That´s why I am considering switching to web dev. where freelancing and remote work are much more popular. I have some basic experience with Web thanks to a job platform I have created, that´s why I think I´d really enjoy working with web stuff but I feel like I am throwing away my domain knowledge in embedded and restarting from scratch.

Given my need to work remotely, my path (and that of course earning good money is always appreciated :)), What are you suggestions?

Should I switch my career to web dev or stick to Embedded and continue growing my experience and dictate my working condition?

[DamonHD]

My feeling is that Web dev is a commodity: embedded is a rarer more defensible skill set.

Being fungible has its pros on upswings and cons on market downswings.

I don't think that I've ever been paid for Web dev work per se, but I have done a fair amount of more specialist stuff including embedded and financial and have only been on other people's payrolls for a tiny amount of time, and with a variety of working arragements, over decades. So I think that you can stick with embedded if you want to.

[brodouevencode]

This is a good take. I can hire just about any JS/TypeScript I want, but if I need a C engineer (in which I actually might before year end) they are harder to find and command more salary.

One thing that I would recommend is that you get your name out there and become as well known as you can within your domain of expertise. This would give you more lateral freedom to pick and choose jobs that allow the benefits you're looking for.

[lzzzam]

Thanks for your feedback Damon! Would love to know more about your career path and how you balanced it with your personal life.

Would you like to share more?

[DamonHD]

My CV is a couple of clicks away through my profile, which might answer your questions!

[illuminant]

Web devs fantasize of becoming embedded devs.

Web devs are so common place the market is over saturated.

[lzzzam]

I have heard the same kind of comment from a friend of mine working with Web! Curious how everybody seems to look to neighbor´s weed :DD