If you ask Workingbear, “As an engineer, would you prefer working in R&D or in manufacturing?”
(This article may not apply to the semiconductor wafer foundry industry. Rumor has it that wafer fabs in Taiwan are notorious for their brutal work hours—engineers often sacrifice their health to keep operations running. Many parents feel proud if their kids land jobs at a major integrated circuit company because of the high pay, without realizing it can also become a career trap.)
Workingbear started out as a product and process engineer, always dealing with products and processes. If I had to answer this question, I’d probably lean toward being a design engineer. But I put a question mark there—because people often complain most about the job they know too well. Since I’ve seen firsthand how tough manufacturing can be, I naturally hesitate. But once you really understand how tough design work is, my answer might not be “design engineer” anymore.
