My background is slightly higher-level than yours; CPU architecture. I have friends and colleagues with similar backgrounds, and the ones pulling in the most have either pivoted all but entirely to software, or have managed to find hardware roles within the big 4. They do exist. The latter get the best of both worlds, as they pay essentially the same as they do for software roles, and come with the rest of the usual perks. Banks are similar, but my observation which may or may not be completely accurate, is that they are pickier and narrower in scope.
I would be wary about getting a PhD in anything outside of computer science today, though. The roles are out there, but there are far fewer of them.
I would be wary about getting a PhD in anything outside of computer science today, though. The roles are out there, but there are far fewer of them.