I did a robotics degree, (half mech eng and half elec eng) then I helped out my dad with a software side project of his and turned the experience into my first job.
I did 5 years of elec hardware design and then got a job as a software dev. Been doing it now for 7+ years.
My advice, look for a scale-up. A business with a proven product market fit, but still looking after the pennies. The one I found was willing to take the risk of a good find because the “formal education” lot were more expensive. I’m reasonably sure my first boss would back me up in saying that the risk was well worth it’s. Apply, show them real world work, I’m sure you will go far. Engineering mindset is actually a real skill, most formal education backgrounds I talk to don’t think of things like failure modes or really understand the importance of good requirements like mech/elec engineering I’ve met.
Also, email me whenever to talk chris at matheson dot it
Just as an aside, for those of you looking to hire, I think engineers like this are an untapped goldmine. Most are paid 2/3rds or less of an average software dev (at least in the uk) but most have had experience programming and all will have the sort of mind needed to ferret out problems at the design/ideas stage of the dev lifecycle.
I did 5 years of elec hardware design and then got a job as a software dev. Been doing it now for 7+ years.
My advice, look for a scale-up. A business with a proven product market fit, but still looking after the pennies. The one I found was willing to take the risk of a good find because the “formal education” lot were more expensive. I’m reasonably sure my first boss would back me up in saying that the risk was well worth it’s. Apply, show them real world work, I’m sure you will go far. Engineering mindset is actually a real skill, most formal education backgrounds I talk to don’t think of things like failure modes or really understand the importance of good requirements like mech/elec engineering I’ve met.
Also, email me whenever to talk chris at matheson dot it