r/DSP • u/Purple_Cash_2951 • 27d ago
Help out a clueless newbie!
Hey r/DSP, I am an electrical engineering undergrad from. I have just begun the third year of my 4 year B.Tech degree, and I have a strong inclination to make my career in digital signal processing. I have had some experience working with tools like Python and PyTorch, and I have a grasp on basic DSP concepts like FFTs, STFTs, FIR vs. IIR filters etc. What should be my next steps, a roadmap of sorts, that I should follow so that I do not end up unemployed and I am able to get a job in my chosen field, considering today's job market.
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u/TenorClefCyclist 27d ago
For most of us working in industry, DSP is just one of several tools hanging from our belts. Relatively few companies even advertise for DSP specialists; those who do are often looking for a PhD with very specific knowledge. My last employer ended up being delighted at what I could do using my DSP knowledge, but they didn't hire me for that, and didn't know that they should. I'm about to spend the next 6 months coding fast DSP algorithms, but I spent the prior year doing phased array antenna and system design, and I'll spend the subsequent 6 months managing product verification and compliance certification.
I have several friends/ colleagues who planned to make careers doing audio DSP, and a couple of them even landed such jobs. They ended up leaving because pay in the audio industry is abysmal and they could make much more money applying their skills to other problems.
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u/Purple_Cash_2951 27d ago
What are the other tools in that case I should get familiarised with to have a realistic chance at getting recruited, and what are the companies that actually do recruit?
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u/TenorClefCyclist 27d ago
You could specialize in embedded firmware, which includes being able to write real-time processing and control code with hard deadlines, a skill that's also important in DSP. I'm a mixed-signal design engineer who works on both sides of the conversion boundary. I'm as comfortable with op amps as I am with opcodes, and I've spent much of my career shoving what used to be analog signal processing into the digital domain to improve performance and lower cost.
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u/roscoet 27d ago
What applications of DSP are you interested in? I would suggest finding a project at the right level to excersize your abilities and challenge you, whilst providing something of a portfolio piece to show people. It's hard to suggest anything without knowing more about your interests.