Regarding IC design, are you going to make digital IC, analog IC, RFIC, MMIC, or mixed analog-digital IC?
Regarding the embedded system, should we develop hardware, drivers or application software?
Only if you tell me where you are can I tell you in detail.
Here, I can only tell you roughly. . .
Technically, IC design is definitely more demanding than embedded technology. The former requires a thorough understanding of the working principle of the system, while the latter is often satisfied or recognized as a master when it is "incomprehensible" ~ ~
Apart from this advantage, I really can't think of any advantage in IC design ~ ~
(1) Job Opportunities: Although Intel, TI, Broadcom and other companies provide job opportunities in China, we all know how many positions are IC design engineers. If you don't have a foreign doctoral degree and no experience in film production, it is impossible to go to these companies to do IC design. If you lower yourself to a company with ic design ability in China, such as Ruixinwei and Hisilicon, few people in China can enter, and they will not be required to do design after entering, that is, aided simulation. If you have worked in a school and have considerable practical experience, it is not bad to lower yourself and become the main force of the R&D team of a small company. However, I can't feel the pride of "super technology" in my dream ~ ~ Anyway, the students who can finally enter the IC design industry must admire it ~ ~ Long-term accumulation and objective wealth ~ ~
But embedded engineers are different. In the environment of China, it is very suitable for embedded engineering, whether it is hardware or software. Embedded board may cost thousands of dollars, unlike streaming media, it may cost tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands and millions. Therefore, it is possible for even one person to set up an embedded company and embedded team. . . So the employment opportunities are considerable.
(2) Salary: The starting salary for IC design is relatively high. If they do well, the salary will be scary. And embedded, although the salary is slightly lower, as long as you are diligent enough, the income is directly proportional to the number of projects you receive. Moreover, the income of small companies is not necessarily less than that of large companies (provided that they are diligent enough ~ ~).
(3) Re-employment: If you go to Intel to do chip design, it is estimated that you will never want to change jobs again. But if you are in a small company, you must have the impulse to jump ship. However, there are not many places where China can accept you. Embedded is different. There may be dozens of embedded companies in an office building.
In short, IC design is a "niche". To work hard in the field of "minority", you need to be able to withstand loneliness and be strong enough.
If you feel that your basic skills are not solid enough and the school has no chance to practice (is it possible to flow), it is recommended to choose embedded and follow the crowd. Although it won't be too prominent, it won't be too wrong ~ ~