Is breaking into Embedded Systems in South Africa actually viable for a CS & Pure Maths major?
I’m not entirely sure if this is the right subreddit to ask this, but here goes.
I am (23M) currently double-majoring in CS and Pure Maths, and I am completely done pretending I like traditional SWE. Web dev, DevOps, cloud infrastructure... none of it is for me. I always had a passion for embedded systems, but I put it on hold to chase traditional SWE internships because everyone said that's where the 'safe jobs' and AI hype were. I haven't had any luck for almost 2 years now.
I’ve reached the point where if I’m gonna struggle to find work, I’d rather struggle doing what I actually enjoy. The thought of touching JavaScript makes me want to puke.
My main question is whether embedded systems programming is actually a viable career path for CS graduates here in South Africa. Do local companies even hire computer scientists for firmware roles, or do they strictly filter for Electrical/Mechatronic engineering degrees? If they do hire CS grads, which companies/industries should I look into, and how do I tailor my resume for them?
I have solid knowledge of electronics and embedded hardware, but because of my degree title, I don’t have an engineering transcript to prove it—just my own projects. I write a lot of low-level C and know modern C++ inside out.
If anyone in the local embedded or hardware space has advice on how to get a foot in the door (or is open to connecting), I’d really appreciate it.