How do I build a career in low-level programming?
I'm a BTech student, and lately I've been feeling like I'm on a completely different path from everyone around me.
Most of my friends are learning MERN, AI/ML, data science, cloud, or preparing for those kinds of roles. I get why, there are a lot of opportunities there. But every time I try learning those things, I just lose interest.
What actually excites me is low-level programming. I love the idea of understanding how computers really work. Things like operating systems, kernels, embedded systems, compilers, networking, reverse engineering, device drivers, and performance optimization seem much more interesting to me than building web apps.
The problem is that I barely see anyone talking about these fields, so I have no idea what the career path looks like. Most roadmaps and YouTube videos are all about becoming a full-stack developer or getting into AI.
For people already working in systems or low-level software:
What kinds of jobs are available?
What should I focus on learning?
Which languages are actually used? C? C++? Rust? Assembly?
What kind of projects helped you get interviews?
Which companies hire fresh graduates for these roles?
Is it much harder to get into compared to web development?
I'm not avoiding difficult work or chasing the latest trend. I just want to build things closer to the hardware because that's what genuinely interests me. I'd rather spend extra time learning something I enjoy than force myself into a career I'll probably burn out on.
I'd really appreciate hearing from people who've taken this path or anyone who has advice on where to start.