My job is split between software/firmware development (mostly C in Linux on Cortex-A series or in a RTOS on Cortex-M micro controllers) and hardware development

My job is split between software/firmware development (mostly C in Linux on Cortex-A series or in a RTOS on Cortex-M micro controllers) and hardware development (mostly embedded systems, digital control, motor driving, etc., working with RF engineers also). While I started out doing software and love it, for me electronics is just a whole next-level of awesomeness... Altium is actually in many ways a really good piece of software (yes, there are also some annoyances, but they are minor compared to any other electrical design software). It's true that it's stupid expensive but given the other options it is worth the price to us at least. But I get to work on really cool stuff (mostly satellite tracking antenna systems), and our labs are on the side of our building with a full-height window down the entire length, so your milage may vary. I actually don't get the solder fumes either, because we have techs who are much better at reworking tiny surface mount parts than engineers tend to be!