not sure but I'd say minimum requirements: know assembler, know C, know SQL, know Relational Design, know Network engineering learn how to read an RFC, know how

not sure but I'd say minimum requirements: know assembler, know C, know SQL, know Relational Design, know Network engineering learn how to read an RFC, know how a browser works. learn hardware engineering, build an Arduino for example. Then pick a field and keep going. edit: oh and learn some maths, linear algebra, numerical maths, some calculus to start with