> The engineer working on CAD, layout, specs, RFQs, Suppliers, Equipment, etc are hardly going to revolutionize anything. Their work is valuable but they’re ent

> The engineer working on CAD, layout, specs, RFQs, Suppliers, Equipment, etc are hardly going to revolutionize anything. Their work is valuable but they’re entirely replaceable. You just named all specialist who would get N-times the salary outside of the industry. That's the problem of the industry. A man who can "just write a CAD plugin" in semi industry would probable be an instant senior hire in any CAD vendor. A mid-level semi PM would be a senior PM, GM level manager, or a COO anywhere else. Analog IC designer is by default a top-tier EE. A fab "junior technician" is likely an engineering, or physics master, or more likely a PhD in Taiwan. And so on, and on.