I started my career as a Software Engineer and worked in various domains (packet processing, performance optimization, hardware testing) and recently switched t

I started my career as a Software Engineer and worked in various domains (packet processing, performance optimization, hardware testing) and recently switched to an FPGA Engineer role. I know what you mean. I am "not good enough" too. I spend a lot of spare time on fundamentals. But, I am good enough to work with others. I am good enough to apply my practical engineering experience to whatever needs to be accomplished. And I am good enough to enjoy my work. Many people do not consider the actual job requirements and skills necessary for the work. It's like, they're just trying to find the best person possible. Some people are even hardcore about this; they test you and judge you quite aggressively. That's cool, and there is some truth to that; there is a bar that needs to be met. But, it's a rather shallow perspective. And, it can have negative consequences. E.g. people burn out, get bored, don't work well with others. There's overlooked value in getting to know a person and positioning them well in a role. You might be surprised. Your experience from side projects may translate extremely well to a "real" job doing similar things. If you can stay humble, work well with others, and spend time on fundamentals, I think you'll do well in the right environment. As an aside, within the past year I've sparked an interest and appreciation for biology. In the back of my mind, I sometimes think it would be very fulfilling to work on software/hardware for biotech at some point in the future. Maybe a "second career" type of deal. I have massive "imposter syndrome" about that, but who knows... maybe some day my path will lead me there.