I became Test Eng mgr after 6 yrs bleeding-edge R&D working with the best. I read every design handbook and magazine article description before graduating so I could get these jobs. I haven't stopped reading and learning, and had several companies close down on me with wide analog digital rf telemetry scada HDD magnetic and contract mfg experience, but never designed a high volume product until after 25 yrs grad. with bleeding edge experience , while at C-MAC from AVAYA. 10k racks/year Lots of late nites to deliver 1 prototype in 7 weeks instead of 8 and sacrifices to solve every problem later that had to be done. Outsourced mechanical design to metal benders and PCB design to my test Test Engineering Tech, and delegated where necessary.
Unless you have a passion for this and fix your own mistakes , try something else like selling custom electronics . I was lucky and sold 1 million 5mm LEDs to one customer because I knew how to find the best parts, write the best specs and deliver from payment in 2 weeks factory to my agent friend in HK and overseas. Made more money than a Sr Designer , in far less time but not without frustrations, in one year than any previous job. All after freedom 55 with no pensions. 10yrs later now, still happy and rich from real estate rise here and keep current with technology between hobbies and grandchildren.
DEtermine your passion, find jobs where they exist, with best interesting work, best people and best money. Pick any 2 .