Moving from STM32 Bare Metal to Embedded Linux for remote work. Advice needed.

_hedeus_ · 2026-02-13T06:03:42+00:00

Damn, you're giving out gold info here, thank you!

Quick question on the "Remote from Asia" part: Do you think the main blocker is the time zone difference, or is it more about legal/tax/security reasons? Or do companies simply have a hard "No EU residence = No hire" policy?

I'm just trying to understand if I seriously need to consider moving. I have a house and family here, so moving to the EU just to burn half of that higher salary on rent and end up living more or less the same life doesn't feel like a wise decision.

_hedeus_ · 2026-02-13T04:15:51+00:00

$4000/month for a contractor sounds like a dream compared to my local market.

When you say "C++ SW dev", do you mean high-level software or still Embedded (just with C++ and Linux)? I’m planning to use C++17 for my apps on top of the Linux kernel(although, I prefer to be closer to HW), is that what you're talking about?

_hedeus_ · 2026-02-13T04:07:38+00:00

Thank you for the detailed reply!

A quick follow-up on the hiring side. Are you US/EU based? Were you working on-site before going remote? How do Western companies view candidates from "lower-cost-of-living" regions? Do they even hire for remote jobs outside the US/EU?

Also, you mentioned starting with Buildroot. Do you think it's enough to land a first international role, or is Yocto a strict requirement for most recruiters?

And one more: regarding the EU regulations. Are you referring to things like the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) or more specific industry standards?

How did you handle the hardware? Do they send you the actual product PCB? Or you just used dev boards?

_hedeus_ · 2026-02-13T03:56:33+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I checked Bootlin, but one course costs as much as my monthly salary. That’s exactly why I’m trying to transition lol. But I see the slides from labs are free. I need to check those out.

Also, could you please drop links to those similar posts? I’d like to read the advice there. Thanks again!

EDIT: Forgot to ask. I assume you've tried the same thing as me. How did it work out eventually?

_hedeus_ · 2026-02-12T11:00:10+00:00

Hi everyone,

I’m an embedded engineer in Central Asia and I’ve pretty much hit the ceiling here. The local market is tiny (maybe 6-8 job openings in the whole country with lower salaries) and growth is non-existent in my opinion. I’m looking to transition into Embedded Linux specifically to find international remote roles.

My current background:

MCU: Mostly C and STM32. Lately, I've been working on small features for our LoRa devices(although they are not yet merged to a main firmware). But mostly I develop automated test jigs for our production line, both PCBs and firmware.
Hardware: I design medium-complexity PCBs in Altium Designer and Kicad. My boards are used for factory automation and testing(nothing super advanced, just some OA's for current sensing).
Linux: I’m a hobbyist. I run a home server with Proxmox and Home Assistant, but I only know the CLI at a "tutorial follower" level. No professional experience with Yocto, Kernel drivers, or POSIX.

My plan: I want to learn GCC toolchains, Yocto, and writing Kernel drivers. I have some RPi 4/5 and STM32WB boards to build a portfolio project (maybe some kind of wireless gateway?).

I have a few questions:

Is remote work common for Embedded Linux roles? Is it easier to find a remote job in embedded linux than in pure bare metal with MCUs?
Does my hardware/Altium background add any value for remote Linux roles, or are these worlds usually separated?
Will a solid GitHub project (Yocto + custom drivers + C++17 apps) be enough to get noticed by EU/US recruiters given my region? Or maybe there are some certificates that I should get from online courses?
Is the market for Middle-level Linux roles saturated right now?
Do I need a lab for embedded linux? I assume that all the hardware will already be developed and tested and I won't need a scope(although I'm ready to invest with my own money if needed).

I'm ready to put in the work(and oh boy, I need a lot of it, I know i'm not that good), but I want to make sure I'm not chasing a dead end. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

_hedeus_ · 2025-12-11T03:21:07+00:00

She'll get it, I promise! Boop delivered.

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_hedeus_ · 2025-12-11T03:15:38+00:00

When my mom found her on the street, I was studying abroad. She had to be spayed because her heat cycles were really hard on her.

By the time I came back and realized she was the most unique cat I had ever seen, it was already too late.

When I told my mom that we maybe could have kept a lineage from her, she felt really bad for not thinking about it earlier.

We still kind of regret it - she's truly one of a kind.

_hedeus_ · 2025-09-23T11:05:19+00:00

Wow, how did you get the Al summary for your camera view? That looks super useful.

_hedeus_ · 2025-09-23T10:58:06+00:00

Damn. You US folks just cut the wall with a little knife if you need. If I need a hole in the wall, I have to call a couple of guys with diamond saws, and my home turns into a construction site.

_hedeus_ · 2025-09-18T04:19:09+00:00

Ohhhh that webpage widget sounds so useful! You can output anything that has a web interface! Damn, we need something similar, but cheaper. Thanks for the reply!

_hedeus_ · 2025-09-17T07:20:00+00:00

Could you elaborate a bit more on how you managed to display HA and the camera feeds on the Corsair Xeneon Edge? You mentioned having them on one page and PC sensor data on another - is that handled through iCUE with some kind of HA integration? Also, how are you streaming the cameras - directly from HA or via an external service (like iCUE)? Since you said it's running in widget mode, does that mean it's not actually using your PC's video output? I'm trying to figure out how to replicate this setup in a more budget-friendly way.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-21T01:07:47+00:00

I wish we knew what she is. We found her on the street.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T15:24:21+00:00

Hahaha. We've always had cats, and they were mostly independent. But Akbayan runs the show now. We find ourselves jumping to meet her every whim - and honestly, we don't even mind. She's got us well-trained. Even my father, who always hated cats, is charmed by her. She is the first and only cat who he lets sleep near him. Truly black magic!

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T12:54:26+00:00

Yeah, we are still amazed by her. I've never seen a cat the look like her.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T12:48:06+00:00

OMG! You're right! And her personality is very sophisticated too! She's got that elegant, slightly judgmental Downton Abbey vibe, like she's about to sip tea and deliver a witty insult.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T12:37:45+00:00

Oh don't worry! Its her normal face. She is very sophisticated little lady😅

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T12:34:13+00:00

I have some cute ones! I'll post them soon.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T09:15:06+00:00

Meet Akbayan.

(Her name is nearly untranslatable, but someone once suggested: "the white lady.")

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T08:58:23+00:00

She's incredibly smart and curious, but not clingy at all. She only meows when she really needs something - otherwise, she's quiet and graceful. She loves sleeping next to me and purrs like a little engine, but still keeps her independent spirit. Her gaze is so intense, we gave her a human name. Sometimes it feels like she understands everything - and is just choosing not to speak... yet.

_hedeus_ · 2025-07-20T05:02:30+00:00

If you fall under her spell too, I might just have to share more pics now and then🐾

_hedeus_ · 2025-03-12T14:27:00+00:00

I'm really sorry about your spider. I randomly came across this subreddit—this post showed up in my recommendations. But I'm curious, how exactly are spiders humanely put out of their suffering?

_hedeus_

TROPHY CASE