(Can I call you 'Ace'?)
Ace:
I wrote firmware from other perspective, the scanner,
for American auto market, which, as you know, has a mix of global manufacturers.
Interesting, as we NEVER discussed any spec. like ISO2626...(Barely heard of it). So that's a thought, as even while safety issues might be lessend safety and reliability have GOT to impact (no pun) longer term profitability for any company.
But, back to your questions, it seems like you maybe have various generic employment reactions and opinions. But, funny, let's wait and see, on that LOC dynamic: How many software folks, here, are going to praise that (ridiculous) lines of code metric. Prob 0.
For your more generic questions, any industry history will have wisdom for you. Specific to automotive, that's a real dynamic world. Be all changed, majorly by 2030, I'll bet...
If you can upgrade expertise, with neural nets might be one step. What kind of annual 'shows' are there, for tradespeople to consider the future (market)?
The more generic career questions, have answers more related to politics (ugg) and that's makes for TWO squirrely and quick moving trends.
I did notice, you communicate a fairly advanced grasp of the science, there. Any prospects doing some teaching, locally, at a university?
Of course, that might make an employer nervous, if you doing some moonlight / second job.
Oh, and by the way, a lot of nasty office settings, and rules come out of small, private operations, while the bigger places tend to have more 'waste' and procedural or 'bureaucratic' nonsense, like LOC so, again it seems you are thinking like a lot of working people.
Personally, I hated the small business environment more, they get lazy about things...like fairness...
When the bosses' son's wife gets a cushy job, corner office, and you BEGGING for air conditioning, things like that.
I wish you could teach me, I could use an upgrade, in career development, in using various firmware dev tools.
-- Rick B.