I've been a test engineer for about 2 years but I would really like to do design. All the jobs I've seen require 3 to 5 years experience in DESIGN of-course I don't have any experience in design since I've been stuck in testing since graduating with an EE. Should I go for my Masters in EE? I feel I hit a wall with no design experience....anybody else in a similar situation? did you get out of it? I think Testing is a dead end when you want to do design what do you guys think?
Almost any area of electronics can be a "dead end" if you let it be.
I've done an awful lot of test engineering, and that has involved a lot of design work, designing all sorts of custom test jigs, interfaces, and other electronics.
So you can't really pigeon hole fields like this, they all vary a lot. If your particular job doesn't offer design as part of the test engineering role then find one that does.
Forget the Masters if you are just doing it to get out of of an "employment hole" or whatever. It's like trying to crack an egg with a sledge hammer.
Simply ease into jobs that have more design work, and focus more on the design aspects instead of test aspects when you go for jobs.
Dave.