Hi everyone,
I’m starting my Master's in CS this fall, and my goal is to become a Research Engineer at a top AI labs or FAANG. I come from a non-traditional background, so I’m trying to be very intentional with the next 2 years and focus only on what actually matters. Would really appreciate honest advice on a few things:
1) What does a strong RE profile look like today? (publications vs open-source vs internships)
2) How realistic is this path without a PhD?
3) What level of technical depth is expected (math vs systems vs implementing papers).
4) How should I use my master's strategically? (courses, research, collaborations)?
5) What kinds of projects or contributions actually stand out?
6) Open-source vs research....where should I focus more?
7) What are the biggest mistakes people make on this path?
If you had ~2 years starting from scratch, how would you approach this? Looking for blunt, practical advice. Thanks!
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