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Dec 12, 2024 · 12m · a16z

Jobs of the Future: Where Hardware Meets Software

Erin Price-Wright · 9m spoken
0:00 / 0:00
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An episode of the a16z Podcast explores the profound shift in the technology ecosystem from pure software development to full-stack hardware-software engineering. The discussion highlights emerging career opportunities in robotics, autonomy, and domestic semiconductor manufacturing, alongside the critical need for new educational pipelines and non-degree vocational training.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. How this is scored →

The host as informed peer 1.6 Guest teaching 2.4 Guest disagreement 0.4 The host pushing back 0.4
05100:0010:000:12–3:29 · The host as informed peer 2/10 Macro Shift from Software to Full-Stack Hardware-Software Engineering Host asks if degree statistics reflect a shift away from software engineering. Guest clarifies that university degree programs do not show this trend yet, though company hiring demand is heavily prioritizing hardware-software skill sets.3:29–6:00 · The host as informed peer 1/10 Non-Degree Roles, Autonomous Technicians, and Robotic Teleoperation Host validates and asks for further examples of emerging job categories. Guest elaborates on non-degree roles like robotic teleoperation and semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships under the CHIPS Act.6:00–8:22 · The host as informed peer 1/10 Heavy Industry Mass Retirements and Next-Gen Systems Control Host briefly summarizes and prompts for other labor shortages. Guest educates the host on heavy industry retirements and defines what a full-stack hardware engineer entails.8:22–11:54 · The host as informed peer 4/10 Attracting Top Talent: Mission-Driven Hard Tech vs. Big Tech Host demonstrates expertise by comparing current hardware talent gaps to the historical pull created by FAANG compensation and perks. Guest responds by highlighting market drivers, national security, and reliance on Shenzhen supply chains.11:54–12:19 · The host as informed peer 0/10 Conclusion & Legal Disclosures The guest wraps up her thoughts on founding teams taking on end-to-end supply chain ownership as the segment concludes.0:12–3:29 · Guest teaching 3/10 Macro Shift from Software to Full-Stack Hardware-Software Engineering Host asks if degree statistics reflect a shift away from software engineering. Guest clarifies that university degree programs do not show this trend yet, though company hiring demand is heavily prioritizing hardware-software skill sets.3:29–6:00 · Guest teaching 3/10 Non-Degree Roles, Autonomous Technicians, and Robotic Teleoperation Host validates and asks for further examples of emerging job categories. Guest elaborates on non-degree roles like robotic teleoperation and semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships under the CHIPS Act.6:00–8:22 · Guest teaching 3/10 Heavy Industry Mass Retirements and Next-Gen Systems Control Host briefly summarizes and prompts for other labor shortages. Guest educates the host on heavy industry retirements and defines what a full-stack hardware engineer entails.8:22–11:54 · Guest teaching 3/10 Attracting Top Talent: Mission-Driven Hard Tech vs. Big Tech Host demonstrates expertise by comparing current hardware talent gaps to the historical pull created by FAANG compensation and perks. Guest responds by highlighting market drivers, national security, and reliance on Shenzhen supply chains.11:54–12:19 · Guest teaching 0/10 Conclusion & Legal Disclosures The guest wraps up her thoughts on founding teams taking on end-to-end supply chain ownership as the segment concludes.0:12–3:29 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Macro Shift from Software to Full-Stack Hardware-Software Engineering Host asks if degree statistics reflect a shift away from software engineering. Guest clarifies that university degree programs do not show this trend yet, though company hiring demand is heavily prioritizing hardware-software skill sets.3:29–6:00 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Non-Degree Roles, Autonomous Technicians, and Robotic Teleoperation Host validates and asks for further examples of emerging job categories. Guest elaborates on non-degree roles like robotic teleoperation and semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships under the CHIPS Act.6:00–8:22 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Heavy Industry Mass Retirements and Next-Gen Systems Control Host briefly summarizes and prompts for other labor shortages. Guest educates the host on heavy industry retirements and defines what a full-stack hardware engineer entails.8:22–11:54 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Attracting Top Talent: Mission-Driven Hard Tech vs. Big Tech Host demonstrates expertise by comparing current hardware talent gaps to the historical pull created by FAANG compensation and perks. Guest responds by highlighting market drivers, national security, and reliance on Shenzhen supply chains.11:54–12:19 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Conclusion & Legal Disclosures The guest wraps up her thoughts on founding teams taking on end-to-end supply chain ownership as the segment concludes.0:12–3:29 · The host pushing back 1/10 Macro Shift from Software to Full-Stack Hardware-Software Engineering Host asks if degree statistics reflect a shift away from software engineering. Guest clarifies that university degree programs do not show this trend yet, though company hiring demand is heavily prioritizing hardware-software skill sets.3:29–6:00 · The host pushing back 0/10 Non-Degree Roles, Autonomous Technicians, and Robotic Teleoperation Host validates and asks for further examples of emerging job categories. Guest elaborates on non-degree roles like robotic teleoperation and semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships under the CHIPS Act.6:00–8:22 · The host pushing back 0/10 Heavy Industry Mass Retirements and Next-Gen Systems Control Host briefly summarizes and prompts for other labor shortages. Guest educates the host on heavy industry retirements and defines what a full-stack hardware engineer entails.8:22–11:54 · The host pushing back 1/10 Attracting Top Talent: Mission-Driven Hard Tech vs. Big Tech Host demonstrates expertise by comparing current hardware talent gaps to the historical pull created by FAANG compensation and perks. Guest responds by highlighting market drivers, national security, and reliance on Shenzhen supply chains.11:54–12:19 · The host pushing back 0/10 Conclusion & Legal Disclosures The guest wraps up her thoughts on founding teams taking on end-to-end supply chain ownership as the segment concludes.

speaking balance: gold is the host, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%0:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%3:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%6:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%9:00 · the host 0% · guest 100%12:00 · the host 0% · guest 0%12:00 · the host 0% · guest 0%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 2:03 Reframing Degree Data vs Hiring Demand

Guest gently rejects host's premise that students are already opting out of software engineering degrees, noting data doesn't reflect this in degree programs yet.

 Hardest push from the host ▶ 8:22 Challenging Market-Driven Talent Organic Growth

Host questions whether market dynamics alone will suffice without active marketing and incentives similar to FAANG recruiting efforts.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 2:03 Explaining Non-Traditional Engineering Feeder Schools

Guest educates the host on how companies are turning to non-traditional tech feeder programs like Georgia Tech and Colorado School of Mines for full-stack hardware talent.

 The host holds their own ▶ 8:22 Historical FAANG Software Migration Context

Host demonstrates industry knowledge by framing a question around how FAANG compensation structures historically pulled talent into software engineering.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicThe host as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementThe host pushing backWhy
Macro Shift from Software to Full-Stack Hardware-Software Engineering 2311 Host asks if degree statistics reflect a shift away from software engineering. Guest clarifies that university degree programs do not show this trend yet, though company hiring demand is heavily prioritizing hardware-software skill sets.
Non-Degree Roles, Autonomous Technicians, and Robotic Teleoperation 1300 Host validates and asks for further examples of emerging job categories. Guest elaborates on non-degree roles like robotic teleoperation and semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeships under the CHIPS Act.
Heavy Industry Mass Retirements and Next-Gen Systems Control 1300 Host briefly summarizes and prompts for other labor shortages. Guest educates the host on heavy industry retirements and defines what a full-stack hardware engineer entails.
Attracting Top Talent: Mission-Driven Hard Tech vs. Big Tech 4311 Host demonstrates expertise by comparing current hardware talent gaps to the historical pull created by FAANG compensation and perks. Guest responds by highlighting market drivers, national security, and reliance on Shenzhen supply chains.
Conclusion & Legal Disclosures 0000 The guest wraps up her thoughts on founding teams taking on end-to-end supply chain ownership as the segment concludes.

Statements from this episode (13)

Assertion Not checkable as stated
Autonomy-driven hardware economy creates jobs not requiring college degrees
“We're talking about job creation for a whole class of folks that don't necessarily need a degree to participate in this autonomy-driven hardware economy.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 0:00
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Hardware-focused engineering fields will see huge demand in coming year
“And what I think we're going to see is huge demand for engineers in Areas that are much more hardware focused, so things like electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, controls engineering are gonna be in really high demand over the coming year as indust…”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 0:33
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Full-stack hardware engineers are a16z's highest-demand role behind AI engineers
“So the highest demand jobs in our portfolio today, other than perhaps AI engineers, are people who have full stack hardware and software experience, whether it's mechanical, electrical, et cetera.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 2:14
Assertion Not checkable as stated
a16z portfolio companies recruit hardware talent from non-traditional feeder schools
“And what we're finding is that actually those, ah, companies are having to go outside of kind of traditional tech feeder schools in order to find that talent. So we're actually seeing an interesting rise of schools like Georgia Tech, Colorado School of Mines, …”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 2:27
Opinion
Elon Musk, SpaceX, and Tesla trained a cohort of hardware-software engineers
“There's definitely a spectrum, and I would frankly really credit Elon Musk, both from the SpaceX and Tesla perspective, with a lot for really training up engineers that have fluency in hardware and software.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 3:12
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Skydio and Anduril are training a new generation of full-stack engineers
“Companies like Skydio and Andrill and others are really taking on that mantle and training a new generation of full-stack engineers that are really comfortable and fluent across hardware and software.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 3:29
Prediction Not checkable as stated
A new class of robotic teleoperation jobs will emerge soon
“I expect that there'll be an entire kind of class of, Jobs related to that arising over the next few years.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 4:41
Assertion Supported
Arizona launched a semiconductor manufacturing apprenticeship program with TSMC
“Governor Katie Hobbs has introduced this big apprenticeship. Program, where they're helping to train new semiconductor manufacturing employees alongside folks who have come over from TMC.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 5:12
Prediction Not checkable as stated
CHIPS Act reshoring will bring forgotten semiconductor jobs back to U.S.
“So there's, I expect there to be, with kind of the rollout of the CHIPS Act, I expect as chip manufacturing comes back to the US that it's an entire class of jobs that we just have literally never had here. Maybe we did for like five years in the sixties, righ…”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 5:24
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Heavy industries face massive labor gaps over the next 3-5 years
“So huge opportunities in some of these industries where we're just seeing, you know, massive labor gaps over the coming, I don't know, three to five years.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 6:59
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Market forces will drive software engineering talent into physical hard tech
“I think a lot of it will be market-driven. It's about capitalizing on this sort of romantic desire to build stuff that I think is in the air right now.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 8:57
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Reshoring US manufacturing is impossible without high reliance on autonomy
“And I don't think that's gonna happen With the way sort of labor economics work globally, if a huge part of the way we manufacture in the future is not driven by autonomy.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 10:49
Assertion Contradicted
All robotic arm components currently originate from Shenzhen, China
“Right now, all the components for robotic arms, everything that you might, that might go into an autonomous factory is all coming from Shenzhen.”
Erin Price-Wright Dec 12, 2024 ▶ 11:05
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