Shadowing Practice: Is Embedded Systems Still a Good Career in 2026? - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey, everyone.
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Welcome back to the channel.
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My name is Florian Leitner -Fischer.
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I'm a professor for computer science and specializing in embedded systems.
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And on this channel, we talk about the fascinating world where software meets hardware.
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Today, I want to tackle a big question that I've been asked by students, by colleagues and people in the industry,
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and that is, is embedded systems still a good career choice in 2026.
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So let's break this down together.
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I'll give you the honest picture, where the opportunities are, where the challenges are, what skills you need to stay ahead in 2026 and onwards.
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But first, let's clarify what we mean by embedded systems.
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We're talking about computers that don't look like computers.
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Microcontrollers, chips, boards So that's it.
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Inside your car, your washing machine, your drone, your coffee maker, your medical devices, even a smart toaster.
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So they're tightly embedded with hardware.
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The field covers both hardware and software.
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So you need to know both to really be a good embedded software or embedded systems engineer.
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Often with constraints that we have there like low power,
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limited memory, real -time requirements and very high reliability because quite often we are using the products in a safety critical environment.
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So while software engineering in general may make people think of cloud apps,
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web apps, distributed systems, embedded engineers work at the invisible but critical layer that makes all of that technology possible.
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Now, is this still a good career in 2026?
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Let's talk about the market trends.
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The truth is, demand is growing.
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Every industry is getting smarter, more connected.
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Cars today are basically computers on wheels.
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Technical devices are turning into connected diagnostic tools.
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And industry 4 .0 factories rely heavily on embedded controllers.
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According to market reports, the global embedded system market is projected to keep expanding, driven by electric vehicles, IOT,
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robotics, aerospace, and even AI chips.
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So in terms of demand, yes, embedded systems is absolutely still relevant and growing.
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Even though some of the industries we talked about, like automotive, seem to be in decline right now,
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the jobs that are growing within the industry are still the ones that are focusing on embedded systems.
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But of course, here's the nuance.
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The type of embedded engineer that companies want is evolving as well.
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It's no longer enough just to know how to write bare metal C code for a microcontroller.
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You still need that foundation, but companies increasingly look for hybrid skills.
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C and C++ for performance critical code.
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Python for testing and automation, knowledge of real -time operating systems like FreeAutos,
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Sapphire, QNX, familiarity with hardware description, debugging with oscilloscopes, logic analyzers,
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and importantly, understanding communication protocols, CAN, SPI, I2C, Ethernet, Bluetooth Low Energy, and so on.
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And all together, paired with a fundamental and very good understanding of software engineering practices,
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engineering practices, systems engineering, requirements engineering,
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because quite often embedded systems are used in a very process -centered world like automotive, like aerospace with.
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And even though they become more agile, they're still safety critical.
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So we still need a lot of documents, things to, in the end, show that they are safe.
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And of course, let's not forget security with IoT and connected devices everywhere.
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Cybersecurity has become a must -have skill for embedded engineers.
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Of course, it's not all sunshine and roses.
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Let's be real.
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Embedded systems can be challenging, deadlines are tight, debugging is painful,
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and you often work with hardware that is incomplete or undocumented or not yet even completely existing.
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Tools can be expensive and sometimes you're the bridge between the hardware and software teams for the application layer,
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which means you need very strong communication skills, not just technical ones.
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Also, compared to trendy software jobs like web development,
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salaries in Embedded might not always look as high as the first stats.
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But in specialized industries like automotive, aerospace and medical, compensation can be excellent.
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So what about the long term?
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I think Embedded is one of the most future -proof career paths.
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Why?
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because while frameworks programming languages and front -end libraries come
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and go the fundamental skills of working close to hardware understanding timing resource constraints and reliability
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safety security these never go out of style in fact with the rise of ai
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and the edge energy efficient chips and real -time robotics,
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the need for embedded engineers who can optimize software for limited hardware is increasing.
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These are skills that a large language model or a code generator can just replace easily.
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So if you are a student
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or somebody who now is selecting what you should study
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or a young engineer wondering whether to jump into embedded systems in 2026 my advice is absolutely yes
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but with a growth mindset don't just stop at the microcontroller
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tutorials learn how your code interacts with the hardware learn networking learn security
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and get comfortable with open source artos platforms also build projects share them maybe even contribute to open source,
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that's what will set you apart.
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At the end of the day, embedded engineers are the people who make sure the physical world and the digital world actually connect.
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And that role is only becoming more important.
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All right, that's my take on whether embedded systems is still a good career choice in 2026.
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Spoiler, yes it is and it's getting more exciting every year
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and now of course i'm interested in your take what do
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you think where are embedded systems going to in the next
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years let me know in the comments below also i will now start to make videos more frequently again
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so if you have questions
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that you want me to cover in one of these videos please also put those questions in the comments below
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if you like this video found it helpful please give it a thumbs up
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or subscribe to the channel or do both
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and share it with anyone who is thinking about a career in tech or in embedded systems Thanks for watching,
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and I'll see you in the next one.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 85 sentences and 1010 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:58. The speaker talks at a steady 127 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hardware noun | /ˈhɑɹdˌwɛɹ/ | Fixtures, equipment, fasteners, tools, and devices used for general-purpose construction and repair of a structure or object. Also such equipment as sold as… |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| chip noun | /t͡ʃɪp/ | A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material. |
| automotive adjective | /ˌɔtəˈmoʊtɪv/ | Having the ability to move by itself; self-propelled or self-propelling. |
| aerospace noun | /ˈɛɹ.oʊˌspeɪs/ | The atmosphere of the Earth and the region of space around it. |
| layer noun | /ˈleɪ̯ɚ/ | A single thickness of some material covering a surface. |
| fundamental adjective | /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/ | Related to a foundation, base, or basis; serving as a foundation. |
| requirement noun | /ɹɪˈkwaɪɹmənt/ | A necessity or prerequisite; something required or obligatory. Its adpositions are generally of in relation to who or what has given it, on in relation to whom… |
| reliability noun | The quality of being reliable, dependable, or trustworthy. | |
| robotics noun | /ɹoʊˈbɑ.tɪks/ | The science and technology of robots, their design, manufacture, and application |
| cloud noun | /ˈklaʊ̯d/ | A visible mass of water droplets suspended in the air. |
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| compare verb | /kəmˈpɛɚ/ | To assess the similarities and differences between two or more things [“to compare X with Y”]. Having made the comparison of X with Y, one might have found it… |
| select verb | /sɪˈlɛkt/ | To choose one or more elements of a set, especially a set of options. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | I've been asked · is embedded · is projected |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | somebody who now · people who make · anyone who is |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've been asked · has become |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'll, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, efficient /ɪˈfɪʃənt/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/, sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/, automation /ˌɔ.təˈmeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: automotive /ˌɔtəˈmoʊtɪv/, fundamental /ˌfʌn.dəˈmɛn.təl/, compensation /ˌkɑm.pənˈseɪ.ʃən/, importantly /ɪmˈpɔɹ.tənt.li/, invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəb(ə)l/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like hardware, skill, connect.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.