Kunal Kandekar wrote:
"...to work on some thing where I have the freedom and creative license to design and configure ALL aspects of a device/ unit ...Hardware, Firmware and Software (High and Low level) "Smart" and Intelligent applications interest me too."

Ah, then after you get your next degree, take a quick MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree. Its easy material for engineer types - it tests our patience on silly marketing concepts and organizational behavior charts than it tests our brains.
However, it does give you the key thinking to running a profitable business; something anti-engineering.

Engineers have wonderful ideas for profitable products but can't make it happen without business partners that eventually take over the company. Learn their ways and you get the best of both worlds.

No company really gives you control to do neat things... they only loan some control to you. Corporations generally only have a 6 month memory of the good work you've done for them; if you haven't done a miracle recently, your history is of no advantage.

So, if you want control, you have to replace these managers in your situation. Study all the entrepreneur courses you can. Learn the accounting, marketing, and all the silly things MBA know. Take jobs to learn the talents and technology you need, accumulate the money you need to start up your own company, AND THEN, use what you learned in COMPETITIVE STRATEGY to identify a niche market that is poorly served, that your technology can advance beyond the abilities of those companies serving that niche.

You don't ever get rich on salary. Invest in your own company and future. Read all the books you can. Stay AWAY from venture capitalist. Plan as self-financing business and you'll have everything you want.

or not. :)

duh