So far in February 2025, notable R&D-related job cuts keep coming at companies ranging from Boeing, which is responding in part to delays and cost pressures in NASA’s Artemis program and Cruise, the GM-acquired robotaxi firm. The layoffs aren’t limited to aerospace and automotive. As January concluded, Teradyne’s robotics division layoffs (140 positions, 10% workforce…
‘Ugly’ layoffs: It’s not just a tech story
The world of software-based product development — at least in Big Tech — is chaotic of late. “In early 2025, tech layoffs are not only happening at a rapid clip, but these cuts are also getting ‘uglier.’” Yet according to a recent poll on the professional network Blind, most respondents (over 90% — 324 v.…
10 hot R&D and STEM roles in 2025 featured in LinkedIn report
The race for AI adoption is reshaping the R&D workforce, with AI Engineer (#1) and AI consultant (#2) securing top spots in LinkedIn’s 2025 Jobs on the Rise report. Meanwhile, sustainability specialist (#9) and semiconductor-oriented roles such as instrumentation & control engineer (#24) reflect continued growth in both “pure tech” and physical-world sectors. Although AI…
AI is redefining performance standards in Big Tech
As tech giants use AI to automate traditional coding tasks, companies are simultaneously cutting lower-performing roles while competing for AI talent—creating a two-track job market where AI expertise increasingly defines career prospects. During a recent interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg dished on the company’s plans for its continued push into…
6 in-demand R&D and STEM skill clusters for 2025
The past couple of years have delivered a paradox for STEM talent in the U.S. Despite macroeconomic headwinds prompting notable job cuts at employers from Big Tech to Big Pharma, science- and engineering-focused firms still struggle to find the specialized expertise they need. Recent Indicators reports from the National Science Board (NSB) describe an “accelerating…
100 of the largest tech, telecom and innovation sector layoffs of 2024
For many workers, it pays to have a job in an R&D or STEM-heavy field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 10.4% growth in STEM jobs through 2033, more than double the overall employment growth rate of 4%. However, the technology sector has experienced significant restructuring in 2024, with approximately 150,000 job cuts across more…
Amazon, Apple and NVIDIA compete for GPU talent with salaries of $300k or more
Tech giants are assembling AI supercomputers of unprecedented scale. Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Elon Musk’s xAI are building clusters boasting 100,000 or more H100 GPUs, with xAI planning to double its Colossus system to 200,000 GPUs — including the upcoming H200 model. To put this in perspective, OpenAI reportedly trained GPT-4 using roughly 25,000 A100…
Hardware giants cut 20,000+ jobs in 2024 as industry double down on AI
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times for hardware companies. For a handful of hardware companies, 2024 was a tough year. Intel, Dell, AMD, IBM jointly cut more than 23,000 jobs this year. Intel alone slashed 15,000 positions as it targeted $10 billion in cost savings by 2025. The PC…
Mid-2024 R&D job update: High salaries and remote options abound, but specialization is key
Land a six-figure salary and work from your couch? That’s a tangible possibility in the current R&D job market, and specialized skills could be an asset. While some sectors are still reeling from layoffs, there are a considerable number of job openings across R&D roles. Geographic distribution of R&D jobs/salary ranges While California has seen…