[tr2279]

Hi all,
This is my first post here and I hope I started this thread in the right spot.
I wanted to get some advice on how to expand my skill set in thermal analysis. I currently work for an avionics company and have exposure to thermals in electronic packaging for our aircraft computing.
We use 6SigmaET as our thermal analysis software, I wanted to be able build on that and for component and pcb level analysis at home.
Is there a software that is almost comparable that’s not crazy expensive?
The end goal is to start my own company for thermal and structural in the future, I love the company that I’m at but they’re not making the best decisions and I just want something to fall back on in between jobs.

Edit:
I want to clarify, I will not be using anything related to my company, I am trying to find an affordable thermal software and learn at home with using examples I find online.

[LuckyTran]

What you are proposing is considered disloyal employee behavior and you are putting yourself at risk of reciprocal legal action. I recommend you don't flaunt these actions in public.

[tr2279]

I’m a little confused, how it disloyal to grow my skills ?

[LuckyTran]

Growing your skills isn't, but growing your skills with the specific intent of eventually betraying your employer is exactly what it sounds like, betrayal. You now put every professional that interacts with you in a problematic situation. Quit your job, then we can talk.

[tr2279]

Why is it betrayal ?
Why does it matter?
Am I not allowed to have extra income on the side ?

[andy_]

Originally Posted by tr2279

Am I not allowed to have extra income on the side ?

It depends on what you do to earn the extra income. Being employed by a company means you have transferred to them some rights concerning what you produce with your labour both at work and home. This is covered by local employment laws and the contract with your employer. Intellectual property of software is a common one that pops up on forums like this but any side job that competes with your employer is likely to be legally problematic and almost certainly so if it involves clients that could have gone to your employer.

Obviously there is no problem getting better educated or earning money on the side that has nothing to do with what you are employed to do at work. But there are potentially a range of problems if it involves the expertise and knowledge your employer is paying you to provide to them. Details will vary from country to country and a lawyer is going to provide more reliable information than posters on the web for your particular set of circumstances.

PS If there is doubt and you don't want to involve lawyers get a written agreement from your employer to do whatever you want to do.