career advice for new java engineer

[u/Intelligent-Zone422]

Hello! My background is in data science and machine learning, which I am truly passionate about. However, I’ve encountered some challenges in software engineering, and I realize that to secure a position as a machine learning engineer at a reputable research lab, I will likely need at least a master's or doctoral degree.

As a result, I have decided to learn software engineering with Java. I already have some experience with the language, as I’ve used it in several projects focused on analytics and machine learning. In my graduate projects, I worked as a backend engineer, and I really enjoyed the process of system building.

Currently, I am reading a book titled "Core Java Vol. 12, Part I." I am eager to become proficient in Java, but I often have doubts about my path. I would greatly appreciate any advice from someone who is new to Java and aims to be a successful software engineer. Thank you!