i'll share to you my path as a mechanical engineer

2014: graduated with bachelor degree (Hons)
2014: got hired to a japanese MNC company, doing Mech Design & R&D (and yes the best place to learn mechanical design) for electronic consumer product
2018: left that company after 3.5yrs, joined another emerging Japanese MNC in R&D (role is more to project and also some design due to it's still new, im pioneer)
2018: after 10months, i left and joined an Italian electronic company but as an Application Engineer (my highest salary jump so far)

in between these career jump, i seek actively in jobstreet etc
reason is because i felt undervalued in terms of salary and talent appreciation (like one forumer said, probably in OnG you're more valued)

Mechanical Design by states/industries from my exposure
Penang - electronics industry
Selangor - automation & automative industry
Johor - a lot of mix & match industry, but i see many suppliers (tool makers, injection molders, metal stamping)

in the end, its what you want to do or seek:
salary?
career?
location?

for me, i am seeking for a role in between sales and technical (Project seems to fit in this role or maybe application) thus now i left my comfort zone as a designer and doing application now