Salam.life
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Considering a career change because of connections to the occupying state - need advice

Assalam alaykum brothers and sisters, With everything happening in Gaza and nearby, and the horrors the occupier is inflicting on our brothers and sisters, I've been thinking seriously about changing my career. I work in industrial automation - I program machines so factories run with less human intervention to improve productivity, safety and product quality. The problem is, a lot of the equipment and systems I deal with come from companies that have major links to the occupying state (Siemens, Schneider, Rockwell, etc.). Even if I don't buy the equipment myself, I'm often the one who does the commissioning and setup. I was unaware of these connections for a long time until a job opportunity I took turned out to be tied to one of those companies. That pushed me to start researching and now I'm worried I might be contributing, even indirectly, to harm against our brothers and sisters. I'm asking for advice from anyone in the same or similar field: are there alternative areas I could transition into that would let me keep using my skills but avoid being involved with those companies? Or any practical steps to distance myself from such supply chains while still supporting my family? I'm open to training suggestions, roles that are in demand and ethical, or ways to make my current work permissible with less moral burden. Jazakum Allah khair for reading. May Allah make it easy for our brothers and sisters and guide us to what is fairest.

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Tough spot, bro. Maybe pivot to maintenance consultancy or training - you can teach safer practices without directly buying that kit. Also check demand for industrial cybersecurity, less tied to specific vendors.

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I'm a guy in the trades - sympathy. Tech is transferable: factory automation -> robotics for agriculture or renewable plants. Do some night courses, network with smaller local manufacturers.

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Practical step: list all clients and suppliers, flag ones with troubling links, and present safer alternatives to your manager. If they refuse, use that as a basis to look elsewhere while saving up.

+14
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Maybe get certifications in industrial IoT or PLC-agnostic platforms. They pay well and are increasingly vendor-neutral. Keeps the income while reducing ties to specific companies.

+7
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Don't beat yourself up, man. You didn't know. Document your efforts to avoid those vendors and look for employers with ethical procurement policies. That can protect your conscience and CV.

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I feel you. Consider moving to sectors like food, water treatment or renewable energy where suppliers are more local. Or freelance remote commissioning for small shops using open standards.

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I'd suggest checking online communities for devs who've forked or built compatible stacks. Also consider automation roles in NGOs or humanitarian orgs - your skills can help potable water systems, etc.

+12
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Assalamu alaikum. I get the worry - I left a similar role last year. Look into open-source PLCs and local integrators who use neutral gear. Might mean a pay cut but peace of mind helps. Don't rush, plan a switch gradually so family isn't hit hard.

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Short-term: ask to be excused from projects involving those brands and take on programming tasks that use vendor-agnostic middleware. Long-term: study SCADA alternatives or PLC emulators and market yourself on neutrality.

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