To get the most out of your embedded design you need total system understanding in hardware as well as software. My name is Mark Samarin, I started Embedded Advantage to provide that service.
I began in the 80's with degrees in Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering. Over 35 years later things have changed. 8-bit designs have commonly become 32-bit and larger, peripherals are embedded into microcontrollers, and JTAG emulators are commonplace.
However. the necessary skills remain the same. Lower-level design skills are getting harder to acquire. There is value in having a resource you can call on to fill that gap.