I am one who believes that design and new product development can be an apprenticeship and does not need formal education, although I do have a formal education and I may be in the minority with my viewpoint.
That said, I suspect your frustrations stem more from personality and not skills. No one is a cultural fit in every place. Nor should you expect bending from either party to force a fit. If you are not feeling it from your current employer, be fairly certain they are not feeling it from you.
Good luck in finding the right place. Might I suggest 555 Fabrication in Chicago. Always has been a “dream” job for me. And while currently it would be a radical step backward in my “career”, maybe in retirement I could be an apprentice there.