What Does A Semiconductor Engineer Do?

If you are logical, systematic and analytical in your daily life, a career as a semiconductor engineer could be perfect for you. 

Perhaps you have recently or are soon to complete a university degree and are contemplating your next steps. MRL has outlined the types of tasks you would come across, salary expectations and more if you were to pursue a position in semiconductor engineering.

So, what does a semiconductor engineer actually do?

Semiconductors are devices within electronic equipment that conduct heat between a conductor and an insulator. The role of a semiconductor engineer is to design, fabricate, assemble and package these.

What will an average day look like for a semiconductor engineer?

Semiconductor engineers can work for stand-alone organisations and companies or with governments. The route you choose to take will alter how the role will look day-to-day. However, in general, you can expect to experience the following:

• Designing and developing systems, modules, software, structures and interfaces
• Carrying out reviews and creating specification documents
• Troubleshooting potential software problems and resolving them when they do occur
• Depending on the specifications of your role, you may also work with blueprint development, computer-generated designing etc.
• Interacting with equipment manufacturers and department heads
• Assembling and packaging the equipment ready for shipping
• Writing reports and maintaining records

The environment you operate in will often be extremely clean to protect your equipment. This means that you may be required to wear anti-contamination clothing as part of this.

How about salary expectations?

Average salaries for semiconductor engineers will vary from country to country and city to city. Below are approximate figures covering some of the areas we are actively recruiting for:

Bear in mind that these are approximate figures and will fluctuate by location. 

How can I become a semiconductor engineer?

The majority of companies looking to hire a semiconductor engineer ask candidates to hold an engineering bachelor's degree. If your degree focuses on computer engineering, then all the better.

Degrees that touch on the following topics are also desirable:

• Information systems
• Software engineering
• Information technology

Additionally, any internships you can obtain while you study will be extremely beneficial to securing a role. 

What are the largest semiconductor companies?

Dream big! Nothing is stopping you from working your way into some of the largest semiconductor companies in the world. Some of the big names you could aim for include:

What kind of roles are there in the semiconductor sector?

Semiconductor engineering is quite an expansive industry, and there are multiple avenues you can choose. Just some of the engineering teams you could become part of include:

• Mixed-signal IC design team
• IC resources team
• FPGA design engineering team
• Analogue layout team
• IC manufacturing and packaging team

Some of the roles you could fill include:

• IC tester
• Deep learning engineer
• Verification engineer
• Software architect
• ASUC design engineer
• Process engineer 

And more.

Find a semiconductor engineer role

Are you ready to apply for a position? The team at MRL can find the perfect company for you. We pride ourselves on how we approach connecting candidates with the right company, with respect and integrity at all times.