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Semiconductor Engineer

The role of a semiconductor engineer is to design, fabricate, test, assemble and package semiconductor devices.

A semiconductor engineer is someone who uses their technical background to design and program semiconductors to meet the needs of different businesses. Semiconductor engineers manage all designing, building, troubleshooting and testing of electronic circuits. They have extensive knowledge of engineering and microelectronic systems that helps them create functioning electronics.

Semiconductor engineers are in charge of designing and creating different types of electrical systems. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a semiconductor engineer, it’s important to complete certain educational requirements. It can also be helpful to develop certain skills to make your application more competitive.

Semiconductor Engineer

What does a Semiconductor Engineer do?

Semiconductor Engineer

As a semiconductor engineer, your main job is to make semiconductors that are mostly made out of silicon. You have to create electrical products that enable the integration of workers, materials, and machines. Semiconductor engineers increase the efficiency of these semiconductors and develop new technologies for creating semiconductors for electric circuitry.

Semiconductor engineers are often asked to configure semiconductors so clients can directly request items for their business. These engineers build the necessary pathways on the silicon wafer, which comprise the semi-conductive whole after finishing the product through wafer bonding and etching.

  • Design Skills

    Semiconductor engineers design and develop systems, modules, software, structures and interfaces.

  • Statistical Process Control

    SPC is a method that uses statistical tools and charts to analyze a process or procedure over time. This could reveal an error in production or an internal system by highlighting data points outside the expected results.

  • Data Analysis

    These engineers provide statistical expertise and data analysis for projects involving the design, development, or validation of new or existing products/processes.

  • Failure Analysis

    Failure analysis is a step-by-step process of determining the reason for a particular machine or equipment failure by way of checking, identification, and examination.

Salary

Salary

Semiconductor engineers earn an average yearly salary of $96,000

Starting-level

Starting-level semiconductor engineer earnings begin at:

 
$34 per hour
$71,000 per year
Senior-level

Senior-level semiconductor engineer earnings begin at:

 
$54 per hour
$113,000 per year
Mid-level

Mid-level semiconductor engineer earnings begin at:

 
$46 per hour
$96,612 per year
Top-level

Top-level semiconductor engineer earnings begin at:

 
$63 per hour
$130,000 per year
Junior-level

Junior-level semiconductor engineer earnings begin at:

 
$39 per hour
$82,000 per year

These are 2021 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.

What does the workplace for a Semiconductor Engineer look like?

Most semiconductor engineers work in manufacturing. Many semiconductor manufacturing plants are environmentally clean, to prevent contamination of the wafers during the manufacturing process. Semiconductor engineers must be willing to work in clean environments and at times to wear anti-contamination gear when entering the manufacturing area of the plant.

Depending on the exact needs of the company, a semiconductor engineer might work with computer-generated designing, blueprint development, or testing of actual semiconductor parts, including the etching machines. While the etching machines are designed by someone other than the semiconductor engineers, the engineers are responsible for choosing machine settings and troubleshooting any problems.

How to Become a Semiconductor Engineer?

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

 

You may require a computer-focused engineering degree, although some companies may also favor those with software engineering experience. On the other hand, aspiring semiconductor engineers may benefit significantly from internships with experienced engineers in the field to gain some on-the-job experience.

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