Query about working for Intel.

[Hoboclese]

Ok i dont know where else to ask this so here will do.

I am currently studying Robotics and Mechatronics Computer Science and software engineering. It's essentially a course in production line sorta stuff, but the place i would really like it to take me would be Intel and working for their chip manufacturing plant. As this is a pretty ambitious goal i was wondering if anyone would be able to steer me in the right direction as to weather this is a viable goal or if I'm better off elsewhere. If you don't know would it be possible to PM me about how to contact someone that does? Also the TWMC plant would be cool as well if anyone has contacts there.

Cheers

Will

[Hoboclese]

(Bump)

and just to clarify I'm not asking people to put a good word in for me just how i would go about approaching this goal and who to approach, because i really don't know anyone else to ask about this.

[fatguy1992]

Did u try looking on the Intel site?

http://www.intel.com/jobs/australia/...-au+intel_jobs

[Speederlander]

Unless you do something unique and spectacular to set you apart not only from the many people just getting out of school but also the legions of highly qualified unemployeed now looking for a job, you are very unlikely to get a position with Intel out of the gate. Best way to get into Intel is to prove yourself working for other companies and make contacts. So many people want in Intel, unless it's a regional hire and their options are limited by the local capabilities, they can pick and choose. Further, with their profits so depressed by the market they are doing very little hiring, if any, filling mostly critical path positions.

[Hoboclese]

... i feel stupid. I guess i thought that intel was so big that they wouldn't have that sort of thing. Thank you for the pointer, i shall now look before asking.

[Blauhung]

yeah, you're best off looking for openings first. But as for your field of study, we can always use guys with backgrounds in programing and robotics within the automation systems in the factories.

Really there isn't much in the way of assembly line robotics in the clean rooms though. Wafers are delivered tool to tool in a FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod). They store 25 12" wafers. They are carried by what we call OHV's (OverHead Vehicle) that run on tracks along the ceiling. Then lower the pod down with a belt system to the particular tool. Each tool may have wafer handling robots, but those are mostly the responsibility of the individual vendors that build the production tools. One of the big areas for robotic development is probably with the tool vendors in preparing for all the handling issues that will come up when we move up in wafer size which will be to 18" I think. So if you are looking robotics, you are probably best off looking for a job with one of the equipment suppliers.

Now on the software side, the things that Intel does look for goes along the lines of automation programing. For instance we are continually moving towards a "lights out" fab model of operation. Currently probably about half the operations in a current process technology still require technicians monitoring and loading lots to tools, but we are making good headway towards having lots intelligently travel from tool to tool and operation to operation without requiring human intervention. For instance I work in Lithography. We have multiple process layers we are responsible for and multiple toolsets that are qualified to run many of these layers. Within each layer there are multiple products that each tool may or may not be qualified to run. Each product and layer combination has multiple lithography masks which are in various states of health and may be in locations other then the tool that is able to run. Each level of qualification changes day to day based on the health of each combination as measured by in line monitors as lots are run. I can't speak for all of Intel's factories, but this is a good example of the kinda work that is required.

As for contacts, again if you want a job with Intel, you kinda just have to look for openings or find your way in through one of our vendors.

[NWEng]

Intel is pretty good at laying off people. Although it might be cool to say you work for Intel, I wouldn't. My wife did though for about two years and they just wore her down. No thank you.

[Shadowmage]

It's pretty easy to get a job working at Intel, but you need to be at the right place at the right time. Does your school have a career fair or something that you can attend? Basically, most of the companies have "priority" schools that they primarily recruit from. If you're attending one of these schools, then finding a job with them will be fairly easy (provided that you have the prerequisite skills). If not, then it'll be much harder.

My advice for you is that if you're not attending one of those "priority" schools, then you should try to find some connection to help you. XS has a ton of Intel employee members, some fairly visible (such as DrWho? and Blauhung) and some are not. Try getting one of them to recommend you to their manager. My guess is that since we're on an internet medium, you'll need to work especially hard to prove to them that you're talented and worthy of their recommendation - after all, they're staking their own reputation on your success.


EDIT: Oh, and another tip. I strongly recommend that you attend a Master's program in the United States at a reputable school, preferably in a place that Intel has a lot of influence. You should have multiple internship experiences as well, that always helps.

[Blauhung]

And yes, with the economy as it is. Now would be a good time to stay for a masters

[iandh]

My sister was an executive secretary in PHX facility, and my brother-in-law was a process engineer there.

Both were very happy about their jobs with intel until they were laid off with little notice.

Neither had anything good to say about the company itself afterwards other than how thankful they were for good friends they had gained while employed there.

My sister now runs a successful business and my brother-in-law is an engineer with freescale.

intel = just another (although very successful) corporation




edit: I'm not trying to say intel is a "bad" place to work, just that it is not particularly special in the technical field overall, other than the prestige of the name, and contact with some of the bright folks you may meet there. In this economy you may get laid off at intel and end up working as an automation specialist at a cupcake factory.