Are you preparing for a VLSI-based Industry?
Hola Peeps,
Today I am gonna talk about How one wishing to pursue his/her career in a Vlsi-Based industry can plan their preparation journey.
Firstly one must be clear about what is a VLSI-based industry and how it is different from other software industries. Vlsi industries are mainly preferred by the Electronics graduates throughout the globe while people with a broad set of education (or no formal education) can become software engineers.
VlSI industry requires professionals with depth knowledge of electronics and related concepts.
VLSI is a broad spectrum of technologies and there are several subcategories of jobs that companies hire for which can be broadly into three categories
1) Front end design (RTL design, microarchitecture, Functional Verification, Synthesis, etc),
2) Back end design (Floorplanning, Placement and Routing, Timing and Clock Tree synthesis, etc) as well as in
3) Silicon Validation and Testing (HW and SW framework and test generation for silicon testing in lab)
A lot of the interview topics — be it for written tests or interviews — are common and for entry-level engineers and need preparation of fundamentals of VLSI technologies. These can include the following topics in general:
In addition, if a candidate is experienced in a specific domain, then the interview process will focus more deeply on his specific area of expertise.
Digital Electronics/Digital Logic/Computer Architecture: This forms a very important part of any VLSI interview and can include questions related to Combinational/Sequential circuits, logic design using Gates, State machines, etc.
Programming Basics/HDL: For a front-end design or verification job, software skills are becoming increasingly important as hardware skills. There can be questions related to basic programming concepts and Hardware Description languages like Verilog, SystemVerilog, C, and Object-Oriented programming concepts. The level of difficulty can vary based on experience and for front-end jobs and may vary from basic concepts to programming questions or design implementation, verification methodologies, and scripting languages like Perl/Python, etc.
MOS Transistors/Circuits/Clock Tree: For a backend design job, it is important to understand the MOS transistor theory, process technologies, cross talk and transmission line effects, Clock Tree, and Power distribution mechanisms, Timing analysis, buffer modeling, etc.
Logical Reasoning/Aptitude: Test of problem-solving skills. Sometimes Aptitude and programing questions are combined and candidates are asked to solve an aptitude question using a program.
Behavioral: In addition to having strong technical skills, behavioral skills form an important part of any company’s work culture and hence this also needs some basic preparation. Questions like your interests and passions, strengths and weakness, short and long-term career goals, your ability to work in teams and handle conflicts, etc are the judge in this round.
Below is the list of some of the VLSI-based industries you can apply to:
- Intel
- Nvidia
- Qualcomm
- Broadcom
- Samsung
- Texas Instruments (TI)
- AMD
- ARM
- Analog devises Inc
- ST Microelectronics
- MediaTek
- Nxp Semiconductor
Some EDA companies related to VLSI — Tools as well as IP designs
- Cadence
- Mentor Graphics
- Synopsys
Resources one can refer to for their preparation:-
1.Digital Electronics :- Morris mano , Gate Digital Book
2.VHDl/Verilog :- Sammer Planitker , Websites like Chipverify.com , Asicworld.com.
3.System Verilog:- Stuart Sutherland , Website like Verification.guide4. CMOS and circuits :- Puknell , Websites like Tutorialpoints.
5. Static Time Analysis :- J bhaskar, websites like Vlsiexpert.com,vlsiresources.com
In my next post, I shall be sharing tips, Do and don’t while making your resume for such industries.
Hope you find this post informative. Do follow me for such an interesting post related to different technology.
Thanks for reading.
