What does a semiconductor engineer do?
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 engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real semiconductor engineer resumes:
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Accelerate the development cycle for IBM server microprocessors and ASICs.
- Shorten the production ramp for IBM server microprocessors through data automation and analysis.
- Improve the net performance and reliability of IBM's high-end system microprocessor by defining fab process parametric targets and limits.
- Complete CAPA investigations and implementation.
- Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.
- Focuse on resolving numerous cross browser compatibility relate to CSS and JavaScript.
Semiconductor engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Semiconductor Engineers are proficient in Data Analysis, RF, and Failure Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Speaking skills, Writing skills, and Creativity.
We break down the percentage of Semiconductor Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Analysis, 21%
Provided statistical expertise and data analysis for projects involving the design, development, or validation of new or existing products/processes.
- RF, 19%
Performed system diagnostics, including problem isolation within the RF and Network interfaces requiring spectrum and protocol analysis equipment.
- Failure Analysis, 18%
Worked with oscilloscopes, Eaton robotic test equipment, clean room exposure, chemical compounds to dissect components for failure analysis.
- R, 7%
Used data mining techniques using R, Python and SQL to understand unstructured data to address quality & efficiency issues.
- Sputtering, 7%
Developed SiN process for passivation and capacitors by sputtering and PECVD (Tricon Sigma and Delta).
- SPC, 5%
Generated electronic SPC charts as quality improvement effort to move from a paper to electronic environment.
"data analysis," "rf," and "failure analysis" are among the most common skills that semiconductor engineers use at work. You can find even more semiconductor engineer responsibilities below, including:
Speaking skills. One of the key soft skills for a semiconductor engineer to have is speaking skills. You can see how this relates to what semiconductor engineers do because "industrial engineers sometimes have to explain their instructions to production staff or technicians before they can make written instructions available." Additionally, a semiconductor engineer resume shows how semiconductor engineers use speaking skills: "performed circuit card testing & packaging process audits & presented the results in production meetings. "
Writing skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling semiconductor engineer duties is writing skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "industrial engineers must prepare documentation for other engineers or scientists, or for future reference." According to a semiconductor engineer resume, here's how semiconductor engineers can utilize writing skills in their job responsibilities: "performed field inspections as well as report writing of geotechnical investigations. "
Creativity. This is an important skill for semiconductor engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how semiconductor engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "industrial engineers use creativity and ingenuity to design new production processes in many kinds of settings in order to reduce the use of material resources, time, or labor while accomplishing the same goal." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a semiconductor engineer: "maintain acceptable and accurate inventory logs through reports of overages and shortages in system under iso 9001-2008 certification. ".
Listening skills. semiconductor engineer responsibilities often require "listening skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "these engineers often operate in teams, but they also must solicit feedback from customers, vendors, and production staff." This resume example shows what semiconductor engineers do with listening skills on a typical day: "communicated with suppliers to address recurring quality problems and initiate formal corrective actions. "
Math skills. A commonly-found skill in semiconductor engineer job descriptions, "math skills" is essential to what semiconductor engineers do. Semiconductor engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "industrial engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." You can also see how semiconductor engineer duties rely on math skills in this resume example: "acted as statistics expert for capability studies using minitab and other statistical software. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill commonly found on semiconductor engineer job descriptions is "problem-solving skills." It can come up quite often in semiconductor engineer duties, since "in designing facilities for manufacturing and processes for providing services, these engineers deal with several issues at once, from workers’ safety to quality assurance." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day semiconductor engineer responsibilities: "led cross-functional team meetings to develop corrective actions and problem resolution. "
The three companies that hire the most semiconductor engineers are:
- Honeywell20 semiconductor engineers jobs
- Canon4 semiconductor engineers jobs
- Booz Allen Hamilton3 semiconductor engineers jobs
Compare different semiconductor engineers
Semiconductor engineer vs. Research and development engineer
Research and development engineers generally execute research and tests on product ideas, develop new products, and perform redesigns. They are employed in many industries, including manufacturing, electrical, and science-based companies. Their duties vary and depend on the industries they work in. Responsibilities of these engineers include developing new technologies, designing products, and managing the projects until they are completed. Additionally, they lead the project team members to manage their schedules, design the project plans, and collaborate with key departments in developing new products.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a semiconductor engineer are more likely to require skills like "chemistry," "soc," "ate," and "afm." On the other hand, a job as a research and development engineer requires skills like "python," "c #," "solidworks," and "cad." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that research and development engineers earn slightly differ from semiconductor engineers. In particular, research and development engineers are 6.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a semiconductor engineer. Additionally, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Semiconductor engineer vs. Process engineer
A Process Engineer is responsible for coming up with innovative ways to process particular raw materials into different kinds of products. They can also modify various existing machines or maintain their quality by monitoring its functions and conducting tests and examinations. A Process Engineer must do numerous analyses and research to gather data that would help determine possible improvements or decisions to uphold. Furthermore, A Process Engineer also has the task of procuring and installing new equipment, collecting and interpreting data, assessing risks, and ensuring that tasks are done safely.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, semiconductor engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "fpga," "rf," "failure analysis," and "chemistry." Meanwhile, a process engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "project management," "troubleshoot," "lean six sigma," and "product quality." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
In general, process engineers achieve similar levels of education than semiconductor engineers. They're 0.6% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for semiconductor engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Semiconductor engineer vs. Engineer
Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from semiconductor engineer resumes include skills like "fpga," "failure analysis," "chemistry," and "soc," whereas an engineer is more likely to list skills in "python," "cloud," "c++," and "c #. "
Most engineers achieve a similar degree level compared to semiconductor engineers. For example, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 3.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Semiconductor engineer vs. Packaging engineer
A Packaging Engineer plans and implements packaging designs to ensure product integrity and appeal. Their primary duties include supervising and managing the complete packaging development process, analyzing engineering drawings, and conducting periodic vendor reviews.
Types of semiconductor engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
