Chip Implementation Engineer

What was the application process like?

I started the process by completing an online profile on my educational history, previous employment and achievements; I also uploaded a copy of my CV with a cover letter. I then had a phone interview where the role was discussed in more detail and I could ask details about the placement. Following this I had two interviews; the first included a written test on areas from my degree, and for the second I gave a presentation about a recent project.

Describe a normal day in the office

My daily role consisted of project work and working on designs and circuits that had been assigned to me. To monitor progress I would also attend regular meetings with the team or my manager and we would discuss what further opportunities were available to me and which was the best direction for me to take. I needed to rely on strong problem solving skills in my every day work, but also be confident at communicating any problems that occurred.

What were the highlights of your job?

Making use of the experience and knowledge of my colleagues was definitely one of the best parts of my time, they were able to explain things excellently and really helped me in my understanding of harder concepts. As a result I contributed to live project work which was hugely rewarding. Intel also has a very lively social community; taking golf lessons, cinema trips, go-karting and playing football were amongst a few of the activities I enjoyed participating in.

What is the most valuable lesson you learnt on your placement / internship?

Learning and applying areas of electronic engineering that I hadn’t covered at university was very challenging and really forced me to quickly develop my technical abilities so I could make realistic contributions to the team. As a lot of the engineers were always very busy, having the confidence to ask for help and guidance was also a challenge for me and probably the most valuable asset I will take away with me from my time at Intel.

How has this placement / internship affected your career prospects?

The length of my placement meant I could gain a really in depth view of what being a full time engineer would entail. My experience has given me an increased focus and drive to pursue a career in Digital IC Design; an area which I perhaps wouldn’t have given as much thought to before. I think the qualifications (IET EngTech status and Verilog certification) and experience I have gained will also make my CV more appealing to future employers too.