How hard is it to get a job in the semiconducter industry?

[DriftyPrime]

College student taking A-levels here, I've been thinking about pursuing a degree in physics for a while now, but the job prospect is making me a bit hesitant. I live in Malaysia and from what I've heard, I can't really do much with a physics degree outside of research. I had people tell me that research in Malaysia isn't really effective, and I should just get a degree in engineering. I've seen people on the internet say that I should only get a degree in physics if in interested in research, but I don't really know if I like it or not because I don't really have any experience with it. If I were to go into industry with a physics degree, what can I do?

I've read about the semiconductor industry and I think it is very interesting. Unfortunately from what I've seen, they mostly hire engineers, and I've been told that physicists do not have the technically skills an engineer has, is this true? If not, what do they do? I've watched videos of physicists doing R&D in companies such as ASML, but I don't think there are any companies doing R&D here right, or have I mistaken? Yes, I'm well aware that R&D roles require a PhD. Do physicist do anything other than R&D in the semiconductor industry?

 

[Muu9]

Have you looked at MIMOS?
E.g. https://www.mimos.my/researcher/
You could also research the new semiconductor IC park.
That being said, the best option from a career perspective would most likely be electrical engineering. Still, you could try to reach out to Malaysian individuals in the field on LinkedIn to discuss the options.

 

[CrysPhys]

I've read about the semiconductor industry and I think it is very interesting. Unfortunately from what I've seen, they mostly hire engineers, and I've been told that physicists do not have the technically skills an engineer has, is this true? If not, what do they do? I've watched videos of physicists doing R&D in companies such as ASML, but I don't think there are any companies doing R&D here right, or have I mistaken? Yes, I'm well aware that R&D roles require a PhD. Do physicist do anything other than R&D in the semiconductor industry?

Job markets are highly local. I'm not familiar with Malaysia, so others who are will need to chime in here. But in general, a large semiconductor company (such as Intel) that encompasses R&D through production hires scientists and engineers from a wide variety of fields (e.g., physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering) and with degrees spanning BS, MS, and PhD.

Still, you could try to reach out to Malaysian individuals in the field on LinkedIn to discuss the options.

This is good advice. Also look at current job posts for different types of positions and required or preferred majors and degrees. Another good resource (if available at your university) is the alumni office (either university or specific department): find out where recent grads have gone to work. If they have a listing on LinkedIn (or similar website), you can contact them there. If they don't, you can ask your alumni office to forward an email from you to them and ask for an informational chat. (I don't know how things work in Malaysia. In the US, universities often keep contact information for alumni, but that's held confidential. They sometimes will forward email to alumni for good cause.)

 

[berkeman]

I live in Malaysia and from what I've heard, I can't really do much with a physics degree outside of research. I had people tell me that research in Malaysia isn't really effective, and I should just get a degree in engineering.

I've read about the semiconductor industry and I think it is very interesting. Unfortunately from what I've seen, they mostly hire engineers

Since you live fairly close to Taiwan and are interested in semiconductors, have you looked at the very large company TSMC in Taiwan? I don't know what the work visa situation is between your country and Taiwan, but TSMC is a leading edge semiconductor company that does amazing work. I recently went on a business trip from Silicon Valley USA to TSMC in Tainan Taiwan to provide support for my company's intelligent controller modules that are embedded in some of their semiconductor fab machines. I was very impressed by their company and how well everything was designed.

One of my good friends is an ME who does some design work for a TSMC contractor, and I could see some of his handiwork when I visited that contractor here in Silicon Valley and when I visited TSMC. Walking through a giant TSMC IC fab facility "clean room" (which can cover acres of area) is surreal, with robot trams on the ceiling transporting IC wafer modules between fab machines, and fab machines in rows that go off way into the distance. I was seriously in awe walking that kilometer from the clean room entrance and bunny suit changing area all the way to where our machines were. Watching the transport robot modules flying along the tracks on the ceiling and negotiating at intersections was just wild.

Anyway, definitely check out TSMC and see what kinds of physicists and engineers they hire. And if you can get an internship there, so much the better. Good luck!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...h-wKegQIIRAE&usg=AOvVaw0Aa32NWjHTmqJA9k2iYdTy

 

[DriftyPrime]

Have you looked at MIMOS?
E.g. https://www.mimos.my/researcher/
You could also research the new semiconductor IC park.
That being said, the best option from a career perspective would most likely be electrical engineering. Still, you could try to reach out to Malaysian individuals in the field on LinkedIn to discuss the options.

No, I haven't. Thanks for the suggestion! I never thought that we have companies like that. I've always thought that researches are done only at universities.

How should I reach out to people on LinkedIn? I'm still in college, so I don't really know how to use it. Do I just search up "physicist" and start messaging people that have worked in the industry before?

 

[DriftyPrime]

Job markets are highly local. I'm not familiar with Malaysia, so others who are will need to chime in here. But in general, a large semiconductor company (such as Intel) that encompasses R&D through production hires scientists and engineers from a wide variety of fields (e.g., physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering) and with degrees spanning BS, MS, and PhD.



This is good advice. Also look at current job posts for different types of positions and required or preferred majors and degrees. Another good resource (if available at your university) is the alumni office (either university or specific department): find out where recent grads have gone to work. If they have a listing on LinkedIn (or similar website), you can contact them there. If they don't, you can ask your alumni office to forward an email from you to them and ask for an informational chat. (I don't know how things work in Malaysia. In the US, universities often keep contact information for alumni, but that's held confidential. They sometimes will forward email to alumni for good cause.)

I heard that companies in Malaysia usually do testing and packaging for chips, but not designing them. I'm not sure how valid that statement is, as it's just advice from a relative. If that's the case, what would a physicist do if not R&D? Do they do the same thing as engineers?

From what I've seen, most job listings I see are teaching. I'm not sure whether it's because I'm not doing a good job searching, or it's because that is what most physics majors end up. My college doesn't really have that as it only provides pre-university education (most Malaysians can't get into universities straightaway after high school, we have to get pre-university qualifications first before going into universities). Unfortunately, I don't think I can find anyone who has pursued a degree in physics here.

 

[DriftyPrime]

Since you live fairly close to Taiwan and are interested in semiconductors, have you looked at the very large company TSMC in Taiwan? I don't know what the work visa situation is between your country and Taiwan, but TSMC is a leading edge semiconductor company that does amazing work. I recently went on a business trip from Silicon Valley USA to TSMC in Tainan Taiwan to provide support for my company's intelligent controller modules that are embedded in some of their semiconductor fab machines. I was very impressed by their company and how well everything was designed.

One of my good friends is an ME who does some design work for a TSMC contractor, and I could see some of his handiwork when I visited that contractor here in Silicon Valley and when I visited TSMC. Walking through a giant TSMC IC fab facility "clean room" (which can cover acres of area) is surreal, with robot trams on the ceiling transporting IC wafer modules between fab machines, and fab machines in rows that go off way into the distance. I was seriously in awe walking that kilometer from the clean room entrance and bunny suit changing area all the way to where our machines were. Watching the transport robot modules flying along the tracks on the ceiling and negotiating at intersections was just wild.

Anyway, definitely check out TSMC and see what kinds of physicists and engineers they hire. And if you can get an internship there, so much the better. Good luck!

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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...h-wKegQIIRAE&usg=AOvVaw0Aa32NWjHTmqJA9k2iYdTy

Thanks for the insight! Would definitely check that out.