Intel Interview - Process Engineering Position

AI Thread Summary
An individual preparing for a process engineering interview at Intel is seeking advice on technical topics to study, particularly in solid-state devices and fabrication processes. They have a background in Electrical Engineering and have taken relevant courses but feel unprepared for the technical aspects of the interview. Suggestions include studying specific textbooks on microelectronic fabrication and focusing on thin film deposition techniques like PVD and CVD, as these are likely relevant to the role. The discussion highlights the importance of confidence and practical knowledge, emphasizing that many skills can be learned on the job. Overall, thorough preparation on key topics and a confident mindset are crucial for success in the interview.
dorkwitch
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Hi,

I have an onsite interview with Intel for a process engineering position. I believe this position is mainly for college graduates. I am graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in May 2008. I am quite nervous about the interview and want to be as prepared as I can be, especially for the technical interview.

Since it is for a process engineering position, am assuming the emphasis is going to be on Solid State. But I have not taken a class on fabrication as such. So, I don't know what I should study for the interview.

Right now, I am studying my microelectronics circuits book by Sedra/Smith and plan on skimmng through Fundamentals of Solid State Devices book also.

Do you have any suggestions, and some advice on do's and dont's?

Thank you.
 
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It would be worth seeing if you could track down a copy of Jaeger's Introduction to Microelectronic Fabrication and at least skim through it before your interview. It's a nice, short book, so you should be able to pick up a lot of information from it very quickly. For a more standard textbook, look for Campbell's The Science and Engineering of Microelectronic Fabrication.
 
Thank you

Thank you so much, I will try to get hold of those books right away.
 
have you at least taken a course on solid state devices?

Obviously, since they are giving you an interview, they believe you are a good match for the position. Just go in there and be confident.
 
leright said:
have you at least taken a course on solid state devices?

Obviously, since they are giving you an interview, they believe you are a good match for the position. Just go in there and be confident.

Yeah I have taken the course on fundamentals of solid state devices. It is just a lot of stuff to know and difficult to recall without a reference of some sort. So, I just wish they gave me an idea about the technical part so that I can concentrate on a particular concept that they feel is important to know.
 
dorkwitch said:
Yeah I have taken the course on fundamentals of solid state devices. It is just a lot of stuff to know and difficult to recall without a reference of some sort. So, I just wish they gave me an idea about the technical part so that I can concentrate on a particular concept that they feel is important to know.

Do you have any experience with ultra high vacuum systems? I know a couple of people that went to work at Intel for a process engineer position and they do a lot of work with UHV systems.
 
UHV systems are not used during fabrication, there is no need. It is true that many steps involve vacuum systems but as far as I know only "normal" vacuum equipment is used since the pressures are relatively hight( >10e-9 mBar) ; i.e. turbo pumps etc meaning most of the equipment is more or less "plug'n'play".
It still takes a while to learn how to use the equipment, but it not very difficult and besides most of the knowledge is very practical; not something you can be expected to pick up in a class.

How much do you know aboub thin film deposition, ion implantation etc?
If you want to read up on a particular topic this is what I suggest you focus on, "process engineering" will undoubtetly involve working with deposition systems so knowing something about PVD,CVD etc before the interview might be a good idea.
 
f95toli said:
How much do you know aboub thin film deposition, ion implantation etc?
If you want to read up on a particular topic this is what I suggest you focus on, "process engineering" will undoubtetly involve working with deposition systems so knowing something about PVD,CVD etc before the interview might be a good idea.

Aren't MBE, CVD, etc typically done in UHV? I know of a guy that went over there and is working eith MBE systems.
 
Let us know how it went!
 
  • #10
MBE is typically UHV, but CVD doesn't have to be, and isn't usually. In fact, the CVD work I did was done sometimes as high as 60torr, which some people would argue is hardly a vacuum at all!
 
  • #11
Locrian said:
MBE is typically UHV, but CVD doesn't have to be, and isn't usually. In fact, the CVD work I did was done sometimes as high as 60torr, which some people would argue is hardly a vacuum at all!

Ah, well the guys I know that took process engineer positions worked with MBE systems, and I know UHV skills are important there. But you're right, they wouldn't expect you to learn that stuff in school, and this stuff can be picked up on the job.
 
  • #12
I have some knowledge about the fabrication process from taking a quick course while I was interning at Micron Technology, but that is about it. I have picked the textbook suggested earlier in this thread and I plan on reading it for the interview. I just don't know the depth required for the tech questions.

Also, how much of circuit theory would they expect me to know?

Thanks everyone for sharing the information.
 
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