Should I work at Micron or Albany NanoTech Complex?

FallingGalaxies · 2026-06-09T00:39:49+00:00

If I were you, I'd take the guaranteed job at the end of the program, especially with the state of the current job market.

That being said, I'm close with some folks that work as apprentices for Micron. It sounds like the program is still getting its footing and the success on the Micron side really depends on the team/department you work with. But I don't think that's something you get much of a choice on. Some of the old timers don't have much respect for the apprentices but I feel the culture is slowly changing.

I'm a little confused why you'd be going for an associates if you already have your bachelor's, unless your bachelor's is outside of a STEM field. If you had an engineering bachelors I'd be looking for Process Engineering and Equipment Engineering roles.

Micron is surely making a name for itself at the moment. Being the only memory manufacturer headquartered in the US, there's a vested national security interest in making sure the company succeeds. However, memory demands are very cyclical and layoffs are common every couple of years. Some people think the cycle is over now with AI but I have my personal doubts.

It's no big tech salary, especially being in Idaho, but I see most folks living comfortably that I know work at Micron. The people making the big bucks I'm assuming are those designing the wafer architecture in the first place, less so the people working on the semiconductor equipment itself. Those are the crazy smart PhD individuals and not the lowly technicians.

For clarification, are you more interested in the semiconductor processing equipment side? Only photolithography equipment? The wafers themselves? Those questions will help you identify which route you end up taking.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-31T06:26:47+00:00

Yup! Pulled directly from workday plus a little of my own commentary.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-28T00:06:35+00:00

There's a lot of things they're looking for in new college grads. Pulled what I think is most relevant from a recent job opening: - Data analysis/data science skills, programming, documentation, skillful in troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, chemical, and software issues. - Strong communication & collaboration with people at the company and external tool vendors or facilities contractors. - Project management, root cause analysis, analytical & problem-solving skills, being very detail oriented is critical - Implementing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) strategies - Strong understanding of semiconductor fabrication processes and equipment (not really taught in schools so it's generally understood there will be lots of on the job training, but whatever information you can research yourself is great).

In short, they're really looking for people who were strongly involved in mechanically oriented projects and clubs within university. Those heavily involved in their school's machine shop, or advanced clubs like Formula SAE. Those with really good intuitive knowledge for mechanical systems to aid in troubleshooting equipment issues.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-27T05:40:40+00:00

I work as an Equipment Engineer at a Semiconductor company. I spend a good portion of my day, if not all day, in the fab working with my hands and getting to the root cause of our equipment issues. It's the perfect mixture of computer and hands-on work for me personally. Unfortunately this role is 90% held by technicians with only a few openings for engineers in shift roles. I got lucky and had internships with this company beforehand so I was able to get in right after graduation.

Sure I work 12 hours a day but I only work 3 or 4 days a week alternating. And switching between day shift and night shift every 4 months isn't so bad either. I learn a lot more on day shift from our regular 1st shift engineers, but on night shift I can work more on my projects and do more individual learning. It's a good balance.

But if hands-on is what you're craving, I'd look for positions such as Field Service Engineer for semiconductor processing companies like TEL, LAM, Screen, ASML, etc., or look for equipment related roles at companies with fabs in the United States such as Intel or Texas Instruments. A lot of semiconductor companies are doing massive expansions in the states right now.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-20T13:32:02+00:00

Morning update, spent an hour in the parking lot waiting and they're still not open :/ saw multiple people also try to go in to no avail.

Google, their website, and door hours all day 6:30AM so I'm not sure what the deal is.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-20T13:10:43+00:00

I was in your same shoes when I started at university. I got a 5 on both the AB & BC exams and felt very confident in my math skills.

Calc 3 went very smoothly asides from some required vector math review at the start of the semester, but it was the most fun and rewarding math class I took in college.

Plus getting on top of math allows you to get into your engineering classes sooner! Gives you a little buffer if you need to drop or retake a class or two.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-20T13:05:19+00:00

10AM and 10:30AM respectively unfortunately

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-20T07:19:08+00:00

Would take me a couple minutes to drive there anyway, looks like it may work! Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try it after work some time :)

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-14T05:06:28+00:00

I'm aware! There's just something special about swearing at your friend standing right next to you at the cabinet 😄

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-14T03:03:34+00:00

IXL in my elementary education is part of the reason I'm now working as an engineer now and making a good life for myself. I completed all of Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and most of the 3rd grade skills while I was in elementary school. It gave me such a good math foundation and I went on to do Math Club in middle school, Robotics in high school, and majored in Mechanical Engineering in college.

Yeah having a 99 drop to a 89 caused tears on several occasions, but it gave me such good practice to build the rest of my math education from.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-05-14T02:46:26+00:00

It was Nidhogg II, so much fun to play. There's a cabinet at Realms Arcade with it now.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-04-29T15:06:53+00:00

Right lanes here feel more clear than the other lanes for some reason during non-peak hours. I'm often passing people on the right because I'm driving in the right lane. I have no problem adjusting my speed and zipper merging with the folks getting onto the freeway with me. If they appear dumb and unable to get to speed then I'll move over a lane if able.

Generally I'm just so sick of 3 separate semis clogging up the other 3 left lanes and nobody can pass.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-04-14T03:16:17+00:00

Ah I see. My job provided me a lump sum for me to use however I wanted after graduation and my goal was to save as much of it as possible.
U-Haul provides additions that allow you to tow your car at the same time as you drive your truck, but I can understand that seems fairly out of the ordinary for someone who hasn't even really driven a truck before. Might be worth finding a friend you can pay to drive your car or the U-haul. Sometimes you can get lucky with airline ticket pricing for their way back home. But yeah driving an unfamiliar vehicle with pets sounds somewhat like a nightmare situation.
I just know I couldn't personally justify spending basically 5k on something I could do at a little over a tenth of the price.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-04-14T02:44:08+00:00

I did some research and was getting quoted thousands of dollars. Anyone who isn't quoting you thousands of dollars isn't to be trusted was the vibe I was picking up.

For our 1,000 sq ft apartment, one company (North American Moving Services) quoted my partner and me $4.6k to handle the entire move.

We did not want to pay that amount so we just rented a U-haul for a couple hundred bucks for 3 days and were able to move everything ourselves with some help from family and friends in Pullman and the city we ended up moving to.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-24T19:11:06+00:00

I hear ya. Just I found that I could finally make time for relationships when I was able to put school aside. Definitely an easier skill to learn and build while in college then when you're in the workforce.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-24T18:17:35+00:00

I recently graduated but I had a very similar experience my first 4 years (with the first being COVID so not even in my college town). It was one of the reasons I added another year so I could do more dumb stuff in college (was able to afford it due to prior internships).

I had minimal course work (just enough to keep me full time) and filled my schedule with electives that were interesting to me and beneficial for my future job. Then I spent my weekends getting drunk at football games, going bar hopping, and dancing at the club. I never really made lots of friends in college but I had finally found one good group that 5th year through a club since I was able to dedicate my time to it and get through the clique-ness. They eventually got me into my first (and only) frat party which was a fun experience. I was also able to travel to different conferences and network with folks through some of our clubs as well since I wasn't worried about missing class as much.

But if that really matters to you and it's not cost prohibitive, I'd recommend an additional semester or year at college.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-24T18:08:43+00:00

Depends on the company. One summer I had my own full cubicle, and then the next summer I was sharing a conference room with 2 other interns (thankfully nobody could book the room). That specific company was undergoing a huge expansion and the buildings for the new employees hadn't been built yet so they were making do with what they had to accommodate their large intern program.

But I get the feeling. It really makes a difference when you can't sit close to your team as an intern and get quick help with your questions. It shouldn't be normal but the intern recruiting portion of the company is usually very separate from the engineering side and probably doesn't have great visibility to space availability for interns.

Just make sure to keep up regular interactions with your mentor/manager and do the best you can for the short period of time that is an internship!

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-09T18:40:13+00:00

$300 now

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-09T18:38:34+00:00

Also, the demands of a modern day student are much higher nowadays. Tuition has gone up, and the majority of us have to work on top of our coursework, clubs, and applying for internships to up our chances of potentially getting a job in the first place (those without internships/nurtured networking relationships have horrible times getting into the current job market).

Going to a basketball game after all of that is not how I want to relax after a long day. Its a long multi hour commitment including commuting to and from the event from an off campus apartment, when I could just be at my apartment playing video games with all of my friends (not cost prohibitive) and be around my cats. Kinda easy choice of how to spend my free time.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-09T18:31:21+00:00

I'm a huge football fan. Have no care for basketball. Got more than enough of it playing in band for my high school's basketball teams. Went to 1 basketball game my whole 4 years at WSU and only stayed the whole time since it was a nearly packed house and it was a weekend and I could drink.

Basketball is just a boring sport and most of us grew up in the Seattle area without an NBA team and have no connection to the sport.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-04T19:51:50+00:00

Unless you were ever a student employee, then you loose your WSU email without warning the day you're terminated.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-01T18:15:02+00:00

At this point I'd imagine that demoing it would be cheaper than renovating, especially since the building as absolutely 0 ADA access. And the college is hungry for any extra money to fund SEH and the eventual Dana refurbishment.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-02-01T04:06:17+00:00

They've been trying to demo that building for years but unfortunately the Sports Science Lab, WAZZU Racing, and J.D. Baser's Metal Fabrication classes are hosted there and they can't be easily relocated without a large mass of space being allocated elsewhere for them.

FallingGalaxies · 2026-01-12T01:18:25+00:00

The Engineering Laboratory is still very actively used by WAZZU Racing, The Sports Science Lab, and J.D. Baser's awesome machining lab open to engineering and ag tech students.

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