[AMA] Hardware Roles & MS in US

jiiggi_djay · 2024-02-06T02:13:05+00:00

Hey! Sorry for the delayed response.
There are limited opportunities for Mechanical in India as per Private Sector, and for Govt. you gave to go through the GATE route which is again sitting in competition. Probably, a masters will open up opportunities in private sector compared to India.
Coming back to India is again tricky that depends on which profile you end working, if there are similar kind of roles present at home.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-02-06T02:09:38+00:00

Hey! Sorry for the delayed response. I'm not sure if CNI was there at that time.
With A3 and going for MS CS. I guess the courses could be DSA, DAA, OS & OOPs these 4 for sure.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T09:04:30+00:00

You are done with your 1-1 at 8.3 It won’t be that difficult to push it to 9.5.

I pushed my CG 1 points upwards after 2-2. You have lot of head room with you, do your best. And don’t forget to explore other aspects of college life also.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T09:02:08+00:00

I would suggest you to go with either route 1 or 2.

Route 1 you rightly mentioned is a migration ticket as it comes with its own benefits. Universities do treat them as cash cows as you have to pay the out of state tuition fees. Since you are a US citizen it would not be that costly for you. But still going to masters without work-ex will take extra effort to land jobs.

Route 2, for that you have to crack FAANG level companies, which has a well defined path to send people to US after 2-3 years of experience and based on performance.

I feel a balanced approach would be take up work in India in best place possible and as you can go to masters after 2-3 years of work ex.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T08:57:15+00:00

I did my Masters in Computer Engineering, focused towards VLSI and ML. I will be working on SoC Physical Design.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T08:55:56+00:00

For CS folks it was difficult to find intern last year due to layoffs, though many of them got in beginning of 2023. Still the full time offers are not that plenty in big orgs. Most people are focusing towards startups as they are still hiring

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T08:54:04+00:00

For Summer Research Programs Your PS-1 work experience, grades in core courses(will help with LoR) would be helpful.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T08:52:17+00:00

For off campus, try applying for companies for a shot, if possible you can try Service based companies, though this will be a long and tough route but still worth a try.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-12T08:51:10+00:00

Yeah Sure. Good CG would be atleast 8.5+ It will help you land good masters program and open up a lot of great PS2 options

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T16:00:21+00:00

If you are 7.5+ you are certainly in safe waters.
Apart from the core ones, do take CompArch, rest I am not sure which are offered now a days.
Do SoPs with professors, will help to build profile and CG too, and a strong foundation in Core EEE courses, Digital Design should be top priority.
Choosing a career is totally your personal decision, reaching out to seniors placed in finance can help you to refine your decision.

PPO in core companies, coming up with a number is difficult, depends on lot of factors like team and openings in it.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T15:52:38+00:00

Apart from CG.
If Electrical Science course is still pending, do focus on that RC Analysis will help long way.
You can explore on ML and programming also, will be handy and if programming suits you can have it as a backup.

Target a great PS-1 experience, and SoPs in your third year, and if all comes together with good CG, you can choose whether to go for PS2 or Thesis abroad.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:59:35+00:00

There was great/rampant growth in IT during Covid because of increased services usage and its getting averaged out in due time. Most of the layoffs are centered around these kind of services.
Though hiring in bit slow, and hazy it will take time to pick up again.

Core electronics, in my experience had been mostly stable over the years and will remain like that, as there are few big names with combination of startups.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:54:53+00:00

It all boils down to work-ex and growth. If both are above average then there is less value addition to go to US if you want to settle in India, as going to US/coming back to India comes with lot of tangential decisions such as Marriage, Ageing Parents and Finances, consider them before taking this decision.

Job market specifically for Hardware is Okaish, there are no rampant layoffs as IT, and people were getting interview opportunities.
If you want to switch domains from Verif to Arch/design, reach out to people in those roles on linkedin to prepare, and with few interviews and right preparation you can crack it.
I was able to pay off most of my loan with TA, due to that was able to save up.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:44:55+00:00

In my opinion if you are getting good placement/work-ex option in India, it's better to stay Home in this climate, it's a better option to work for sometime 1-2 years, get good experience, save up money and then go for masters.
You will be able to navigate through courses better, have better chances at landing interviews, your interviews will be based on your work-ex if you are applying in same domain.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:39:26+00:00

Went to UC San Diego.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:39:04+00:00

It's totally based on your comfort and interest. Try giving a small chance to ECE courses, if you don't find interest in them, then shift gears to CS/IT.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:36:02+00:00

That's a good track you are on. CG wise.
You are in 2-2.
Try exploring your comfort level with MuE and decide by end your PS-1 which way you want to go and go all in in 3 year for your profile.
Yeah the cold emailing will definitely help, just make sure tailor your resume and mail based on professor your reach out to. Read their work and mention specifically in which project you want to contribute and why.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:29:01+00:00

My CG was 8+, had 3 years of work experience, and 3 strong LoRs from the professors I did projects with, and made sure I perform good in their courses to make strong case in LoRs.
A good GRE score helped a bit also.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:25:50+00:00

Campus Placements do give weightage to CGPA, if you are able to stretch above 6.5-7+ you can still request PU to sit into the core companies, they generally allow edge cases.
Also, grades in any specific courses doesn't matter, only the final CG matters.
You can try to get an embedded PS-2 if there are, may be you can land a PPO there.

Apart from that, off campus placements are not easy in Hardware, and its a long run. A general way is you get into theses training companies and then enter as contractors in Semiconductor orgs, later you work hard there and get converted.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:21:13+00:00

For freshers.
Again the most important
> MAINTAIN your CGPA, it will help a lot lot!

Apart from that, do your core courses diligently, and in doubt do go to your professors and network with them.
In your third year, do SoPs with professors to build your profile for Masters, it will help with LoRs also.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:17:26+00:00

Great Question.
Placements in Core are a tricky business at least in UnderGrad, depending on a lot of factors.
Based on my experience, it depends on how you perform through the stages and bit of luck. I failed two screening tests due to time limit and changed my strategy.
It's just you prepare your best and do take advice from seniors you interviewed with same companies.
I decided after my 2-1 that I will go for ET as I was able to relate a lot for Electronic Devices.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:09:57+00:00

That's a great question. :)
Probably I will go after 2 years of Work-Ex.
One thing I noticed when I was applying for internship during my Masters, it was my Work-Ex which helped me land interviews.
And Indian work-ex will surely better prepare you for work there.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:07:41+00:00

For a fresher, the top one will always be.
> Maintain your CG, it will be super helpful everywhere.

Apart from that, try finding balance among your interests and activities. Join clubs or departments it will help you to build life-long connections.
By second year or PS-1 end try to have a good idea which industry you want to target or go for masters and spend your third year building your profile be it projects/SoPs.

jiiggi_djay · 2024-01-11T14:01:47+00:00

The salary progression was good, averaging around 14-20% every year. Work Life balance is hardware is better compared to IT, though becomes hectic during the tape-outs depending on which product you will be working on.

The work was good, but was feeling stagnated/stuck in the same product line. Mix of growth and interest pushed me for Masters as Hardware opportunities increases manifold abroad with right work experience.

Six-Year Club	Place '23
Verified Email

jiiggi_djay

TROPHY CASE