Human Resources

Jobs with a future

European semiconductor manufacturers and their suppliers are suffering from an increasing shortage of skilled workers. The EU METIS project analyzed which profiles are particularly in demand. Skilled workers are sought for both production and development departments. We present the most frequently sought-after job profiles.

Share this Post

Contact info

Silicon Saxony

Marketing, Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit

Manfred-von-Ardenne-Ring 20 F

Telefon: +49 351 8925 886

Fax: +49 351 8925 889

redaktion@silicon-saxony.de

Contact person:

European semiconductor manufacturers and their suppliers are suffering from an increasing shortage of skilled workers. The EU METIS project analyzed which profiles are particularly in demand. Skilled workers are sought for both production and development departments. We present the most frequently sought-after job profiles. These include:

Process engineer:in ▪ Maintenance engineer:in/Maintainer:in ▪ Robotics engineer:in ▪ Design engineer:in (chip design) ▪ Process engineer:in ▪ Equipment engineer:in ▪ Software engineer:in & -developer: in ▪ Test engineer:in ▪ Test engineer:in ▪ Department manager:in a (micro-)electronics company ▪ Application engineer:in ▪ Operator:in ▪ Materials engineer:in ▪ Computer scientist:in ▪ Quality engineer:in

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER SOFT SKILLS ARE IN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY?

According to a survey in our European funding project METIS, they are:

  • Ability to work in a team
  • Creativity
  • Communication skills
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Leadership quality

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

PROCESS ENGINEER

Process engineers take care of running processes in companies. They develop concepts to document and optimize them. To do this, they develop specific process models and use them to test the efficiency and effectiveness of the company’s internal processes.

What skills should you bring with you?

You work independently and carefully, can think analytically and are consistent.

Educational background (training/studies)

Process engineers graduate from an engineering program with a Bachelor of Engineering or Master of Engineering degree.

Process Engineer | GlobalFoundries

“What I really appreciate about my job is that you work with many different departments and people every day. It’s fun to solve new challenges together. Our team is just great because we all pull together. We research and develop new technologies and materials here, and I enjoy working on topics where the solution is not clear and we first have to research the causes. I find it fascinating how many things have to fit together before you can turn a process around. No two days are the same! Learning something new every day excites me and gives me a lot of pleasure.” (Nadine Seifarth, leitende Ingenieurin für Integrationstechnik bei GlobalFoundries)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN:IN/MAINTAINER:IN

Maintenance technicians are responsible for the regular maintenance and inspection of technical devices and systems, machines and plants. Their goal is to ensure that these work as reliably and efficiently as possible. In this way, they ensure that production and delivery deadlines are met.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are a team player, have a very good mechanical understanding as well as interpersonal and communication skills. You are willing to work in shifts and have a good command of English.

Educational path (training/studies)

Dual training as industrial mechanic maintenance, training as maintenance and service technician mechanical engineering or comparable vocational training in the technical field; state-certified technician or master craftsman in a technical field; skilled worker training and several years of professional experience in the maintenance of complex plants.

Maintenance Technician | GlobalFoundries


“The job as a maintenance technician in the semiconductor industry can be described as a ‘who’s who’ of mechatronics. It has pretty much everything to offer, from working with state-of-the-art robotics, networking and computer technology, to high vacuum, to laser technology. I particularly like the variety in my day-to-day work, which is characterized by close collaboration with engineers and suppliers as well as a lot of independent work.” (Sven Mager, Leitender Techniker Anlagenbau bei GlobalFoundries)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ROBOTICS ENGINEER:IN

Through robotics systems, many processes in industries and factories run fully automatically. The robotics engineer develops these control processes. He develops cognitive systems and thus creates the basis for humans and machines to communicate with each other.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are interested in technology and computer science, you like interdisciplinary thinking and you are communicative.
Educational background (education/studies)

Bachelor or diploma studies in robotics

“Robots are now indispensable in our highly automated manufacturing. I really enjoy doing research. As a robotics engineer, I can pursue this passion, put new findings straight into practice and directly observe how the robots react.” (Feryel Zoghlami, Senior Engineer Sensor Fusion im Development Center von Infineon)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

DESIGN ENGINEER:IN (CHIP DESIGN)

Design engineers design integrated microelectronic circuits and systems for silicon chips. Such a design usually starts with a circuit diagram or a digital behavioral description and is led via synthesis, simulations and verification to the layout, for which special design software is used. The layout in data form (tape-out) finally serves as the basis for manufacturing the microchips in a wafer fab. The individual development steps consist of specification (from the application) to tape-out and, after chip fabrication, to test/characterization, packaging and finally support for application integration. Depending on the company, the job may also include research, e.g. on novel device and circuit concepts or design methodologies.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are interested in global and technical topics of the future, have a high affinity for modern electronic devices and their hardware, are willing to contribute your own ideas, value accuracy in processing and are a team player.

Educational background (training/studies)

University degree e.g. in electrical engineering, microelectronics, information (systems) technology, physics e.g. at one of the Saxon colleges and universities.

Design engineer | Fraunhofer


“When I dive into the microcosm of a layout, it can be compared to a chess game: I have to think about every move, every single step I make, and weigh up what the consequences will be. The most exciting moment for me is when my layout is realized on a chip – when I see that what I have thought about before actually works. This magic of technology fascinates me.” (Dirk Schlebusch, System Design Engineer for Microdisplays and Sensors at Fraunhofer FEP)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

PROCESS ENGINEER

As a process technician:in, you assume responsibility for safeguarding processes in ongoing production. This includes documentation and evaluation of defect density controls. You will also assist engineers in conducting process investigations and manufacturing trials.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are good at organizing, value quality, are meticulous and responsible.

Educational background (training/studies)

Completed technical vocational training, ideally in electrical engineering, electronics or mechatronics; experience in the use of statistical software/process control

Process Engineer | GlobalFoundries


“What I like about my job is the responsibility that my team and I bear for ensuring that our customers receive their order in the desired quality, quantity and at the right time at the end of production. I especially like that as a woman at GlobalFoundries, I have a variety of opportunities to work under shift conditions while balancing my job with my family life. My active work within the GlobalWomen organization is a matter close to my heart, with which I would like to encourage women in particular to choose a technical profession and show them that, in addition to a wide range of training opportunities, it also offers a lot of fun.” (Djamila Steinich, Senior Technician Prodctn Planning & Control bei GlobalFoundries)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

EQUIPMENT ENGINEER

Equipment engineers develop solutions for non-standard problems on production lines. They create maintenance strategies and maintenance setups for production plants and their subsystems and plan the implementation of these, thereby achieving long-term plant stability. In addition, an Equipment Engineer is responsible for coordinating and implementing equipment installations or expansions in their area.

What skills should you bring to the job?

You have a quick grasp, an understanding of technical interrelationships and enjoy communicating and exchanging knowledge in (often intercultural) teams; you are also willing to work in shifts in some cases.

Educational background (education/studies)

Degree in a technical field and preferably initial practical experience (e.g. through previous vocational training or student activities); state-certified technician or master craftsman with several years of relevant professional experience

Equipment Engineer | Bosch


“Due to the large number of technical systems that are supported by an equipment engineer, new exciting situations always arise. It is particularly interesting that potential improvements and further measures are discussed at the desk and then actively implemented at the plant and in the team. Working as an equipment engineer holds new topics almost every day.” (Patrick Mülverstedt, Geräteingenieur Robert Bosch Semiconductor Manufacturing Dresden GmbH)

Equipment Ingenieur | GlobalFoundries


“What I like about my job is that I can actively use my professional skills and showcase my strengths. I am part of something special, whereby I can make my own decisions and thus facilitate or improve my work area for myself and all employees. In the course of my work, I get to know many new people, also from other countries, and can thus broaden my own horizons.” (Jens Förster, leitender Ingenieur für Ausrüstungstechnik bei GlobalFoundries)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

DEPARTMENT HEAD:IN A (MICRO)ELECTRONICS COMPANY

The department manager has a leadership function both internally and externally. He is responsible for the strategic management of his department. As a department manager, you are not only a team leader, but also act as an interface with your supervisor.

What skills should you have?

You are reliable, empathetic, have a structured way of working and are willing to take on responsibility.

Educational background (training/studies)

Completed training in a special field, coupled with several years of professional experience or studies in business or engineering

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

SOFTWARE ENGINEER:IN & DEVELOPER:IN

Software engineers design comprehensive software solutions; they can also be called architects of software systems. They are problem solvers, optimizers and create complex algorithms. They also investigate new software requirements for their feasibility and complexity or develop new software for systems.

What skills should you bring with you?

You can think analytically and abstractly, communicate well, can create, test and debug codes, and are proficient in various programming languages.

Educational background (education/studies)

Completed engineering studies with focus on software design and software development (computer science, engineering informatics/technical informatics, technical cybernetics)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

TEST ENGINEER

Test engineers examine the quality of a product during the entire production cycle. They ensure the reliability of the product. They also test materials for functionality, durability, safety, or speed. They also identify technical problems and fix them.

What skills should you bring to the table?

You can think and work analytically and conceptually, have strong problem-solving skills, work in a structured manner and are a team player.

Educational background (education/studies)

Successfully completed studies, preferably in computer science or electrical engineering or comparable training with at least five years of professional experience.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

TEST TECHNICIAN

Test technicians:in test products and devices for faults. They diagnose, interpret, and document the data obtained to troubleshoot equipment failures and improve testing processes. Updating and improving existing systems and repairing or replacing faulty equipment is also part of the job.

What skills should you bring to the job?

You are a good communicator, have organizational skills, are attentive and have an eye for detail.

Educational background (training/studies)

Training as a state-certified technician or university degree in mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, mechatronics or electrical engineering

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

APPLICATION ENGINEER

As an application engineer, you work on the design, development and distribution of software applications. In essence, you ensure that the product is adapted to customer and user requirements. In doing so, one coordinates the entire process from the idea to the test.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are flexible, can communicate well and have technical understanding.

Educational background (education/studies)

Degree in IT (e.g. IT management, computer science or business informatics) or industrial engineering; completed vocational training with a technical focus

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

OPERATOR:IN

Operators are specialists in hardware and software installations. They ensure that data connections can be established between servers so that, for example, in an industrial company the control of production machines runs without problems.

What skills should you bring with you?

You have good judgment and can think, judge and evaluate analytically.

Educational background (training/studies)

Training as an operations technician; vocational training/retraining as a microtechnologist, precision mechanic or comparable professional experience in the field of microsystems technology and precision engineering; completed training as a production specialist; professional experience as a machine and system operator

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 

MATERIALS ENGINEER

Materials engineers develop, test and characterize construction materials. They see themselves as half scientist, half engineer. Their task is also to find new materials with specific properties.

What skills should you have?

You can negotiate well, are independent and a team player, and have an interest in and understanding of science.

Educational background (training/studies)

Engineering or materials science degree; engineering degree with links to mechanics, design engineering, production engineering or process engineering.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 

COMPUTER SCIENTIST

A computer scientist:in processes large amounts of data from various sources and extracts useful information for business management. Using special algorithms, he or she can convert raw data into usable data and uses it to describe insights and predictions for the company.

What skills should you bring to the table?

You like to work with data, are open to new technologies, committed and reliable.

Educational background (education/studies)

Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems, Mathematical-Technical Software Development, Computer Science or Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science; Master’s degree in Data Science or completed specialized training in the IT field

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

QUALITY ENGINEER

The Quality Engineer monitors and ensures product quality and supports quality assurance processes, taking into account time and cost factors. His or her day-to-day tasks include evaluating service reports and defining focal points so that measures can be initiated to improve product quality.

What skills should you bring with you?

You are cooperative and communicative, able to work in a team, flexible, solution-oriented and able to deal with conflicts.

Educational background (training/studies)

Studies or training as a technician with a focus on information technology or business administration; comparable qualification with specialization or further training in the area of quality management.

You may be interested in the following