Consider a Masters in Very Large Scale Integration
VLSI, Very Large Scale Integration, is an electronics-based field. For some schools, this will be part of their computer or electrical engineering programs and not a standalone degree. Candidates with electronics background are fit to pursue this career. Whether it’s a smartphone or the AI that will destroy the world (no pun intended), VLSI is everywhere. In this article, we will look at the merits of this industry, the nature of the studying you will do, and the lifestyle that you will get after getting into the right career.
What is it all About?
VLSI is a field of transistors and digital electronics. Imagine that a grain of sand at the beach is converted into a transistor, and billions of transistors form a chip, all thanks to VLSI. The field controls how the chips are made, what the function of those chips are, and how the chip can become smaller and smaller. Chips are now part of our daily lives. With even toothbrushes becoming smart, VLSI is a growing field for electronics enthusiasts. From a grain of sand to a smartphone chip, you can clearly understand the role of this semiconductor industry in bettering the world.
Is it Tough to Study?
We would rather describe it as lengthy. There is a lot to learn, and there is no slowing down. With technology getting new upgrades every single day, you will never stop learning. It will be a thrilling experience for those who love programming and tech. If you stop learning, you stop earning. However, that is true for any kind of career with increasing competition and fewer job opportunities.
What Kind of Careers Are Available?
There are many career paths, but we will be discussing the main two in detail.
The first option is the design engineer. A design engineer is responsible for designing the product. For example, suppose you want to make a device that can measure temperature. You will be working with the company’s design engineer and will be giving him data about what you need. The design engineer will then make a functional block diagram, which will later become a circuit diagram, and then the sellable physical product. Here, the design engineer’s role is to make sure that the product will do what you need it to do. He will add or remove components based on your requirements.
The other path is the verification engineer. Once the product is fully designed, the verification engineer’s job is to make sure that the product functions in different environments and different use cases. For example, suppose you want to make a smartphone and it has 3 parts, call, music, and chat. The verification engineer makes sure that the call doesn’t cut when you receive the message, or that you can still receive calls while the music is playing. The rigorous testing parameters are designed and employed by the verification engineer.
What’s in it for Me?
- High paying career
- Understanding how tech functions
- Chance to work in companies like Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Qualcomm, or Intel
- Work-life balance
- Work from home is highly probable If you are a programmer, which most of the VLSI engineers are.
Conclusion
While the field has a wide scope and great career options, it may be difficult if you do not know the fundamentals. This can cause long term misery, and you may end up switching careers. We would advise you to choose this field if you are willing to learn math, physics of semiconductors, and digital electronics.
References:
https://engineering.tamu.edu/engineering-online/computer.html https://www.iit.edu/academics/programs/vlsi-and-microelectronics-mas https://online.usc.edu/programs/vlsi-design-ms/
Originally published at https://thatcollegelife.com.
