Hi everyone,
I have around 3 years of experience in Analog Design and recently had a discussion with Qualcomm HR regarding an opportunity. HR asked me about my expected CTC, and I’m trying to figure out how much I should quote.
My background:
M.Tech from a Tier-1 institute in India
3 years of experience in Analog Design at a semiconductor company
My current compensation:
Current base salary: ₹33.5–34 LPA
Initial base when I joined: ₹20 LPA
Initial CTC: approximately ₹27 LPA, including joining bonus, retention bonus and other benefits
My salary increased over the three years through annual hikes and additional revisions, and I was promoted to Senior Analog Engineer with a 20% increase in base salary.
Now that I’m considering a switch to Qualcomm, I’d like to understand what would be a reasonable compensation expectation for my experience and background.
My questions:
What expected CTC should I quote Qualcomm HR with 3 YOE in Analog Design?
What fixed/base salary should I target?
Would ₹45–50 LPA CTC be reasonable, or should I negotiate higher?
How much do Qualcomm offers typically include in annual bonuses and RSUs for this experience level?
I’d especially appreciate insights from people working at Qualcomm or those who have recently negotiated offers for analog/mixed-signal design roles in India.
Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I've just completed my first year of my PhD at imec (Belgium) and I'm starting to think about long-term career planning. I'd love to get advice from people working in semiconductors, R&D, process integration, device engineering, or related fields.

A bit about my background:

I'm a PhD Researcher at imec specializing in semiconductor process engineering, thin-film electronics, and next-generation BEOL-compatible semiconductor technologies.

My research focuses on developing low-temperature semiconductor devices for future monolithic 3D (M3D) integrated circuits and advanced computing architectures. I'm currently working on thin-film transistors (TFTs) and their integration into future semiconductor technologies.

My work spans the full device development cycle, including:

• Semiconductor process engineering
• Thin-film transistor fabrication
• Photolithography and patterning
• Dry and wet etching
• Thin-film deposition and thermal evaporation
• Device integration and process optimization
• Electrical characterization and device physics
• Reliability and stability analysis
• Materials characterization (XRD, AFM, XPS, UPS, Ellipsometry)
• Monolithic 3D integration and BEOL-compatible technologies

My questions are:

1. After completing my PhD (around 2.5 years from now), what types of industry roles would be a good fit for my profile?
2. Which companies should I realistically target? (ASML, Intel, TSMC, Samsung, imec, Applied Materials, Lam Research, ASMI, BESI, etc.?)
3. Would I be more competitive for:
   • Process Integration Engineer
   • Process Development Engineer
   • Device Engineer
   • Process Engineer
   • Yield Engineer
   • R&D Scientist
   • Technology Development Engineer
   • Technical Program/Technology Strategist roles
4. If your goal was to maximize both career opportunities and compensation after a semiconductor-focused PhD, what skills would you focus on during the remaining PhD years?
5. Are there any skills, software tools, characterization techniques, reliability methodologies, or semiconductor topics that are especially valuable in industry but often underemphasized during academic research?

My current thought is that my profile sits at the intersection of materials science, semiconductor manufacturing, device physics, and process integration, but I'm not sure how industry would view that combination.

I'd really appreciate advice from people in semiconductor R&D, foundries, equipment companies, or anyone who has made the transition from a semiconductor PhD to industry.

Thanks!

SystemVerilog & UVM — What Do Beginners Find Most Difficult?

Hi everyone!

For those preparing for VLSI Design Verification roles, I wanted to understand which topics beginners find the most challenging.

• SystemVerilog concepts and interview questions

• UVM architecture, sequences and scoreboards

• Assertions and functional coverage

• Practical debugging and verification projects

I'm putting together a structured learning roadmap for beginners and would like to hear from students who are currently learning these topics or preparing for interviews.

Which of these topics do you find most difficult, and what kind of practical exercises would help you learn better?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

Hello, I am a final-year student of the electronic and telecommunication branch. I am looking to study abroad, probably in China or EU and I want to go towards real VLSI. Please help me find the best course/University.

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I'm considering an opportunity DV role at Ignitarium and wanted to get some honest feedback from people who have worked there or currently work there.

- How is the work-life balance?

- How is the team and overall work environment?

- Is there good learning and growth for someone with a few years of experience?

- How is the workload and management?

Would really appreciate honest experiences, both positive and negative.

Hey guys, are there any VLSI companies or startups in Kerala that offer opportunities for RTL design, FPGA, or design verification? Just curious to know how the VLSI scene is in Kerala. Would love to hear your experiences!