"The sense of achievement in finding a working solution to a problem where others have said that it cannot be done is very rewarding. "
–Kevin, Process Development Engineer
What do you do in your position?
I manage and focus the efforts of my team members in developing and integrating advanced technologies and devices that will be used in future-generation memory chips.
How or why did you decide to enter a technical career?
As a child, I enjoyed playing with mechanical toys and usually tore them down to understand how they worked. Often I attempted to rebuild them to do something different. This interest in technical understanding and the satisfaction I received from being innovative has remained with me since those early days. It was only natural for me to study electrical engineering in college and seek a technical career after completing my college education.
What do you like about your job?
Give an example of an interesting project or opportunity.
What I enjoy about my job is the challenge of using knowledge and engineering judgment to solve problems. The sense of achievement in finding a working solution to a problem where others have said that it cannot be done is very rewarding.
For example, we were faced with a project that many other people had worked on for several months and had failed to find a robust solution. In the process of attempting a completely different approach to solving the problem, we were able to discover why the other attempts had failed and get the project back on track. Sometimes, unconventional thinking provides solutions to problems.
What high school courses helped you prepare for your job or college program?
I focused on courses in the sciences such as math, physics, chemistry, and biology.
What post-high school education did you pursue?
I studied electrical engineering in college. This helped me prepare for my career in the semiconductor industry.
What advice would you give a student interested in pursuing a technical career?
The advice I would give to students interested in pursuing a technical career is that they should enjoy their time in high school and expose themselves to various fields of study. This will hopefully confirm their decisions of future interests while giving them a well-rounded education. While investigating a variety of interests, students will benefit from focusing on academics and on math, physics, chemistry, and biology in particular.
Once a student is in college, participation in student/professional societies relating to technical fields can help open doors for internships and possible research funding while in college.
I would also advise students to study statistics and technical writing since these areas of study can be very valuable in a technical career.
Above all, enjoy what you are learning and try to put it into practice.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy golf, photography and traveling.
Education: Process Development Engineer
Degrees typically sought for this position are a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering, physics, material science, and occasionally Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
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