Analog IC designer career advice.

[SOC_PG]

Hi,

I need a career advice.I have an experience on schematic and PCB design both analog and digital circuits. I am about to start a post graduate course in system on chip. I can either choose to specialize in Analog or Digital IC design. My interest lies in analog design. But lately i have been told that there are not many jobs available for analog IC design in India and abroad. After spending 30 lakhs on a master's course i do not want to remain jobless. So i am confused about the field to specialize in. I know this topic has been discussed many times before but i need the to know what the current scenario is in India and abroad and what are the predictions 2 yrs later. Also i would be grateful if anyone could tell me the salary that an Analog and Digital IC designer would get after right after an MS degree. Kindly advice me.

Regards
Rahul

 

[dick_freebird]

I couldn't tell you about starting salaries since it's been a
very long time, but I'm sure there are salary guides at any
major electronics business magazine's web site.

I think analog is a slow growth field, but one where you can
develop a specific core expertise and find numerous people
who need it. The question is, what focus?

I wouldn't worry so much about finding work as the prime
index - worry instead about being so interested and good
at what you pick, that work comes looking for you. Of
course that needs some time for a reputation and contacts
to develop. But if you're going to work unpaid overtime
for the rest of your life, it may as well be something you
can enjoy (at least in some aspects).

Look at it this way. There will always be power supplies
to be built and real world signals & abnormalities to be
dealt with. Digital abstraction helps nothing there, it is
only viable within a protected "ecosystem". For every
drapery hanger, somebody had to build the window and
the wall first. Every time digital technology changes its
"node", guess what else has to be redone or sometimes
grossly reinvented? Right - "all of the above".

I personally find "system on a chip" uninteresting. It's all
about how not to screw up putting things together that
don't much want to be, and making "good enough" out of
components that aren't what you wanted. Umm... OK.
More tools, more gotchas, more transistors, but is it any
better than another endeavor? Not to me. But scarcity
and fear drive hiring (advertisement - there may not be a
need for more than one guy but you'll see that job on 20
'boards - not necessarily quantity of opportunity).

In today's world I don't often see "analog" jobs called out
that way. You'll see more specific interests - power
management, data acquisition, I/O, even the lower end of
RF - than general, because analog wants artistry and to
get there you will be focusing on doing some things well,
not everything.

 

[SOC_PG]

I couldn't tell you about starting salaries since it's been a
very long time, but I'm sure there are salary guides at any
major electronics business magazine's web site.

I think analog is a slow growth field, but one where you can
develop a specific core expertise and find numerous people
who need it. The question is, what focus?

I wouldn't worry so much about finding work as the prime
index - worry instead about being so interested and good
at what you pick, that work comes looking for you. Of
course that needs some time for a reputation and contacts
to develop. But if you're going to work unpaid overtime
for the rest of your life, it may as well be something you
can enjoy (at least in some aspects).

Look at it this way. There will always be power supplies
to be built and real world signals & abnormalities to be
dealt with. Digital abstraction helps nothing there, it is
only viable within a protected "ecosystem". For every
drapery hanger, somebody had to build the window and
the wall first. Every time digital technology changes its
"node", guess what else has to be redone or sometimes
grossly reinvented? Right - "all of the above".

I personally find "system on a chip" uninteresting. It's all
about how not to screw up putting things together that
don't much want to be, and making "good enough" out of
components that aren't what you wanted. Umm... OK.
More tools, more gotchas, more transistors, but is it any
better than another endeavor? Not to me. But scarcity
and fear drive hiring (advertisement - there may not be a
need for more than one guy but you'll see that job on 20
'boards - not necessarily quantity of opportunity).

In today's world I don't often see "analog" jobs called out
that way. You'll see more specific interests - power
management, data acquisition, I/O, even the lower end of
RF - than general, because analog wants artistry and to
get there you will be focusing on doing some things well,
not everything.

That was a very artistic reply indeed. If i was living alone without any dependencies on me i would happily work on analog circuits unpaid all my life. However i owe my closed ones as much as i would love to work on analog design. Thats the reason why i will have to worry about work. Although Analog circuits are needed like you mentioned above but the requirement is very very less as compared to digital circuits. The only thing that i have a learnt from your reply that growth in Analog IC design is very slow. I dont mind that till i am getting paid well. Also that i will be very much in demand if i have an expertise in some specific field like RF, Low power IC design etc. I hope i am on the right track. I need more replies.Kindly help me out guys.

Regards
Rahul