Many students entering the industry do not know how to choose a position. IC positions generally include design, verification, back-end, packaging, testing, FPGA, etc. But specifically for each person, you must determine the position you are looking for at the beginning. There can be two or three, but you must prioritize them. Failure to prioritize will make you entangled in the entire job search process.
Therefore, the first step to get started is to understand the position and choose a direction that suits you. The IC industry can be divided into digital IC and analog IC according to the difference in signal processing.
Positions in the digital IC direction are mainly divided into front-end design, functional verification, back-end design and DFT .
Front-end design
Mainly logic design. According to the Spec, the RTL code is designed through Verilog language (hardware description language) to achieve the required functions.
Functional Verification
Mainly to "find faults" in the front-end design. According to Spec, various verification platforms and tools are used to ensure that the designed functions meet the requirements of Spec.
backend design
Mainly physical design. Converting the verified RTL code into a gate-level netlist is closer to the process than front-end design.
DFT design for testability
Mainly to facilitate the testing of the chip after tape-out. In the design stage, testable circuits are inserted and test vectors are generated to achieve the purpose of testing large-scale chips. The market demand for this position is relatively small.
Positions in the analog IC direction are mainly divided into two categories: design and layout .
Analog design
Analog IC is an IC that processes natural analog signals such as continuous light, sound, speed, temperature, etc. It is mainly used to collect, amplify, form conversion and power control of analog signals.
Analog layout
Analog layout design engineers are professional layout designers who are mainly responsible for conducting layout design and verification of the back-end of integrated circuits through EDA design tools, and ultimately generating GDSII data for use in integrated circuit manufacturing. The Chinese name for layout design engineer is also called layout.
Job skills/job content required for each position
Digital front-end design engineer
Job content :
According to chip requirements, divide modules, design circuits, write RTL code, control circuit area and power consumption, cooperate with verifiers to debug cases, and complete module-level timing and circuit synthesis. Because the original source code is written by the front-end, the front-end often needs to be supported from front to back, even to the final on-board testing and prototype verification process.
professional skill
・Proficient in SoC system architecture design, RTL code writing, algorithm logic design and IP integration evaluation;
・Proficient in Verilog Testbench construction, IP module level and SoC system level functional simulation and RTL code debugging
・Be proficient in low-power design methods of very large-scale integrated circuits, such as clock gating, power domain division, etc.;
・Familiar with testability pattern design of complex SOC systems.
The threshold for front-end design is generally higher than other positions. It generally requires a master's degree or above, and the salary is relatively high.
digital front end
Digital verification engineer
Job content :
①Read documents and write documents: Verification spec, Test plan.
② Programming to build a verification platform: Usually Systemverilog/UVM is used. If doing SOC, C or C++ is used. Verification engineers also need to learn many scripting languages, such as Perl, Makefile, and python.
③Debug: Create test cases and run simulation.
④support
Core competencies possessed by digital verification engineers :
Ability to learn various standards/documents
Programming ability
Debug ability
Digital verification intensive lectures
Digital backend design engineer
The current recruitment requirements (school, education, major) for the position of digital back-end design are relatively tolerant. However, digital IC design back-end engineers have relatively high requirements for English and physics. If your English is very poor, it is not recommended to choose this position.
**Mainly responsible for the following tasks: **Convert RTL code to netlist netlist used in the actual back-end, place and route (PD), and be responsible for the conversion process from netlist to GDSII. Static timing analysis, physical verification, power consumption analysis, etc.
Skill requirements :
1. Use of EDA tools: need to master Innovus/Encounter, ICC/ICC2, DC and other tools
2. Scripting language: TCL, Verilog, Perl, Python
3. Analysis report
4. Fix errors
Digital backend implementation
DFT engineer
DDFT mainly adds testability logic to the chip, waits for the chip to be manufactured, and tests the chip through testability logic on ATE (Automatic Test Equipment, automatic tester) equipment to pick out chips with manufacturing defects and eliminate them. Leaving you with a good chip free of manufacturing defects.
The main tasks of the DFT position are :
1. Implement DFT technology, such as common Scan, Mbist, and Boundary Scan technologies, into the design.
2. Generate test vectors and verify the test vectors.
3. Assist back-end implementation engineers to complete timing closure in test mode.
4. Assist test engineers in machine debugging, debug test failures, and improve chip yield.
Analog IC Design
Starting from a single transistor, the circuit design is carried out, giving a complete circuit diagram. Unlike digital, analog ICs often do not require a high level of integration, but focus on exquisite circuit structures.
This requires designers to have an in-depth understanding of analog circuit principles, adopt appropriate circuit structures according to chip index requirements, define specific device parameters, and adjust circuit parameters through EDA software simulation. They also need to have a certain understanding of devices and manufacturing processes.
Analog IC design work content
: To put it simply, it starts with a single transistor, conducts circuit design, and finally provides a complete circuit diagram.
Generally, it starts with the definition of system specifications. At this stage, analog IC design engineers must clarify the specific requirements and performance parameters of the design.
The next step is circuit design and circuit simulation. It is necessary to evaluate the circuit performance through simulation. Based on the simulation results, it is determined whether it is necessary to repeat simulations to improve the circuit or to proceed to the next step according to the design requirements.
Analog Layout Engineer
Analog layout design is a position in analog chip design. The layout engineer's main job is to turn the circuit diagram into a layout, do some PV (physical verification), and extract the parameters of the layout to the front-end engineer. He may also do some Some simulations.
Job content :
1. Layout drawing, which is to turn the circuit diagram into a layout drawing;
2. Physical verification, which is to verify DRC and LVS.
3. Extract the parasitic layout parameters, and then give them to engineers to do.
Skills that layout engineers need to master :
1. Use of EDA tools:
Cadence's virtuoso and caliber tools need to be mastered and used proficiently;
1. To master drawing skills,
you need to know how to draw layouts, and you also need to meet various matching needs. Further needs Draw some top layers.
2. Master basic circuit knowledge
: the basic principles of technology, common CMOS technology principles, and special technologies such as BCD and SOI technology; for junior engineers, knowing CMOS technology is enough. Therefore, the basic principles and manufacturing processes of CMOS transistors need to be mastered.
The above is an introduction to the IC design position. If you still don’t know how to choose a position, or want to know about the position, employment, and salary situation, any questions about the IC industry will be answered by teachers.
Here is an entry: IC Entry Guide