The answer to this question is YES! I will admit thirty years ago there were some companies that would barely let you walk in the front door without a four-year degree. That is laughable now. The market has changed a lot over the years and so has the way the industry hires.
What is different? For one, companies are looking for individuals at all levels of the educational spectrum including high school graduates. And transferrable skills are highly considered in the hiring process. Companies have broadened their search to include individuals with skills that not only meet requirements but also skills that increase the potential for success. So, if you have a technical associate degree, the time to get a job in the semiconductor industry
has never been better. There are many job possibilities for an Associate Degree graduate. Here are a few jobs roles that need people like you now and in the near future.
Hot Job Roles
Field Service Engineer
One of the most critical parts of the semiconductor industry is the field service organization. Field service engineers and technicians are considered the “boots on the ground.” Typically located at the customer’s site, field service engineers are responsible for installation, preventive maintenance, and repairs on semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
On top of that, field service engineers are the link between the customer and the company. They must adhere to the customer processes, reporting requirements, and uptime and availability commitments to ensure a high degree of customer satisfaction.
Equipment Technician
An equipment technician works together with field service. The list of priorities for an equipment technician are the same as a field service engineer, installation, preventive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. However, the equipment technician can be (but not always) considered more hand-on with the equipment.
Technicians typically work to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of production equipment while complying with proper cleanroom activities and protocols. Additionally, they order and install spare parts, maintain service records, and adhere to reporting requirements. As with most service related roles, an Equipment Technician will respond to emergency service calls.
Manufacturing Technician
The role of a semiconductor manufacturing technician is to maintain and assess manufacturing equipment and the products made at a semiconductor facility. A semiconductor manufacturing technician may perform routine inspections on the product and tests to determine if the product meets quality standards, functionality, and customer specifications.
Apart from product inspection, the manufacturing technician must set up the production equipment to meet product specifications. Additionally, the manufacturing technician may calibrate equipment, perform regular maintenance, and troubleshoot issues on the production equipment. All manufacturing technicians must have a high school diploma/GED. However, for those manufacturing technician positions with greater responsibility an associate degree may be required.
The answer to this question is YES! I will admit thirty years ago there were some companies that would barely let you walk in the front door without a four-year degree. That is laughable now. The market has changed a lot over the years and so has the way the industry hires. What is different? For one, companies are looking for individuals at all levels of the educational spectrum including high school graduates. And transferrable skills are highly considered in the hiring process. Companies have broadened their search to include individuals with skills that not only meet current requirements but also skills that increase an individual’s potential for success. So, if you have a technical associate degree, the time to get a job in the semiconductor industry has never been better. Although there are many job possibilities, here are a few ‘hot’ jobs roles that need people with an AS degree right now and in the near future.
Field Service Engineer
One of the most critical parts of the semiconductor industry is the field service organization. Field service engineers and technicians are considered the “boots on the ground.” Typically located at the customer’s site, field service engineers are responsible for installation, preventive maintenance, and repairs on semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
On top of that, field service engineers are the link between the customer and the company. They must adhere to the customer processes, reporting requirements, and uptime and availability commitments to ensure a high degree of customer satisfaction.
Equipment Technician
An equipment technician works together with field service. The list of priorities for an equipment technician are the same as a field service engineer, installation, preventive maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. However, the equipment technician can be (but not always) considered more hand-on with the equipment.
Technicians typically work to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of production equipment while complying with proper cleanroom activities and protocols. They also order and install spare parts, maintain service records, adhere to reporting requirements and respond to emergency service calls.
Manufacturing Technician
The role of a semiconductor manufacturing technician is to maintain and assess manufacturing equipment and the products made at a semiconductor facility. A semiconductor manufacturing technician may perform routine inspections on the product and tests to determine if the product meets quality standards, functionality, and customer specifications.
Apart from product inspection, the manufacturing technician must set up the production equipment to meet product specifications. Additionally, the manufacturing technician may calibrate equipment, perform regular maintenance, and troubleshoot issues on the production equipment. All manufacturing technicians must have a high school diploma/GED. However, for those manufacturing technician positions with greater responsibility an associate degree may be required.