Hi,
I am a Hardware Engineer who designs board. The role is, with product requirement (speed, spec, budget, power, back-up, mechanical, standards to pass, etc., ) I start with high level architecture, choosing components, block diagram, etc. Once on getting collective decision to proceed, we proceed with schematics, and with some level of maturity we procced with layout feasibility, mechanical feasibility etc.,
We also do DC analysis (Noise margin), AC analysis (Setup time, hold time, etc.,) Logic level analysis (requirement of level translator), Power budget analysis, Thermal analysis etc., in schematic phase
Once on moving into layout phase, we evaluate the stackup, x, y dimension, routing of high speed signals, then low speed signals, Power shapes etc.,
With completion, we proceed with SI and PI analysis.
Parallelly, Mechanical check with Dxf, thermal simulaiton with max powers are done.
Debugging happens if any of these analysis fail.
Since practically sticking to all the guidelines is not possible , we proceed with some low level of risk provided , we it fine to allow that risk.
once on completion of all these, we proceed with tapeout (Gerber release to Fab house). There will be a week + time for building the boards. Meanwhile we will prepare for bring up and validation with proper plan document.
From Fab house, the boards goes to Assembly house, where the components are assembled and soldered on the board.
Post that , bring up and validation of each and every interface / power section involved in the board.
Followed by detailed report preparation, scompliance testing (FCC, UL etc.,) , thermal tolerance test (operating temperture with Thermal chambers).
Above is a brief what I do.
I initially started my career in a startup environment - where it is all too fast paced, leading to fast learning. But there is a drawback, frequently switching from one domain to other like from power electronics to high speed, high speed to analog, etc., Also, I didnt have full exposure with Compliance testing or thermal chamber. Because, I am a female employee and our company didnt have any inhouse compliance testing lab / thermal chamber. So, one of the male employee in project goes to different city for compliance testing. I was just communicating with that employee, wherever it was failing, we were checking that and helping to fix that issue.
I tried so hard, but it was very difficult to switch to another company as they are asking questions so detailed in each and every interface and expectation was to have experience from the scratch to mass production.
Finally after having 5 years of experience, I switched to one of the best product based company.
And now it has been 4 years here. I feel a bit stagnant in pay as well as career. I want to switch to a different company with better role (Hardware Engineer / Post silicon validation) and pay scale, where I will deal with details , I should improvise and be contributing greatness to the industry.
So, I have a plan as listed below starting from today.
First I will focus on brushing up what I have worked on. Then I will focus on improving embedded SW as well.
Need to brush up on :
Need to learn Embedded SW:
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