Career path suggestions for computer architecture PhD?

Micron
topu

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topu
Feb 8 15 Comments

I would appreciate some suggestions regarding career paths from people who have been in the industry for some time.

I recently finished PhD (<6 months) with specialization in computer architecture. I am currently working in a FAANG company as SWE in distributed systems. I am a beginner in distributed systems, still have a lot to learn, but there is growth potential.

My current pay and position are satisfactory to me. However, I feel bad not being able to use the knowledge I build up in hardware/architecture, and sometimes I feel I might do better career-wise in an area where I already have some experience. So I have few questions and would love to learn more about other's experience in the industry --

1) What does the career path look like in the industry for new PhD grads? How is the growth potential/pay in an architecture role down the line?
2) Positions that allow research -- are they rare, or hard to get into?
2) Is it possible to switch to an equivalent position in hardware industry (without down-leveling) after couple of years as SWE?

I know these are questions I should have figured out before I joined somewhere. I did not even get any interview for hardware positions in NVIDIA/AMD/Intel (I was very surprised!). Being an international, I accepted the first offer I got. So, now I'm reevaluating my choices. Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

YOE: 0.5
TC: ~250K
#nvidia #amd #intel #hardware

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TOP 15 Comments
  • Welcome to the hardware world. Takes way longer to learn but pays less. Chances are you could take a PhD requiring hardware role and still make less then new grad bachelors swe.
    Feb 8 2
  • Apple / Eng
    HypeOS

    Go to company page Apple Eng

    HypeOS
    Come to 🍎
    Feb 8 2
    • Micron
      topu

      Go to company page Micron

      topu
      OP
      Tried for CPU performance model engineer position at 🍏 while I was not prepared enough. I might try again.

      How's the growth potential compared to SWE at Apple?
      Feb 8
    • Apple / Eng
      HypeOS

      Go to company page Apple Eng

      HypeOS
      Apple is very team and org dependent. Overall growth at Apple is slow but it is also what you make of it.
      You can go for modelling in SEG or come to Platform Architecture (the better option imo).
      Feb 9
  • IBM
    rLeI77

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    rLeI77
    Compilers, compiler optimization, embedded systems, system architecture, hardware design take your pick
    Feb 8 0
  • Synopsys
    helloQuant

    Go to company page Synopsys

    helloQuant
    It’s obvious that silicon is now coming back to Silicon Valley. Recently I heard from two juniors in my PhD lab (architecture and system) got offers from Intel for 300k TC.

    A short answer to your questions: it all depends on your skill/knowledge. Such as how many papers do you have? What are their impact? Hardware roles in general value experience a lot, but interviews mostly focus on the fundamentals.

    When I was in Synopsys, half of the people in the team have a PhD, and all managers up to SVP have a PhD.
    Feb 8 3
    • Micron
      topu

      Go to company page Micron

      topu
      OP
      Is PhD appreciated, or does it add something extra in the hardware industry?
      Feb 8
    • Synopsys
      helloQuant

      Go to company page Synopsys

      helloQuant
      That’s good publications. I would say PhD is generally more appreciated in HW industry than pure software industry because it is a strong indicator of years of dedication i to a specific domain. Many leaders like this. I once saw friends applying to titles like β€œsoftware engineers (PhD only)”, almost laughed.

      In your case, I would suggest you try to switch internally in Google. I can see Google HW will grow far larger in the near future and in the end threatening the existing order of the industry. It should be a good chance.
      Feb 9
  • Amazon
    BNN_picker

    Go to company page Amazon

    BNN_picker
    PhD ng with 0.5 yoe have the same concern here. I'm also working for FAANG with satisfying TC. But my daily work uses no more than 15% of my PhD knowledge base. Sometimes I even felt like I'm doing a PM's job (-_-;) Feeling anxious and wonder if I should switch to a more technical design job.
    Feb 9 1
    • Micron
      topu

      Go to company page Micron

      topu
      OP
      I'm learning something from almost zero. Which is interesting. But I am worried if I'm giving up on a head-start on the area I'm experienced in.
      Feb 9