Best Hardware companys to start in

Mar 23, 2021 86 Comments

I'm trying to go into hardware but companies like apple and NVIDIA seem unattainable to me. What are some companies that would be good to apply? I have no yoe in hardware and I'm currently pursuing a masters part time in integrated circuits.

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TOP 86 Comments
  • The hardware company with the lowest bar is Intel.
    Mar 23, 2021 21
  • HPE / Consultant
    mapletreeโ™ก

    Go to company page HPE Consultant

    mapletreeโ™ก
    Synopsys
    Xilinx
    Texas instruments
    Cadence
    AMD
    Intel
    Qualcomm
    Broadcom
    NXP
    Analog devices
    TSM
    Murata
    Cirrus logic
    Marvell

    Edit after replies

    Samsung
    ARM
    National instruments
    Micron
    Mediatek
    Mar 23, 2021 9
  • Intel
    Brianroy

    Go to company page Intel

    Brianroy
    Start with Intel
    Mar 23, 2021 5
    • Intel
      2Sum

      Go to company page Intel

      2Sum
      ๐Ÿ˜‚ Then youโ€™ll need 1 to 2 years to wash away the stink of intel.
      Mar 23, 2021
    • Intel
      st0nk

      Go to company page Intel

      st0nk
      Worked in defense before intel. Intel is a million times better. I could only imagine a FANG after this. Intel is good if you only plan on staying a couple years and definitely a step up from defense.
      Apr 25, 2021
  • AMD
    epyc๐Ÿš€

    Go to company page AMD

    epyc๐Ÿš€
    Go to any hardware employer but intel
    You will thank me later
    Mar 23, 2021 0
  • AMD
    JohnSnowV

    Go to company page AMD

    JohnSnowV
    I had interview with apple, amd and qualcomm. Apple interview was not tough, but it was exhaustive. Majority of the interviewers came up with their own set of questions instead of asking question based on resume and position. They run steam roller for whatever time they have. I remember answering 40+ questions in 40 mins in my first ever phone screening with apple. I did not even sit with a pen and paper as all other interviewers from companies such as qcom and amd only ask about interest, work experience and resume related stuffs in the first screening. For a Ph.D. graduate, I think apple phone screening process is very very poor and it does not represent a good culture. Your opinion may differ but I feel that way. I was contacted by 7-8 groups from apple and had similar phone screening experience with 4 groups. I have decided not to join apple as I felt the work culture is too exhaustive and I want to have a life that does not care about money only. I excelled at phone screening and was asked to choose one out of 3 groups for an onsite, but I did not pursue any further as I already had a job offer. However, apple interview process is the most transparent I have seen. Several of my friends went through interview at AMD and all of them said AMD interview process was the best they faced so far. It is not because it was easy but because it was well organized. AMD hr provided the topics that each interviewer will ask question about. I had the worst experience with qualcomm interview. Qualcomm hrs are absolutely useless when it comes to communication. They send a generic email saying a team member will call you in 3-5 days for a phone interview. Then the team member hardly maintains the timeline. I was contacted by HR for 4 groups at qualcomm. One team member contacted me 3 weeks later and asked me if I can join in a week. Lol. Then another manager kept on bashing other companies for most of the interview time. Then another manager was so interested about me that he said convince me that you will join qcom if you get the offer. I had to give him 4-5 reasons before he was convinced that I was willing to join qcom. Then he said Hr would contact you for onsite. HR did, covid started, both hr and manager ghosted on me. Overall, my qcom experience is horrible. I am providing all these feedback hoping that recruiters will read these and improve their recruitment process. I kept intel as my last option to apply and never needed to apply.
    Mar 23, 2021 3
    • Cadence
      FWtd28

      Go to company page Cadence

      FWtd28
      I don't know about apple, but qualcomm interview was the best for me! They did ask me some leetcode questions, but what I liked is that they never decided on that and they also gave me practical problems to solve....I really like how they interview people, the process might not be that transparent but the experience is definitely good
      Mar 24, 2021
    • AMD
      JohnSnowV

      Go to company page AMD

      JohnSnowV
      Not sure why I faced same issues 4 times and each time I had different hr. I heard same from some others. I think they are better for openings that require immediate fulfillment.
      Mar 24, 2021