Moore's Law
Moore's Law is an important concept in computer chip manufacturing that states computer chips get twice as powerful roughly every two years while costs stay the same. It's not actually a scientific law, but rather a prediction made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore that has helped guide the semiconductor industry's goals and planning. When candidates mention Moore's Law in their resumes, it usually shows they understand how the semiconductor industry pushes for constant innovation and improvement in chip design and manufacturing processes.
Examples in Resumes
Led manufacturing team to achieve production targets aligned with Moore's Law scaling requirements
Developed new processes to support Moore's Law advancement in 5nm chip production
Optimized semiconductor yields to maintain cost efficiency in line with Moore's Law projections
Typical job title: "Semiconductor Process Engineers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Semiconductor Process Engineers
Professional Organizations
Industry Networks
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you see Moore's Law affecting semiconductor manufacturing in the next decade?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss current industry challenges, alternative scaling approaches, and how manufacturing processes need to adapt to maintain performance improvements as traditional scaling becomes more difficult.
Q: What strategies have you implemented to maintain cost-effective scaling in chip production?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience with cost reduction initiatives, yield improvement, and new manufacturing technologies that help maintain the pace of advancement.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How does Moore's Law influence your approach to process development?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they balance performance improvements with manufacturing constraints and cost considerations in their daily work.
Q: What challenges have you faced in maintaining yield as feature sizes decrease?
Expected Answer: Should discuss practical experience with manufacturing challenges and how they've solved specific scaling-related problems.
Junior Level Questions
Q: Can you explain Moore's Law in simple terms and why it matters to semiconductor manufacturing?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of the concept and its importance to industry progress and manufacturing goals.
Q: What basic manufacturing processes are affected by continued scaling?
Expected Answer: Should show awareness of how smaller feature sizes impact basic manufacturing steps and quality control.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of semiconductor processes
- Familiarity with clean room operations
- Knowledge of quality control basics
- Understanding of manufacturing safety protocols
Mid (2-5 years)
- Process optimization techniques
- Yield analysis and improvement
- Equipment troubleshooting
- Cross-functional team coordination
Senior (5+ years)
- Advanced process integration
- New technology implementation
- Strategic planning for scaling challenges
- Team leadership and project management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Limited understanding of basic semiconductor manufacturing processes
- No hands-on clean room experience
- Lack of knowledge about quality control methods
- Poor understanding of how scaling affects manufacturing processes
