The Electronic Design Automation sector provides software, tools, methodologies and services that play a vital role in the design of advanced integrated circuits and electronics. With the Indian electronic design ecosystem rapidly evolving, individuals who seek innovations in high-tech fields will be the most sought after as this sector is set to
scale greater heights.
Silicon is pervasive today - the boom in the wireless, consumer and communication has made semiconductors an integral part of the devices that are transforming the digital age. The Electronic Design Automation sector provides software, tools, methodologies and services that play a vital role in the design of advanced integrated circuits and electronics. Although it is a relatively niche segment of the electronics ecosystem, all other segments, from manufacturers of semiconductors to printed circuit boards, depend on its capabilities for success. EDA scores considerably in enabling innovation in the industries it serves.
The emerging ecosystem
In India especially, the electronic design industry is at an inflection point. Over the last twenty years, the trickle of companies setting up a presence in India has turned into a steady flow. International semiconductor manufacturers, fabless companies and electronic manufacturing services firms have set up their offshore design and development facilities creating a mature ecosystem. In addition, off-shoring of product engineering services has led to the growth of design services firms in India. Today, as the prowess of Indian engineers is recognised, companies are looking at India-based captive centres providing end-to-end design to meet time-to-market pressures and reduce design costs. These centres have moved from concept design to system design for global markets. Also, Indian design services firms are increasingly taking on larger roles in systems designs for global semiconductor companies. These are definitely exciting times for engineers in this field.
The opportunities
India, the fastest growing wireless market in the world, is expected to have 600 million subscribers by 2011 according to a study published by the Centre for Telecoms Research (CTR), London. Gartner estimates nearly 31 million mobile phones were manufactured in India in 2006 alone. The growing demand in wireless devices offers immense opportunities for engineers who are working on platforms for India. The transition from concept to product design is throwing up a gamut of opportunities. Embedded systems, verification technologies and services, and the design for power (popularly referred to as low power design) will be the areas to watch out for.
The rising complexity in design, increased mask costs, reduced time to market, high levels of RF and mixed-signal integration, and higher yield expectations are increasing the relevance of design flows and methodology. Also, a fair amount of design time is now spent on verification and testing to ensure first-time right functionality. Indian companies are expected to capture a large share of this segment and will see a hiring spree. Career opportunities will lie with these offshore design service companies, while product development companies will continue to be a niche area seeing a slow, steady rise in employment opportunities.
What you require
The industry provides an exciting career and growth path. On the technical front, design, verification and testing of complex designs provide choices to engineers inclined towards innovation and working on niche technologies. Increasing complex tools and smaller geometries stretch boundaries for creative thinking. A strong math and science background is essential for design engineers. A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronics, Electrical or Computer Science is an ideal qualification. Domain-specific knowledge will definitely give you an edge in the market.
If intensive research and development is not for you, a plethora of opportunities lie in sales, marketing and application engineering. These roles involve interaction with external and internal customers and R&D. An ideal candidate in any of these fields requires a strong technical background and values customer responsiveness.
The rapid growth in the domestic market requires a specialist technical sales force that understands the customer environment, maps it to a technology need and drives the adoption of EDA technologies. The industry also needs application engineers with domain expertise, who are responsive to customer needs, can relate it with their own offerings and refer expert groups in sales or R&D if required. Finally, technical support personnel at customer contact centres who provide remote support to EDA customers worldwide form an essential link in the chain of professionals that enable full realisation of the EDA business model.
Getting the right skill set
The engineering workforce in semiconductor design stood at around 75,000 in 2005. It is estimated to reach 780,000 by 2015. The availability of talent is considered to be India’s strength but the issue is in the number of readily employable engineers. Fresh graduates lack industry exposure and are not “design-aware”. Hence there is a need for training and real life design exposure before they can become productive. Academic institutions need to partner with industry to augment research infrastructure equipment, curriculum and fellowships disbursed to their researchers. A case in point is the AVLSI Consortium at IIT Kharagpur that focuses on advanced VLSI research. Programmes like ‘Train-the-trainer’ ensures that the faculty is conversant with the latest tools and technologies available. Student Design Contests provide a good opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in embedded technologies and is an excellent platform to showcase their innovative concepts and design prowess.
For professionals, bridge-courses are ideal. A pioneering effort, the Finishing School Programme, an industry-academic collaboration offering short term courses where individuals can hone their skill-sets and earn certifications are helping the industry address the demand-supply gap.
With the Indian electronic design ecosystem rapidly evolving, individuals who seek innovations in high-tech fields will be the most-sought after as this sector is set to scale greater heights.
Courses from IACM
IACM SmartLearn Ltd., the Hardware and Networking Training Institute offers the following courses in Bangalore.
MASTERCONECT: For professionals who have acquired work experience along with formal training or have acquired the relevant certifications. The one-year programme for 10+2 is the only exception. This programme covers all three programmes where a student starts from basics and gradually reaches MASTERCONNECT at the third level.
PROCONNECT: Students, who have passed their graduation, engineering degree, three years diploma after 10+2 or are pursuing their higher education, may enrol for the courses offered under PROCONNECT programmes, mapped to MCSE 2003, MCSA, CCNA, CCNP, RHCT, RHCE, Security, Exchange Server, A+ etc. The courses under PROCONNECT programmes are designed considering the initiation of students in the hardware and networking industry.
UCONNECT: IACM Support Skill Certifications
Basically designed for beginners. Students, who have passed 10+2 or 10th with ITI or are pursuing their graduation, may enrol for the courses offered under UCONNECT programmes.
IACM has already provided skilled manpower to some of the leading corporates like Coca Cola, Pepsi Foods, Airtel, GE Capital Services, HCL Infosystems, HP India, Intex, Samsung, CMS, NTPC, Tata Infotech, VSNL among others.
The course material of IACM is designed to create and develop highly skilled, competitive and industry oriented manpower that can cater to the technical world. As per the need of the industry, IACM keeps on enhancing its course material on a regular basis. All the IACM centres have dedicated talented and experienced teachers and state-of-the-art lab-cum-classrooms.
