Semiconductor / Electronics Engineer
Design and test the microchips, sensors and electronic hardware that power everything from phones to electric vehicles.
A day in the life
Design integrated circuits, run simulations, verify prototypes, and collaborate with fabrication and software teams.
Typical route
Helpful A-levels
Physics + Maths + Computer Science
Typical qualification and training
- Electronics, Microelectronics or Physics degree
- Graduate scheme or chip-design internship
These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.
Indicative UK salary
- Starter
- £26,000-£34,000
- Experienced
- £42,000-£62,000
- Senior
- £85,000+
Semiconductor design and AI-chip roles are in high demand and often pay more.
Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Electronics Engineer.
UK employers
- Arm
- Renesas (formerly Dialog Semiconductor)
- IQE
- Pragmatic Semiconductor
Worldwide employers
- Intel
- TSMC
- Samsung
- NVIDIA
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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