Seeking advice on careers in mixed-signal IC design
Hi everyone,
I'm about to start an MTech in VLSI after completing my BTech from an IIT. During my bachelor's, I also did a 6-month internship in validation at a semiconductor company. I genuinely enjoyed the experience and learned a lot, but I don't think I'd want to spend my entire career in that kind of role.
What really interests me is mixed-signal design, especially ADCs, and working on challenging R&D problems.
I'm not necessarily dreaming of founding my own startup. I think I'd enjoy being one of the early technical hires in a startup or being on an advanced R&D team inside a larger company.
My questions are:
Do these kinds of roles actually exist in industry, especially in India, or am I idealizing what semiconductor R&D looks like?
For someone who wants to maximize the chances of getting into those roles, is an MTech the right move compared to joining industry immediately after a BTech?
How much of industrial mixed-signal/analog design is genuinely new architecture and research versus product maintenance and incremental improvements?
If you work in one of these roles, what does a typical week actually look like?
Also if you work long term, can you get ownership over some product or IP that you make?
I'm asking because I don't want to spend years chasing an unrealistic picture of the industry. I'd much rather hear from people who are actually doing this work.
Thanks!