u/Nithhhhh

I’m a 3rd-year ECE student aiming for a career in semiconductor/core hardware companies like TI, Qualcomm, NVIDIA, AMD, etc., mainly through off-campus opportunities.

I’m confused between RTL Design, DV, Physical Design, DFT, FPGA, and Analog/Mixed-Signal.

Which role would be the best to target for strong future demand, career growth, and good entry-level opportunities? Also, what skills should I focus on from 3rd year to become industry-ready?

Hi everyone,

I'm an ECE student at a Tier-2 engineering college in India. My current CGPA is 7.74, and I had one backlog which I have already cleared.

My college attracts some strong recruiters, including companies like Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, with top offers reaching around 40 LPA. However, only a small number of students are selected for those roles.

I'm trying to realistically assess my situation. I'm not necessarily aiming for the highest-paying jobs right away, but I would like to build a solid career in VLSI/semiconductor engineering and secure a decent placement.

My questions are:

1. Will a 7.74 CGPA and one cleared backlog significantly limit my opportunities?
2. What skills matter most for getting shortlisted in VLSI roles today?
3. Which projects would you recommend for someone targeting RTL Design, Verification, FPGA, or Physical Design?
4. If you were in my position with 2 years left before graduation, what would your roadmap be?
5. Is it realistic to target companies like Cadence, Synopsys, Qualcomm, TI, AMD, or NVIDIA through off-campus opportunities later on?