- Purpose
- References
As a Husky EE student nearing graduation, you will soon begin applying for jobs. Your goal of becoming an integrated circuit field applications engineer is approaching fruition. The purpose of this document is to give you a leap-start on how to best prepare for getting your dream-job.
Why: Showing early understanding of foundational building blocks in IC design sets you apart to recruiters at semiconductor companies. Building an intuition of modular circuit configurations and IC fabrication techniques signals you already pocess valuable knowledge that will lessen company expenditures on training and onboarding making you the ideal canidate.
How: Take these classes during your degree at UW Bothell.
BEE433 focuses on design using integrated circuits (op-amps, processors, etc.) making it invaluable to gaining familiarity with semiconductor technologies--products you will both sell and work alongside technical teams to implement.1
BEE 486 covers mircoelectronic processing technology, IC-fabrication chemical processes, and teaches design considerations for semiconductor components. A dedicated study will ensure you impress inteviewers in the technical interview.1
Why: Technical interviewers want candidates with experience in design, testing, and troubleshooting. Building a portfolio of projects not only demonstrates your technical skills, but also gives you practical intuition about project development that you can draw on during interviews to stand out as a candidate.
How: Build projects you find interesting and then create a public GitHub repository to host them. Discuss the project and what you learned in a README file. Below are a couple ideas to get you started:
Circuit that takes an analog voltage and transforms it into a digital number. Here is a tutorial on building a flash ADC.
Circuit that also takes an analog signal and returns a digital value. . Here is a project schematic, and a video demo.
Circuit which uses a transistor to amplify a small signal. Try building one from this project layout.
A device which can demodulate and play signals on AM frequency band. Here is a guide to building one.
Why: Being an FAE necessitates clear explanation of technical solutions to a variety of customers with different design requirements so IC firms specifically look for students who depict strong presentation and adaptability skills.
Presentation is about creating an atmosphere where you are listening and demonstrating understanding of the customer's technical deliverables and deadlines. This is often done by whiteboarding the technical issue in front of a panel of engineers from the client company and explicitly asking: "Am I understanding this correctly?".2
Strengthen your presentation skills by taking a circuit from your class notes and explaining it on a whiteboard to a peer who will ask questions and give feedback. Do this exercise twice a month. This gives you practice explaining aloud and will allow you to reflect on which parts of your presentation need work.
An FAE may manage up to 20 different projects at once, so interviewers look for adaptable candidates who can communicate naturally and can shift perspective to create satisfaction and understanding during sales pitches and design meetings.2
Augment your ability to communicate and switch perspectives early by taking an improv class. Taking an improv class teaches you to creatively adapt and not get stuck in a loop. Consider joining the UW Collective Improv Troupe or take a class from Unexpected Productions.
Why: Having any industry experience through an internship is an excellent way to show recruiters you have developed your soft skills and technical experience by working on a company project.
How: Make a list of companies outside of FAANG and apply to their internship programs 3 to 9 months before the quarter you hope to intern during. Make appointments with UWB Career Services to optimize your resume and cover letter for each application.
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Footnotes
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UW BOTHELL ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (BOTHELL) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - UW BOTHELL COURSE OFFERINGS, \
↩ ↩2https://www.washington.edu/students/crscatb/bee.html (accessed Apr. 16, 2026). -
A. Dennis and Z. Aljouni, “Student Informational Interview with Analog Devices Field Applications Engineer,” Apr. 16, 2026 ↩ ↩2