“We draw on our creativity to develop analog & mixed-signal circuit solutions.”

I work on gate drivers for products in the home-appliance market segment – for air-conditioners, washing machines and vacuum cleaners, for example. As in other sectors, power efficiency is becoming a key aspect in this market. My task is to lower current consumption as much as possible in every circuit.

For me the process starts with a design concept from a Concept Engineer. I then have to think about a suitable circuit solution, so I go into the details: I examine every single transistor and translate each functionality, or requirement, into a circuit. The next step is to combine all of the circuits to see if they are communicating with one another properly and if the final design behaves as it should.

Along the way I cooperate a lot with our Layout Engineers, because they are the ones who transfer my circuit schematic design into a mask set for the mask house. The mask, in turn, is used in the fab to produce my gate driver, ultimately in silicon. During the design phase, before I release the final circuit schematic, I run simulations either on my own or in cooperation with a Verification Engineer.

Analog & Mixed Signal Design Engineers work within the boundaries of requirement specifications and technology limitations. The challenge is to keep both in mind while I unfold my creativity to find the best circuit solution.

The other big challenge is about not getting discouraged. After I come up with a circuit solution, I have to verify it against different requirements. If something doesn’t work properly, I have to adjust the design. Sometimes it’s just matter of minor changes to the original design, and other times it means having to restart from scratch. If the latter is the case, I try to see it as a chance to improve. 

There are so many! Always a special highlight is when we get the first silicon model of a design from the lab. It’s thrilling to see an idea worked out in reality. We are always hoping for a “first silicon success” – that’s when no design modifications are needed and our work goes straight to production. If that happens, you have a genuine reason to celebrate.

Whatever the end product may be, no two projects are alike – and for me that’s both a highlight and a challenge. Different technologies, demanding product definitions and groundbreaking innovations always keep me on my toes. The good thing is that I’m never bored and I’m constantly learning.

Since I am working together with Concept Engineers, Verification Engineers, Layout Engineers and Test Engineers  my work puts me in touch with a lot of people across the company. That gives me the feeling of being part of a wide team working together toward success. I really like that about Infineon.

As an Analog & Mixed Signal Design Engineer, you definitely need creativity, an innovative streak and a well-structured approach to your job. Accuracy has to be in there too, as well as passion for new technologies.

I check my email and calendar as soon as I get to the office, and then I start working on the tasks for the day. They can differ, depending on the design phase. Nevertheless, I have to be prepared to change my priorities if my support is needed to investigate an unexpected failure or problem with a product.

It’s also good to reserve time to write down documentation. I find that having my results and key decision recorded saves time when I have to recall them months or even years later.