ICE Intern Talk — Texas Instruments
My name is Sivasangaran, and I pursued an internship at Texas Instruments this summer as a Digital Intern in the Mixed signal Digital Cell Libraries group. I would like to share my experiences on working with TI and also answer some FAQs related to my internship.
- Give us a few details about the company.
Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is an American technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that designs and manufactures semiconductors and various integrated circuits, which it sells to electronics designers and manufacturers globally. It is one of the top 10 semiconductor companies worldwide based on sales volume. The company’s focus is on developing analog chips and embedded processors, which account for more than 80% of its revenue. TI also produces TI digital light processing technology and education technology products including calculators, microcontrollers and multi-core processors. The company holds 45,000 patents worldwide as of 2016.
Texas Instruments emerged in 1951 after a reorganization of Geophysical Service Incorporated, a company founded in 1930 that manufactured equipment for use in the seismic industry, as well as defence electronics. TI produced the world’s first commercial silicon transistor in 1954, and the same year designed and manufactured the first transistor radio. Jack Kilby invented the integrated circuit in 1958 while working at TI’s Central Research Labs. TI also invented the hand-held calculator in 1967, and introduced the first single-chip microcontroller in 1970, which combined all the elements of computing onto one piece of silicon.
In 1987, TI invented the digital light processing device (also known as the DLP chip), which serves as the foundation for the company’s award-winning DLP technology and DLP Cinema. TI released the popular TI-81 calculator in 1990, which made it a leader in the graphing calculator industry. Its defence business was sold to Raytheon in 1997; this allowed TI to strengthen its focus on digital solutions. After the acquisition of National Semiconductor in 2011, the company had a combined portfolio of 45,000 analog products and customer design tools.
2. Tell us about your official job title at the company.
My Official Job Title in TI: Digital Intern (MDCL Group)
(Mixed-signal Digital Cell Libraries)
3. Could you describe yourself in a few words?
I am an avid book reader, having a very strict and meticulously planned way of life which stresses more on physical fitness and healthy habits with spirituality. I take part in Marathons and Yoga.
4. How often does the company visit our campus? What’s the selection criteria for candidates (CG cut off)?
A company as prestigious as TI only visits institutions that are as prestigious as NITT. Apart from visiting Madras IIT, TI visits only NITT campus in Tamil Nadu regularly (every year). The speciality of TI is that it is a highly sought-after company for circuital branches as it is one of the very few prestigious electronic companies that visit our campus. So, the competition is very tough and time-consuming. TI selects interns under three categories: Software, Digital and Analog.
They conduct an online test for all, which has three rounds: Analog, Digital and Software. The results of the test are declared on the very same night you attempt the test. The selected candidates are then called for an interview in the next round. The interviewers ask a lot of questions regarding circuits and C programming with a focus on the binary representation of numbers and other low-level aspects of programming. You should have a sound knowledge of the subject. There is no fixed number of rounds, but whenever you are called, you will either be asked questions or be given a timed test. When you answer their questions, you should take a paper and pen and use all your skills to explain your answer to the interviewer. After every timed test is over, they will ask you to explain how you arrived at every answer. They check your problem-solving ability and skill by whatever you write and explain to them. The results of the interviews are declared at the end of the day.
The subjects in which you are expected to be competent are: Circuit Theory, Digital Electronics, Analog Signal Processing and apart from this, you also should be sound at transistors (BJTs and FETs) and their characteristics.
One word of advice: The amount of extra-curricular activities which you might have mentioned in your resume have absolutely NO relevance in your selection to TI as an intern: which means they only check the depth of your subject knowledge.
5. What were the steps taken by you to prepare for the intern selection process (What topics did you prepare)?
For the preparation materials, kindly refer to the google drive link here.
6. How was the overall process from application till the interview?
It was very hectic, time-consuming and very stressful. You have to manage and balance your regular classes with this 2-day process of T&P procedures. On that particular day, if you have a CT, then you have to adjust/compromise with the CT.
You have a strict and monitored dress code along with an appearance code right from your shoes to hair, clean-shaven with properly tied shirts in Trichy’s hot weather is something very draining. The sessions start as early as 6 am and can stretch up to 9–9:30 pm. I faced two days of such processes for TI. You should have sufficient energy to tackle the interview from morning till night. You may not be selected if, during late in the evening, you display a lack of enthusiasm and energy in answering their questions.
TI was the third company in which I had reached the interview stage.
Yes, before TI, I failed in two other interviews but never minded. There are plenty of companies that visit our campus. So, you will always have a chance in one or the other. So, hold your breath and never lose your confidence. Take advice from your seniors from time to time, especially your CIC rep. He will guide you as our rep guided us. They will be very strict but just understand that they care for you.
A few words of caution: the more the company processes you attend, the more attendance you will lose for your regular class. So have enough attendance before the T&P process starts.
7. How was your experience working at the company?
COVID 19 has changed everything to our bad luck. From the ICE Department, three people got selected and posted at Bangalore, but we have never been there due to COVID-19. However, TI was generous enough to continue the proposal and not rescind the offers, notwithstanding COVID-19. But the internship program was drastically changed to suit online mode. Hence, what I actually did during my internship program had nothing to do with the topics for which I had been selected. I was selected for the digital profile, but in the internship, I was doing Python programming, simulations of circuits, etc. Mostly software-related work. I lost the chance of visiting the TI facility at Bangalore and working with real people and real gadgets due to COVID-19, and that resulted in the loss of my PPO as well. I am sure you will also be doing your internship online. So be prepared for some new software packages which may be required. But overall, TI is a dream company with marvellous work ethics and honest people, along with a good learning environment. I am grateful to TI for honouring their commitment to provide internships despite these trying times.
8. How to convert a Pre Placement Offer (PPO) from the company?
Right now, everything depends upon COVID-19 situation, no matter how much hard work you put in. Hence, this issue cannot be commented on that right now. Whether companies offer a PPO depends on the current economic situation and their internal demand for workers at that point in time.
9. Do you know any seniors who are currently employed at that company?
I did not personally get to know of any seniors working at the company.
Good luck juniors!
Feel free to contact me for further queries!
Email: kaasuun@gmail.com
An initiative of SENSORS NIT TRICHY, the annual technical symposium of the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering of NIT Trichy
Edited and Interviewed by Kumaresh Balaji
Poster Design by Karthikeyan Venkateswaran
