( ESNUG 517 Item 1 ) -------------------------------------------- [01/17/13]
Subject: Reader wants to do EDA R&D and would love input to choose where
> 2.) What are the biggest EDA/FAB/IP headaches that your group
> is dealing with today?
From: [ Inquiring Minds ]
Hi, John,
Please keep me anon.
This is not a problem my group is facing -- it's a personal issue that your
EDA R&D readers might be able to help me with.
I'm thinking of leaving chip design and going into EDA R&D. After years
of complaining about EDA tools, I've dreamt up (what I think are) some
clever algorithms that might be unique inside EDA. My question is, if I
want to make my mark in EDA, where/how should I do it?
1.) Join one of the Big 3 (Synopsys, Cadence, Mentor).
PLUSES
- Steady pay check.
- Access to many brilliant EDA people.
- I won't have to do sales or support.
- Many different projects to work on.
- Layoffs are rare.
- Customer interfacing is optional.
MINUSES
- I'll be one of 1,000's. Tiny cog in very big machine.
- Company politics at all levels everywhere.
- No chance for new guy making a big impact.
- I'll always be working for a set of bosses in a hierarchy.
- Long hours.
- Bureaucracy
- Pay never explodes even with great idea.
2.) Join or create a new EDA start-up.
PLUSES
- I can make a big impact. My opinion counts.
- I'm my own boss or close to being my own boss.
- Access to some brilliant EDA people.
- No bureaucracy. No hierarchy.
- Pay can explode if company is bought out or IPO's.
MINUSES
- Low pay, long hours, iffy future.
- I must interface with customers to fix issues ASAP.
- I must help sales.
- No access to help if I can't solve problem.
- Can get sued by the Big 3.
- Crazy politics with Big 3.
3.) Develop in-house EDA tools at Intel/IBM/STmicro/etc.
PLUSES
- Steady pay check.
- Access to some brilliant EDA people.
- Some different projects to work on.
- Layoffs are rare.
MINUSES
- I'll be one of 1,00's. Medium cog in a big machine.
- Company politics at all levels everywhere.
- No chance for new guy making a big impact.
- I'll always be working for a set of bosses in a hierarchy.
- Long hours.
- Bureaucracy
- Must do in-house sales and support.
- Constant threat of outside commercial EDA tools will kill
off your in-house tools.
- Strained love/hate relations with commercial EDA vendors.
- Pay never explodes even with great idea.
4.) Go into EDA Academia
PLUSES
- Steady (but lessor) pay check.
- Access to many brilliant EDA people.
- Many different projects to work on.
- Some chance for new guy making some impact.
- Layoffs never happen.
- No customer interfacing is required.
- Good relations with commercial EDA vendors.
MINUSES
- MAJOR academic politics at all levels everywhere.
- I'll always be working for a set of bosses in a hierarchy.
- Easy hours.
- Bureaucracy.
- Must do "sales" and "support" of papers, projects, ideas.
- Can't make as big as impact as the private sector does.
- Pay never explodes even with great idea.
What I need to know FROM YOUR EDA R&D READERS is:
1.) Is this assessment of the fours choices I have correct?
2.) Are there PLUSES and MINUSES that I missed? (If yes, what?)
3.) After saying what EDA R&D path you personally chose, are you
happy that you chose it? Why or why not?
I know this isn't your normal DeepChip discussion, John, but it would mean
a great deal to me personally if you posted it, so I could choose my right
path into EDA R&D.
I wish to thank in advance the EDA R&D people who reply for their help.
- [ Inquiring Minds ]
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Editor's Note: For obvious reasons, I'll treat ALL emails to this
as ANONYMOUS. It's answers that are needed, not your ID. - John
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