Intel Blog: Amin Sheikh, Lithography
In college, I studied business administration and HR. I worked in related roles for a while before realising I was in the wrong job. Since I was a child, I’d dreamt of becoming an engineer. So, I went back to college as an adult to complete my engineering degree. From the very beginning, it was my goal to work at Intel. Everybody knows this company and its good reputation. When I interviewed and got the job offer, I was over the moon! What a feeling. I still remember how amazing that day was.
In my role here at Intel, I work shifts. This means I have three days in work, followed by four days off, four days in work, and then three days off. It was an adjustment at first, but now I love the schedule. It’s great to have so much time to yourself. You can pursue further education, join a local sports team, whatever you want! It allows for lots of flexibility.
It’s my job to manage a toolset, look after its performance, and also to work on preventative maintenance. Some days, everything is hunky-dory. Other times, your tool has errored out and you have to work with your team to come up with a plan to fix the problem. At Intel, you’re doing something different every day. Here, teamwork is crucial. If something goes down and we don’t put our heads together to find a solution, we won’t meet our deadlines and, ultimately, it impacts everyone. Thankfully, the culture at Intel is very supportive. You come here and immediately you become part of this community where everyone is working toward the same goal.
One thing I love about my job is that there’s always something to learn and Intel makes it easy to continue learning. There are so many training classes going on—all you have to do is sign up! If you want to be involved in a project, even if it’s not specifically related to your job role, you just have to look for it. Personal growth is a huge motivating factor for me. I’m currently pursuing my Master’s in Nanotechnology and I have the full support of my manager. Intel really encourages further education. They allow me to take time for my studies when I need it. This benefits me and, down the line, it will benefit Intel.
I’m also involved in speaking to the engineers of the future in university classes and I am part of the judging panel for the Intel Mini Scientist competition that encourages younger students to develop science projects. The things that these 4th and 5th class students can do at such a young age are amazing! I enjoy giving back to the community in these ways. I love the quote, “My purpose is not to just live, but to create something that will live forever.” I think my work at Intel allows me to live this way and I’m grateful.