Naomi Martin

Naomi

  • Chemical Engineer grad Naomi travelled south to join us.

  • See how the move worked out for her work and her new life.

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I’ve learned something new every day since I started at Intel and it will be the same for you.

I’m a Process Engineer in the Dry Etch department at Intel. What does that mean? I do a lot of data analysis and monitor any issues that come up in our department. On the factory floor, I’m the next level of escalation. Problems come to me and I’m expected to use my expertise to fix them.

I chose Intel because I wasn’t sure what area I wanted to go work in. I studied chemical engineering, but pharmaceuticals didn’t interest me. Manufacturing, on the other hand, offers a wide variety of jobs. Intel is well-known and I thought it would be good to get experience with a large company. A place like Intel gives you more options for career development—you might go in as a technician and, after a while, move to a completely different area or even become a manager. There are a lot of career paths available to you here.

I also liked the fact that Intel’s campus is close to Dublin. I’m from Northern Ireland, so I was excited to be closer to the city. It’s quite handy to be so near to good shops, restaurants, and concert venues. So many other facilities are in the middle of nowhere, but not Intel.

When I first started, I was grateful for all the help Intel gave me. Small details like setting up a bank account made the transition much smoother. Once I got to work, we spent a few weeks going over safety and quality. There were three of us training together, which was helpful. It meant I had people to discuss things with along the way.

Over three years later, my days at Intel vary quite a lot, depending on what’s needed. We always start by reviewing any issues with our tools and finding proactive work we can do to prevent delays. We also have lots of meetings. At the moment, we’re working on early detection systems to improve performance. I really enjoy the variety—working in other areas of the factory and being exposed to how things run in different departments. It’s great to know that my work is having an impact. When I catch an error or hit all of my targets, it improves things for everyone else.

At the moment, because of Covid-19, I’m onsite half of the time and at home the other days. I prefer to be onsite, but I’ve learned to closely mimic my onsite work schedule while I’m at home, which helps. Intel has offered excellent support during this time. I was able to meet with an ergonomic specialist and they ordered me a new keyboard and chair to use at home. I’ve also taken a few stretching and yoga classes, which bring balance to my day.

I think the most important thing for graduates to remember is that they aren’t expected to arrive at Intel already knowing everything. You’re trained extensively when you get here. Don’t worry! You’re never left not knowing what’s next. It’s an environment that encourages questions and learning. I’ve learned something new every day since I started at Intel and it will be the same for you.