Take a peek into the journeys of four principal engineers who began their careers with Intel India fresh out of college and have since become accomplished technical leaders.
For more than 50 years, Intel and our people have profoundly influenced the world, driving business and society forward by creating radical innovation that revolutionizes the way we live. Our people build our technology, unlock new business opportunities, and work with our partners and customers to create a global impact. In this article, we hear from four principal engineers whose journeys are a testament to how Intel furthers career development with challenging work.
I joined Intel in 2002 and was among the few college graduates to help design the first server microprocessor from India. What I learned during my initial days was so helpful that after two decades, I still apply the concepts to solve problems.
Defining moment of my career
I was fortunate to help Intel win several designs on Intel® Xeon® Scalable and Intel® Xeon® D processors. The learning and satisfaction you experience in solving customer power-performance issues is tremendous.
Push your boundaries
Every domain has plenty of opportunities, and you interact with many stakeholders across multiple areas. Expand your depth and breadth of technical knowledge, create opportunities on your own, and, along the way, seek help from technical leads and managers.
Defining moments of my career
When I was starting out, the common perception was that career growth meant either design or architecture—if you work in hardware—or development in software. I have grown from a college graduate to a principal engineer, entirely as a silicon PnP validation engineer.
A personal top moment for me was when my daughter told me that she wants to one day work like her Mumma—hearing this, I felt accomplished both as an engineer as well as a mother.
Overcoming inhibitions
I was a very shy and introverted person as an intern. My first official feedback was that I do not speak up during meetings. I took it up as a challenge to change that and improved my communication and interpersonal skills.
Defining moment of my career
During my second project at Intel, I had the opportunity to work on silicon architecture, something I wanted to do but wasn’t sure about my readiness. With my manager’s encouragement and my willingness to take the risk, I embraced the opportunity and haven’t looked back since.
Impacting millions of lives every day
Part of my longevity at Intel is attributed to the immense opportunities it offers across many different business groups. Intel is one of the few companies at the forefront of technology, even 50 years after its inception. I feel so fortunate to participate in numerous cutting-edge technologies and be my creative best every day.
Defining moments of my career
Leading the Intel® Data Center GPU Max Series-based SoC, one of the most demanding and challenging projects, was a pinnacle in my career. It was one of the biggest projects in Intel, and we walked a very steep path for a tape-in milestone.
Going beyond the norm
The greatest challenge is making a career switch when you are comfortable. I have made three big changes in my career. First, I shifted from a technical role to a managerial path after completing a challenging block in Gen5 GFX architecture in Clarkdale and Arrandale. The second was when I switched back to the tech ladder after becoming a successful manager. The third was when I decided to lead Intel® Data Center GPU Max Series despite discouragement. Many thought the program had too many issues, but I followed my heart and took up the challenge.
At Intel, we believe that it takes each of us to develop industry-leading technology that can change the world. We’re empowered, supported, and inspired to make a difference daily. This is a place where your brilliance, energy, and curiosity can unleash potential and engineer brilliant solutions. Join in on the excitement. Learn more about career opportunities with Intel.