r/TSMC

I'm still surprised how it is possible that TSMC has been unmatched and still is the only one that can produce the highly advanced chips that power our computers (like my Apple M4 MacBook Pro) and smartphones.

I mean eventually other companies and countries catch up on technologies but so far it hasn't happened.

It just seems very risky that only one place and one company can fabricate such important parts and if (god forbid) a war between China and Taiwan breaks out then TSMC will be out. Of course then there are more important things in life than technology but it still would set our civilization back in our technological progress.

What do you think?

I got an offer for mechanical facilities engineering. What’s the growth like? Pay, promotions, and long-term ceiling? Also how easy is it to switch out later?

Hopefully someone can find this useful in their job search or deciding if TSMC is right for them.

I think there is alot of hesitation for prospective candidates when they want to work at TSMC for obvious reasons. As someone who works at the AZ Fab as an engineer and follows the industry closely, I can say - its hard work. Anyone in the industry at advanced nodes will say the same-I see it as simply a reflection of the demand all companies are trying to fill. University Colleagues at Panther Lake for Intel and Taylor Samsung Fab, in my experience say similar things. Theres alot of noise with Glassdoor, ex TSMC employees, or bloggers - finding some neutral opinion is not shared as often. Working in a Taiwanese Company vs Previous American Legacy Companies - there are countless stories and opinions you may hear. I personally have found more success and understanding at TSMC vs previous employers in US. East vs West culture and expectations can be different but nothing critical. Both cultures have learned from each other very well at the site and great things will come in the future

The Good: My experience has been net positive. TSMC is fast paced work, I am tasked with alot of responsibility and I personally believe I use alot of tools from school for my job. I have had great growth and compensation along the way. Some problems can get very very technical which is something that is a rewarding challenge. A work assignment in Taiwan could be in your future, this is an amazing experience and I dont believe I have heard 1 colleague say they did not enjoy their time there. Lastly, simply seeing the result of your work through the site development is always great. Our workforce is relatively young so there is alot of energy and familiar faces from college perhaps.

The Bad: Making semiconductors are hard. Theres no way around that. Demand is high, pressure to perform is high. Many people simply dont work well in that enviroment where work can be ambiguous, deadlines are tight, and there is alot of tasks that can get piled up. Work can spill into after your exit time however this is a 24/7 manufacturing operation that is in early production, this is an effect of that. Day by day it is truly getting better as we learn more and more.

Join If: you are a younger engineer that wants to be challenged and grow in their career very fast (many people to not get the chance to start up an advanced node factory). Someone who is willing to hit the ground running and tackle problems head on. I have worked at "legacy" companies that many might know based off their products - however, they offer truly restricted, gloomy, and mute work environments - but "calm". TSMC is high energy and will be beneficial to you if you up for good hard work.

Do NOT Join If: You are married to a rigid work schedule. If you are tied to production, depending on the department you could have rotating night shift, on-call, etc and perhaps in an emergency you will get called after work hours. Do not join if you are also married to the expectation of doing only 1 type of job scope. Many employees will be tasked with a "secondary" role for their department like cost, safety, training, etc. This sometimes stacked on your primary work which is why many people who do leave do not take well to this- sometime because it deviated from their expectations coming in.

My comparison/perspective is drawn from experience at other companies that are legacy companies that may boast about compensation or work-life balance but the actual day-to-day was littered in red tape, condescending senior engineers 2x my age, suffocating growth paths, silent offices or pouring months of work to make the most small change on system or process that I may never see.

Hello,

I will be interning at TSMC in Phoenix this summer as an engineering intern. I wanted to ask how the general internship experience was, how did TSMC provide experience or ig mentorship to their interns, and any general advice you have for incoming interns?

Hey guys, I recently accepted an offer but since I am from outside of AZ I will not be able to bring my vehicle. So I was wondering how has the experience been for intern in the pasts who don’t got a vehicle with them. Like work, weekend, and etc.

Hello,

Im interning at TSMC this summer in phoenix and wanted to ask how often do interns get return offers for full time jobs after their internship is over?

I heard we are staying in GCU dorms. Do we get our own bedroom and just share a bathroom, or do we share a bedroom?

Hi all! I received a full-time offer with start date in mid July but i haven't received any follow up email about the on-boarding process. Is this normal? Thank you guys

Im having my 2nd round interview on site soon and figured id get more insight into the role. This is for the fab21 location in Phoenix.

Is there always overtime available?

Is there a defined path for career advancement?

Hi, I’m a female fresh grad and I received an offer as a equipment engineer for advanced packaging in chiayi. Honestly, not very sure whether to take up this job as I heard AP fab is way more demanding than other fab. I need more insights…

Anyone have any experience with this? They didn’t take taxes out, they didn’t pay me my PTO/vacation hours, and altogether my money owed was short. Anyone else deal with this and file a claim w the labor board OR civil suit?

TSMC currently comes across as a company that believes in AI and literally sees it as the main driver of its next phase of growth. What strikes me most here is not the strong quarterly performance itself, but the company’s tone.

Personally, I think it’s important to take a broader view here. TSMC will continue to push forward, which means even more competition for capacity, even fiercer rivalry and even greater global dependence on a handful of critical players. On the one hand, this drives innovation forward. On the other, it makes the entire system even more vulnerable to any disruption. And here is the question that really needs to be asked: are we witnessing healthy industry growth, or a moment when the entire market has become too heavily reliant on AI and a handful of chip manufacturers?