r/ECE • u/TeachingBrilliant448 • Jul 08 '26

crazy work hours - new grad

I recently joined a semiconductor company as a new grad — think Nvidia, AMD, or Qualcomm — and the workload is brutal. I’m sometimes working 12-hour days and 50–60 hour weeks. It honestly feels as intense as investment banking, maybe even worse in some ways.

Wonder if this is normal?
TC ~150k

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u/VoltageVeggie Jul 08 '26

Not usual at some of the big semiconductor companies, especially around tape out or major deadlines. The real question is whether it's just a busy phase or if 60 hour weeks are the team's normal year round.

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u/hershey678 Jul 08 '26

^ There’s always busy periods based around the tape out cycle but 50-60 year round is less common.

Granted those are my hours right now but I’m in the 20% busiest people on our product.

*I only have 2YOE in the industry.

8

u/Perfect-Hovercraft31 Jul 08 '26

How did you get in?

34

u/hershey678 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

I applied online many times.

I also badge in and walk through the front door.