Q: What would you do if asked to perform an impossible task?

I would start with a model based problem solving approach,

First identify what the problem is.

Then define the objective and the desired solution.

Develop models and test these models with experiments and be able to collect reliable data form these experiments.

Identify which model yields the desired solution. And in this case since there is no solution I would idenetiy the closest solution.

if a solution still cannot be reached and I have exhausted all my resources then I would summarize my findings in an email or presentation and communicate out to the stakeholders.

Q: Why do you want to work at Oracle?

Oracle is a great place to work and offers great benefits and offers a lot of growth potential for my career, growth and development. Oracle is a major player in the tech and computing industry which is one of my passions and interest and its an industry I want to continue to be apart of. Oracle being one of the larges enterprise software companies has a lot of growth potential and the company has a huge opportunity to capitalize on the cloud computing revolution. 

Q: What do you think this position entails?

From my conversations with Gregg and Jorge, I was told that the position is similar to my current job role just on a larger scale.  That being said I believe I have a lot to offer and I bring a diverse set of skills to the table.

Q: Describe last project?

My last project was a Reticle defect print test template and training document.  Sometimes our reticles and sent to us on a waiver which means that there is a known defect on this reticle and if it is out of spec limits then it will need to be sent back to IMO for repair.  What we do is try to print a wafer using the reticle and determine if the defect size is failing spec limits. So given the coordinates we drive to the location on the sem and take measurements. And if these measurements are out of spec then the reticle fails print test and gets sent back. Most of the time the defect is below optical resolution limits and the defect doesnt print and we use it for production.

Q: If hired, what will you be able to teach us?

 Well being relatively new to the industry Im not sure If I can teach much. But what I can promise is that I will be a model employee that is motivated and full of energy that is willing to take on whatever is asked of me.

Q: You don't have current experience with the product for this position. What makes you fit for this position?

• Manufacturing experience
• data analysis
• engineering problem solving
• time management skills 

Q: Do you have a problem reporting to more than one Manager?

No, I actually report to 2 managers currently and at any given time I could be asked to follow up on something from a manager from a different area.  Litho is very dynamic and there are so many critical operations and each of those operations is lead my a manager or module team leader and they often call upon us layer owners for updates since we are the ones making decisions based on the product.

Q: Would I be able to pick up a major project in which the planning was nearing completion, and run with it?

If given a good enough hand-off I believe I could be able to finish the project.  At Intel we have whats called a No hic-up hand-off which is a document specifiying everything that is needed for the individual to take on the work or project to ensure there is no training gaps. So I am familiar with handing off work and taking over work from co-workers.

Q: How do you handle difficult people or people who you don't get along with?

You have to avoid confrontation and escalation.  To deal with difficult people you have to understand them and understand where they are coming from first.  Once I gain a better understanding about them I can learn how to best communicate with them and avoid confrontation at all costs.

Q: Why you want to change your current job?

For me it's a quality of life decision, I want to be closer to my family. I’m originally from California and I would like to be closer to family and friends.I have no problems with my current job, Intel is a great place to work and has great benefits.   Work life balance is important to me and I believe if you’re not happy outside of work it will be hard to be happy at work.  Also Oracle is also is great company to work for and can offer the same career fulfillment I am looking for.

Q: What is the case that demonstrate best of your ability?

Q. Can you describe a situation where you've encountered difficulty working with a person and tell me how you resolved that?

Q. What personal characteristics do you feel are necessary to be a successful engineer?

You have got to be a team player and work well in groups. You also have to be open-minded and I know it sounds cliché but thinking out of the box does help.  I find the problems we have had have very diverse solutions and they are the result of groups of people getting together and coming up with the best solutions. 

Also being receptive and accepting feedback is a good skill as well. As engineers our work is sometimes very scrutinized and challenged by others and we need to be able to accept the feedback and explain ourselves very well.

Q. Give me an example of a time when you applied your ability to use analytical techniques to define problems or design solutions.

We analyze data every day using SPC, JMP, Microsoft excel, and production indicatior. We are always look for ways to improve the process and avoid mistakes. 

Refer back to SLAM bottle aging.

Q. What new engineering specialty skills have you developed during the past year?

I have learned how to analyze large amounts of data, make engineering decisions based on analyzing data sets, find commonalities, develop model based problem solving, and how to manage and prioritize my time effectively to ensure quality results given several tasks. 

Q.How would you solve any personal conflicts with co-workers?

The first thing I would do is try to talk to them one on one so we can hear both sides of the discussion and try to work out our differences before the issue gets outta hand and escalates to Management or HR.

Q. What single technical skill or ability is your best asset?

My ability to pick up things very easily and with very little guidance. I like to think Im the type of person that you only have to  show them how to do something once.  I feel this is my best attribute because it helps me adapt faster to changes in the work environment.

Q: What do you expect to do in 5 years.

Well assuming I can land this position, I see myself being here at Oracle as a main contributor to the team and a go to guy taking on critial projects.

Q.What is your overall career objective? 

My overall career objective is to become a key contributor to my engineering group and be considered an expert and a go to guy people can rely on.

Q. Give me an example of a time in which you were effective in doing away with the “constant emergencies” and “surprises” that engineers often face.

Almost every week we face different challenges and surpirses as processs engineers.  We call it fire fighting.  Like when we are having a  day where everything seems to be going wrong we call it “fire fiighting” because you are constantly focusing on solving critical issues as they arise and spend very little time being proactive. What I have learned form that experience is to be good at multitasking and prioritizing my work. I believe in working on 1 thing at a time and give that issue all of your attention and focus, then once that task is complete then I feel comfortable moving on to the next task at hand.  This allows me to ensure im doing quality work and Im not rushing through my work. 

Q: Tell me about your typical day?

We begin our day in the morning with our daily pass down in which we discuss the daily priorities and tasks at hand as well as any problems or issues that happened the last night.  Then we have our SPC chart review sessions, NPI meetings, and WIP management meetings then after the morning meetings I go off and review any Ars I have to follow up on from the meetings and try to solve process issues and find commonalities with my layers. As well as set up projects and tasks for the night shift.

Q. Describe a time when you used your engineering knowledge to solve a problem for which there appeared to be no answer.

I was able to determine a root cause for CD variation at a litho pre coat operation.  This operation was causing CD variation and no one was able to deterine the root cause. I investigated and worked with other engineers in other modules to determine the root cause was due to bottle aging at the slam operation.  Our finding were that bottles pulled form the freezer greater than 3 days were causing the Cd shift and bottles pulled less than 3 days saw significantly less shift.  I was able to work with the tool owners to formulate a schedule of when to pull bottles, and if we need to pull a bottle greater than 3 days we needed to gate production by running monitors and look ahead lots.

Q: What are your weaknesses, and how you overcome them?

Sometimes I can get overwhelmed and stressed out with my busy schedule of work school and personal life, and the way I deal with that is to prioritze my time as efficienty as I can and focus on one thing at a time and ensure quality output in everthing I do.

Q. What do you enjoy most/least about your job?

Well working in a Fab issues and problems can bombard you to the point where it gets very overwhelming and it feels like you cant even take a break because there is just too much work to do.  At these times I feel its best to just try to relax, take your time and not rush through things because that's how mistakes are made.  And if you are not able to finish whatever you were working on its ok to communicate out through email what has been done and what still needs attention so other folks know what is going on.

What I enjoy the most about my job is we work with the latest and greatest semiconductor technology the industry has to offer.  I feel very privleged to work with all the equipment and process technology. I find it very interesting learning about  all the physics involved with such equipment. I like working in the technology and computer industry and I think it is an industry with a lot of growth and it interests me a lot. 

Q. Give me an example of a time when you had to teach a skill to other engineers.

When I started Intel 2 years ago I was the first new engineer to start amoungts a group of new engineers. We just got through a big hiring year in 2011 because we needed the headcount in preparation for Fab 42 which was in contruction at the time.  It was an expectation for me to get trained up as soon as I can so I can help with training the new hires that were starting a few months after my start date. So given the guidance and help of a senior engineer, we formualted some powerpoint lecutres “Introduction to Litho at Intel” to ease the transisiton of new hires at Intel.  The main reason for doing this is because of the shear amount of knowledge and acronyms that you need to know to get up to speed as a new hire is very immense, so the presentation is used as a sort of ice breaker and introduction to litho on a very high level.

Q. Some of the best-engineered ideas are born out of an individual’s ability to challenge others’ ways of thinking. Tell me about a time when you were successful in do this.

Refer to SLAM CD variation and how the original model was within wafer variation and SLAM queue time.

Q.How would you solve any personal conflicts with co-workers?

Well I personally have never had any major issues with any of my co workers thus far.  I believe its best to squash conflicts like that before they escalate into management and HR.  The first step would be to have a one on one with the person and discuss our differences and see if we can come to an agreement. To avoid issues like that its best to know your boundaries in the workplace.  You cant get too confortable around people you dont really know.

Q. What was the biggest challenge you faced in life?

I think I may be living through it right now.  Going to school full time as well as working full time on top of being on my own is pretty tough for me.  But it keeps me busy and focused on my long terms goals. I feel like life is too short to waits time so i want to make the absolute best of my short time here. 

Q. What was the biggest failure in your educational life? What was your biggest success?

Biggest failure was not getting into my first college of choice.  My biggest success was getting a job offer with Intel.

Q. If your boss implemented a plan or policy that you strongly disagree with, what would you do?

I would set up a one on one with him to discretely talk about my concerns and problems with the policy and try to understand the core benefits and beliefs of the policy.  If I still strongly disagree with it then I will take the disagree and commit approach. To disagree and commit is to say I disagree with the decision but since its not my call I commit to the decision being made.  The work environment is so fast paced and time is very critical so there is no time to argue over everything and challenge every decision.

Q. Describe a time that you dealt with a stressful work situation?

  One of the most stressful times was when I had to cover critical silicon in the fab during factory start up.  I had to be on call for a week to ensure proper dispositioning of a critical lot.

Q. What would be your ideal work group?

My ideal workgroup would be a group that respects eachother. I enjoy groups where people give and receive positive feedback, people who are open minded, and groups that challenge me to do my best.

Q. How would you tell your supervisor you wont make the deadline?

I would send out an email specifying everything I have been working on and where I currently am with my work.  Then I would tell him why I think I couldn't make the deadline and give supporting reasons, then I would give an estimate on when I think I will be done.

Q. How do you get from competent to exceptional?

Never stop improving and progressing in your career and life.  Keep finding new ways to better yourself and stay away from complacency. Keep evolving and learning new things and taking on new roles

Q. What kind of people you don’t like to work with?

I don’t like to work with people who are close-minded, in flexible, and who give negative feedback.

Q. Tell me a scenario when you and your supervisor had an argument and how did you resolve it?

I don't ever remember arguing with my manager or supervisor but when we had our disagreements we take the disagree and commit approach. For example if my manager has to make a call on something that I particularly don't agree with I will tell him well I don't agree with it, and here’s why… but its your call so lets go ahead with it because arguing just waists time

Q. How do you deal with ambiguity in your workplace?

In manufacturing attention to detail and quality results is everything.  The smallest typo in a recipe or instruction leads to a miss process, which impacts yield significantly.  We excel in giving good hand offs and creating well BKMs and we very often write out step by step procedures to avoid miss processing product. The Fab environment is a very high stakes environment where some lots can be potentially worth millions of dollars in chips.  So we try to avoid ambiguity at all costs and if there ever is ambiguity we always escalate to someone who knows the answer to ensure we are doing the right thing.  We never like to guess on anything because we know the potential impact if extremely significant.

Q. What is your dream job?

My dream job is a job that gives me career satisfaction; I enjoy doing it and going to work everyday.  A dream job would be at a place where I enjoy working with my co-workers, and motivates me to go above and beyond my expectations.

Q: Describe your qualities?

I like to see myself as a good communicator, team player, fast learner, and an expereiced multi-tasker.

CTFM

I am originally from California and I have been working here at Fab32 for 2 years, all of which I spent in lithography.  Lithography is a very fascinating area and is extremely critical in terms of fab operations. I am currently going to school at ASU getting my Master’s in Electrical Engineering. 

About me in the workplace:

In the workplace I pride myself good communication, teamwork, I consider myself a fast learner and an experienced multitasker.

     Working in the FAB is a very challenging environment, as we ramp up processes every 2 years and each process is more and more advanced and complex which means it requires more and more attention from our engineers.

     It is a high pressure high stakes environment, where one small mistake can be very costly and TIME=MONEY so we develop systems and operating procedures to minimize ambiguity and maximize efficiency.