Analog IC Design Engineers: Why there’s never been a better time to choose the UK

The Analog market in the UK has always been busy but over the last 18 months, there has been a significant increase in demand for Analog, RF and Digital IC Design engineers.

The areas of most demand are typically; Image Sensors, Power Management, Automotive, Wireless Communications, High-Speed Optical and SERDES. Design Services companies add to this demand with the skills they require being a broad set of experience.

The reason behind so much demand originates at market level, the general need for electronic goods is in full swing and at the ground level companies must find a way to fill these needs.

There have been a number of new start-up companies in the UK, which is great news for the industry. Driving innovation and the setting up of new design centres is always welcome, after all without start-ups, where would the world of technology be? There have been 4 new start-up companies doing Analog IC Design opening up in Cambridge in the last 18 months alone! This puts Cambridge in the top ranking for the highest concentration of Analog IC Design companies in the UK. Other hot spots include the Thames Valley, M4 Corridor, Southampton and Edinburgh.

Brexit and the Visa Situation………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

What does this mean for the UK in terms of sourcing IC Designers? 

It has meant that people’s decisions have changed to a certain extent, with a number of engineers already leaving the UK for the likes of Germany and other mainland destinations and a decline in the number of EU nationals coming into the UK to fill open positions. However, there is still a smaller but steady flow of EU nationals who are not fazed by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. The UK still offers a vast amount of opportunity, technological innovation and hubs of companies to ensure future stability for the IC Design Engineer and their family.

In summary, these are exciting times for the UK Semiconductor industry and for IC Design itself. The UK industry offers a vast array of opportunities in different technology fields with career opportunities at all levels whether it be as part of a larger organisation or as a founding member of a new and growing start-up company.

Regarding Visa’s, most semiconductor companies in the UK now have a Tier2 license and this is enabling the hiring of skilled IC Design engineers from within and outside of Europe to join their organisations. With ‘Integrated Circuit Design Engineer’ on the UK Governments Skills shortage list, this is working out to be a sure fire way to staff positions given the scarcity of qualified UK and EU nationals available on the job market.

Why is there a shortage? I personally believe that the reason why we are in this position here in the UK is twofold: there has not been enough graduate hiring over the past decade, mixed with the lack of young people entering the semiconductor industry. The government has a massive part to play in the scarcity with visa policies that has meant that a big proportion of graduates who have had qualified over here have had to return to their own country post-graduation.

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