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A guide for freshers

preparing for Analog-
based Job Profiles
(ECE/EE)
Ajay Rajan
Senior Embedded Software Engineer at 2 articles Following
Infineon Technologies

October 2, 2019

For an ECE undergraduate there are a gazillion options after

college, but people who aim at acquiring a core job, the job
categories mainly narrows down to 3 prominent fields :

1. Digital design (ASIC, FPGA, Embedded

Software/Firmware etc)

2. Analog Design (Analog circuit design, Vaidation etc)

3. Communication (Wireless 4G, 5G, GSM etc)

I will be discussing here today the roadmap and resources

to be followed to get the hang and mastery of subject
which has been given many names by generations of
students, some call it “a work of mystic arts”, for some it is a
“Nightmare” while others say it’s “As easy as a pie”! i.e
‘Analog Electronics’, and some bare-minimum skills that
you require to ace an Analog profile based interview.

Let me begin with stating -“Analog VLSI” is a

misnomer. Because the term “Very Large Scale Integration
(VLSI)” is applicable only to digital circuits where the
transistor / gate count is in millions. So, Analog VLSI is

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Analog Design predominantly it is based on a

Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ( CMOS )
platform and hence most often than not, it is called CMOS
Analog Design.

The primary difference between Analog and Digital circuits

is that the former deals with Analog Signals ( continuous in
time and continuous in amplitude / space ) while the latter
deals with Digital Signal ( discrete in time discrete in
amplitude / space ). In order to work with analog signals
the analog circuits needs to be biased in their linear
operating region, while the digital circuits need no biasing
and they can operate in non-linear / switching mode.

The world may seem like it has been shifted to digitized

circuits yet, at the heart of most circuits, are some intuitive
Analog circuit design engineers who, along with their
mystic tools, acquired through persistent practice and sheer
resilience are designing ADC’s(Analog to Digital
convertors), Sensors, Filters etc. so that the circuit is capable
of interacting with the real world and is able to acquire
information form it.

Getting directly to the point, some continual and serious

practice sessions are required to get the feel of this subject
because everything that you will learn here, is connected to
what you will learn in future, that means, you cannot learn
this subject overnight, the knowledge acquired is layered.
The layer by layer knowledge will pave your way to some
amazing opportunities in the semiconductor industry!

Although the pointers are generalized with both job point

of view as well as future research, yet the pointers that I will
mention here are mostly related to cracking the interviews
for internships and jobs for some leading semiconductor
companies. (For eg. Texas Instruments, Qualcomm,
STMicrocelectronics, ARM, Intel etc)

This is going to be the most detailed roadmap that you will

find anywhere over the internet for an ECE fresher, because
I will tell you everything that I know, The info given here is
verified by industry experts and is a generalization of the
trend of interviews being conducted by semiconductor
companies in India. 

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• NETWORK ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS: (Takes about 2

months for thorough practise)

To begin with, the subject which requires the most detailed

understanding as a pre-requisite for Analog circuit design is
‘Network Analysis and Synthesis’. The circuits, even the
most complex ones would become a piece of cake for you
if you understand and practise lots and lots of questions
from Network Analysis.

Important topics that will surely come handy:

1. A solid understanding of voltage, current, resistors,

capacitors, inductors etc.

2. KVL, KCL, nodal, mesh etc.

3. All the theorems Thevenin, Norton, Max. Power transfer

etc.

4. Sinusoidal Steady state analysis of RLC circuits.

5. Resonance in RLC circuits

6. Transient response.

7. Laplace in RLC circuits

8. Two-port network analysis

9. Graph theory

10. Passive filter/analysis using R, L and C.

I would like to emphasize on the fact that, while all topics in

the book - Circuit theory by A. Chakrabarti are prescribed
to be covered in one semester(3rd usually) by you (doesn’t
matter what the curriculum your college is) still the
topics/chapters that I mentioned above are serious things
that you won’t be able to survive without in the Analog
field.

Note: Following A chakrabarti is enough for practise but if

you wish to dig deep you may purchase ‘Network Analysis
by M.E Van Valkenburg’, it has less practise problems, but
is a good read if you have enough time.

The theory and lectures are available on Youtube.

NPTEL Lectures on Circuit theory

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Some basic understanding can be acquired from these

lecture series on Youtube also

1. Basic tools for Network Analysis

2. Practise lectures by NESO ACADEMY

>>Softwares for Simulation

1. Tina T.I

2. Multisim

3. LTSpice

• CONTROL SYSTEMS: (Will be covered in college

curriculum)

This is yet another crucial building block that an aspiring

Analog engineer must possess in his tool-kit. The approach
for tackling this subject is pretty much straightforward, the
main topics that need to be done with very good
understanding are:

1. Laplace and Transfer function

2. Time domain analysis of Control systems

3. Feedback.

4. Frequency domain Analysis of Control systems

5. BODE Plot(Most important)

This is important as this subject gives an introduction to

feedback and frequency domain analysis, after getting the
hang of it, the student understands the reasoning beyond
this and the meaning on why are doing this.

The only Book to be followed: Control systems by Samarjit

Ghosh

Lectures and Online help:

1. NPTEL lectures on Control systems

2. UDEMY - Control Systems: From Mathematical

Modelling to PID Control  (If after completion of your
syllabus you find yourself interested in learning how to
control machines accurately and effectively, this certified
course can be done which also gives you a hold on ‘PID’).

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• TRANSISTORS (Will require at-most 2 semesters with

continual practice)

This is your starting point in the world of Analog

electronics, and has to be taken most care of.

We will be following a fool-proof method to get the most

out of the resource that I will be mentioning here as well as
the practise that you will be doing alongside following the
resources. The section of transistors consists broadly of 3
parts

1. Semiconductor Physics

2. BJTs

3. MOSFETs

There are newer technologies available in market these

days, like FinFETs but they are not in your syllabus as of
now and if they’ll be included in your curriculum, I will
update it at some point later in time. 

Moreover, this blog post is created for students aspiring to

get jobs and internships in the field of Analog Electronics
so the main focus of yours shall be on Transistors, They are
the heart and soul of the semiconductor industry, whatever
you learnt until now, Networks, Control etc, were just tools
that will greatly enhance your understanding while tackling
this subject!

I have to repeat this time and again, There is no short-cut

to success, especially in Analog, you can’t remember all
these information overnight. 

This is a dedicated process and requires intuitive thinking.

Once you have done enough practise all the concepts given
in this blog post(by enough I mean more than 5000
questions), you will notice your brain’s superiority over
others. 

The circuit, whatever it shall be, will begin to solve itself,

This intuition is required in this field and trust me, no one is
born with this type of intellect, this is sheer practise, and
people aspiring core companies have to stand out from the
crowd! 

I guess that’s enough motivation for beginning with the

most crucial part of you journey TRANSISTORS!

  

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1. Starting with Semiconductor physics:

Get the best at it, derive as much equations as you can and
most importantly know the physics behind whatever is
happening. The maths alone never helps, you need to find
a way to visualise the equations until they make sense to
you else the technique fails.

(Note – This is in itself a domain with good research scope)

The resources that I provide here will be invaluable to your

preparation:

• Start with lectures by Dr. Behzad Razavi(Lecture 1 to

Lecture 12).

PN junction and diode modelling lectures by Dr. Razavi

• Then read the corresponding theory and practise

corresponding problem sets from his book

Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi

• Read and practise further from Microelectronics by

Sedra/Smith

• Courses for Online certifications : Semiconductor

Specialization

2. Starting with Bipolar junction Transistors:

Some important concepts that must be understood by

heart

1. Small and large signal modelling

2. Early Effect

3. Bipolar amplifiers

4. Common emitter with degeneration etc.

5. Common Base/Collector

6. Biasing techniques(Most important)

Get the hold of all the theory from Dr. Razavi’s

lectures(Lecture 12- Lecture 28).Trust me, the
understanding and the depth provided in these lectures are
invaluable.

Continue doing a rigorous practise of the above learned

concepts from his book Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi

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If you have enrolled yourself in this course Semiconductor

Specialization while studying semiconductor physics you’d
know that this covers BJT too. Also I’d like to mention this is
an invaluable specialization and will come very handy
during interviews.

Lastly, I’d say practise practise practise! There’s is no

substitute to it. The course contents and topics that are
covered in BJT may seem overwhelming at first, but once
you understand the bigger picture, you’ll actually love every
circuit that is given to you to solve and will soon be able to
design your own amplifier and various other circuits! Voila!
Your first step towards a career in Circuit design. 

Some of the concepts like h-parameters re-model, that are

not explained by Dr. Razavi in his lectures and book, can be
done from here: NESO ACADEMY- Analog

>>Free Software available for simulation

1. LTSpice (Free)

2. Multisim (Free for trial period)

Once you have simulated enough circuits go to the lab,

grab a multimeter and measure and verify your results,
measure the voltages across emitter/collector, measure the
terminal currents, make note on how the small signal model
although looks complex but is the most powerful tool while
solving transistor based circuits!

3. Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors

The reason I mentioned the full name for MOSFETs is that,

the name, in itself defines the structure and making of
these seemingly strange yet magical devices!

The MOSFET is a relatively new device as compared to BJT,

and is considered faster, cheaper and more efficient with
minimal static power dissipation(CMOS) (Which you’ll learn
about later in the course, don’t be alarmed) . MOSFET is
one of the favourite topic of interviewers in the
semiconductor companies, you have to learn everything
you can about them and beyond that too!

To begin with, Start from Lecture 29 (Intro to MOSFETS) of

Dr. Behzad Razavi’s lectures and then read about it from his

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textbook. After completing you may proceed with the

following lectures while following the same pattern as
followed above for BJT.

Some of the Important concepts that must not be omitted

1. Construction of both depletion/enhancement type

MOSFET

2. Significance of Transconductance/Channel length

modulation

3. Common emitter/source/drain and all these stages.

4. Biasing techniques

5. CMOS Inverter

6. CMOS digital gates designed

7. Static/dynamic power dissipation

8. CMOS Amplifiers

9. Cascode stages/current mirrors

The course for online certification remains the same as it is

a specialization of Diodes, BJT and MOS:  Semiconductor
Specialization.

Books to be followed

1. Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi

2. Microelectronics by Sedra/Smith

3. Analog CMOS IC design By Dr. Behzad Razavi

>>Softwares for Simulation

1. Cadence Virtuoso Analog design Suite. (Licensed)

Once you understand all the theory and have practiced

enough questions, you may get started with one or two
projects from here: HACKSTER MOSFET projects

Projects are an essential part of the learning curve and it

primarily gives you a reality check!, as everything that you
have been learning and solving is utilised in real life too,
nothing is boring in Electronics, as every concept can be
covered while doing projects.

I would greatly emphasize on taking this online certification

and understanding the underlying physics of MOS being
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taught in this course MOS Transistors, This certification will

hold great value during interviews as it is considered a fairly
advanced course, but then again, a little more information
never hurt anyone!

You have successfully completed 60% of your preparation!

• OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS (In the semester following

transistors, cover this)

Op-amp is a versatile device that is used to amplify DC as

well as AC input signals and was originally designed to
perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and
integration.

This comes after BJT and MOS and is the most important
topic if you are preparing for interviews in core companies
based on semiconductors (For eg. Texas instruments,
Qualcomm etc). Therefore a full-on mastery of this subject
is quintessential!

Some important topics to be covered at all costs:

1. Frequency response of an Op-amp.

2. Active filters.

3. Oscillators.

4. Comparators.

5. Phase locked Loop

6. Automatic Gain Control

7. Universal active/Switched capacitor filter.

The main focus for this subject should remain on covering

nook and corner of this book 

Linear Integrated Circuits by Ramakant A. Gayakwad

After its completion you can move on to more advanced

texts:

1. Sergio Franco

2. Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi (Op-Amp chapter)

The online lectures available on op-amps are kind of vast,

you may follow two routes here:

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1. If you are preparing in a hurry and just need to

understand the concept and then will read and solve
questions on it by yourself, learn from here - Youtube –
Op-Amp

2. If you have enough time you may start from these NPTEL

Lectures - Analog Ics

(This is the advised source to learn because this is very

popular topic with interviewers and you don’t want to leave
any stones un-turned while preparing Op-Amps!)

The online certified course for Op-amp is quite useful as

the instructor presents the practical use of op-amp at each
step of explanation.

PROJECT SECTION

Please cover all the projects given from Page 476 in Linear
Integrated Circuits by Ramakant A. Gayakwad, They are
very useful for your practical understanding.

We are Almost done with the extensive preparation now all

that is left are the things, that are quite complex and
require a very good understanding of all the subjects
mentioned above, but being able to understand the
following topics from the specific resources will be an
invaluable addition to your toolkit!, 

It will benefit you during interview because the interviewer

will surely be impressed by the vast knowledge pool that
you are, and the most important thing is never memorize
any formulae without understanding its significance!

Addition to your toolkit:

1. Differential Amplifiers (Pg 399) Microelectronics by Dr.

Razavi

2. Frequency Response (Pg 460) Microelectronics by Dr.

Razavi

3. Feedback and current mirros/cascode stages (Pg

513) Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi

  Please watch ELECTRONICS 2 By Dr. Behzad Razavi.

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4. Noise (Pg 219) Analog CMOS IC design By Dr. Behzad

Razavi

5. An intro to FinFETs and their principle of operation.

6. Read about Silicon Photonics.

7. Know how the technology node shifted from microns to

22nm and even upcoming 7nm.

8. Be master to variety simulation software as well as a

good hardware designer of circuits.

9. Cover more and More Projects related to the field,

deepens the understanding.

10. Please have a good understanding of the subject

“Signals and System” too, although not quite necessary yet
is good to know in depth about fourier, laplace and Z
transforms and the reasons why they are performed as well
as their physical significance.

Be consistent, each day matters, each day you should be

learning something or solving something, the syllabus is
very vast and may seem overwhelming at first but trust me
once you get past BJT, everything else will make sense and
will be a rewarding journey. 

If you will truly follow the blog post, you will be having in-
depth knowledge in Analog that is required and expected
from an undergraduate fresher as well as you will have
enough Online certifications to prove your credibility in
addition with the projects that you will undertake. 

A synopsis of resources that you will collect during this

journey!

>>Online certification courses:

1. Control Systems: From Mathematical Modelling to PID

Control

2. Semiconductor Specialization

3. MOS Transistors

4. Op-Amp

>>Books to be followed:

1. Circuit theory by A. Chakrabarti

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2. Network Analysis by M.E Van Valkenburg

3. Control systems by Samarjit Ghosh

4. Microelectronics by Dr. Razavi

5. Microelectronics by Sedra/Smith

6. Analog CMOS IC design By Dr. Behzad Razavi

7. Linear Integrated Circuits by Ramakant A. Gayakwad

8. Sergio Franco

Here is bonus point to enhance your practical knowledge. 

Udemy has a ‘Crash Course’, That is being taught by Dr.

Andre Lamothe who is a renowned Computer scientist,
Electrical Engineer, Mathematician as well as a Game
developer. This course is to be joined from the beginning of
first semester itself. This is 95 hour long course and is the
most extensive course in the history of online courses!

The guy explains stuff theoretically and literally takes you to

his lab and performs practical on each and every topic that
he explains. Pretty insightful and knowledgeable I’d say!

Moreover there is a section on PCB DESIGN using ‘Circuit

Maker’, which is must have tool in every electronics
engineer’s pocket. This is a very essential skill that can
easily land you a job, also this is an Advanced course at a
very cheap price. It covers everything from Analog to
Digital electronics, trust me you won’t be disappointed!

Here it is - Electronics CRASH COURSE and PCB Design By.

Andre LaMothe

Thankyou!

My next article will cover the roadmap for Embedded

Software/Firmware roles for freshers.

Kind Regards

Ajay Rajan

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Ajay Rajan 2 Following
Senior Embedded Software Engineer at Infineon
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Published • 3y

Hello guys, this is an extensive guide for freshers preparing for core companies such
as Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, STMicro etc for a job based on Analog profile.
Hope it helps them in their journey! :)

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madishetti nikhil • 3rd+ 8mo

Attended Matrusri Enginering College

REALLY A GREAT GUIDENESS TO ME , BEING A FRESHER HOPE I WILL GET

A OPPURTUNITY. FINALLY THANK YOU SIR 😀

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shazna sadique • 2nd 1y

Reactjs | Nodejs | Full stack

Thank u so much

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