3rd year student, hardware test internship advice

[Jackson_Carroll]

Hey all, I've been a watcher of EEVBLOG for a couple of years now, but I finally created a forum account today! Wahoo I made it!

Anyways, I'm a 3rd year EE student with an internship interview coming up in a few days. I've interviewed with this company before, so I have been through the interview process. I am interviewing for a summer internship + part-time during the semester in the manufacturing department of a local engineering company. The position is hardware test intern. I've taken circuit theory and analysis as well as digital design so I am familiar with analog and digital design. However, we haven't utilized any automated test equipment and I haven't covered IC design at all yet.

Here's my question: Would you have any advice on topics to cover in my preparation that I might not have covered in my university studies? I'll be reviewing logic gate combinations and other topics I know about, but does anybody see potential gaps in knowledge specific to hardware testing that typical university coursework doesn't emphasize?

Thanks, I appreciate the time you're taking to help out a new guy.

[Halcyon]

Welcome! The only advice I can give is to try butter and Vegemite on toast for breakfast. It's really quite delicious.

[ElektroQuark]

Quote from: Halcyon on Today at 09:55:13

Welcome! The only advice I can give is to try butter and Vegemite on toast for breakfast. It's really quite delicious.

Altogether?

[DimitriP]

I prefer nutella, but circling around to to automated testing...
The main problem is going to be that you might have an input shelf, a test fixture and an output shelf.
"Someone" has already determined that x number of units per hour should be able to be moved from the in shelf though the test fixture and onto the out shelf. And it's up to you to make it happen.  Worse case scenario it wil be more like assembly line type work vs "engineering".  But that's worse case scenario

It also depends on what type of "stuff" you'll be testing. Testing a module by plugging it in to a test fixture with a single 40 or 80 pin connector that is a pain to connect  and another pain to disconnect is different than having a 9 x12 inch board on a "bed of nails"  that you just plop it on and push a start button.

You said you interviewed before. So have you seen the place, the floor/section/area you'll be working at ?
It wouldn't hurt to know  as much as you can about the product(s)"  they manufacture.

If this is your only prospect, show up bright eyed and bushy tailed, dressed like you are about to make them a cash offer to buy the place. 

But since this an internship, maybe all that matters is to do the best job you can so you get a great recommendation and if you have aspirations on getting hired there you'll already have a feel for what kind of "excitement" you are going to be signing up for.

good luck

 

[Halcyon]

Altogether?

Yes, Vegemite alone on toast is dry and boring. Toast, then butter, then just a light coating of Vegemite. Too much and it's overpowering. You have to be quick between the buttering and Vegemite-ing phases as the butter sogs the bread and leads it to tear up at the final phase. The attached should help.

Apparently other Aussies do Vegemite and cheese or Vegemite and avocado but that just grosses me out and I've never been game to try!

Apologies for hijacking your thread Jackson... over to you....

[ElektroQuark]

Sorry Jackson...

X-mites are not common in Spain.

I use Marmite. It was introduced to me by a Englishman. I eat it alone in the toast, like real men do. But I will try the butter spin-off.

[Jackson_Carroll]

Thanks for the reply, awesome to be apart of the forum!

When I interviewed there before, I was taken into a conference room and met with the potential team -- a group of 3 engineers. First, I gave a 30 minute presentation about flying probe automated testers. Then it proceeded into a technical interview of various analog, digital, and software questions. The interview finished with me dis-assembling a device they manufacture. They also asked about ESD and how one would test a single capacitor in parallel with multiple capacitors. The only idea I have about that particular question is to utilize thermal imaging to see the temperature of any particular capacitor. Does anyone have an idea about how to solve that problem, or is it unsolvable?

I have not, however, seen the actual location I would potentially be working. I saw only a glimpse into the production floor.


Here's an overview of the job requirements for those curious. Sorry, no Vegemite here in Washington

Hardware Test Engineer Intern

Responsibilities:

Assist test engineers in research, specifications, design, and implementation of automated test solutions for new products in a manufacturing environment.
Assist R&D and manufacturing test engineers in prototype hardware testing.
Assist test engineers in creating and reviewing test plans, test scripts, test fixtures, test station designs, and validation records.
Work with design engineering and assist in transition of design prototypes into cost efficient and high volume products.
Perform capability analysis for improvement of test specifications and test coverage.
Provide technical support to production floor for manufacturing test related issues.
Train production operators in function and maintenance of test infrastructure and test processes.
Continuously identify, measure, and improve test processes.
Deliver highest quality work on schedule.
Model company values.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:

A current student pursuing an AA or B.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering or enrolled in an engineering technology program
Working knowledge of modern test equipment, digital oscilloscope, and signal generator
Technical expertise in using and understanding schematics and hardware analysis software
Understand operation of conventional analog and digital circuits
Excellent leadership, teamwork, and communication skills
Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills
Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities
Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment
Background check results satisfactory to company
Negative drug test result(s)
Preferred Qualifications:

Ability to work part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer
Experience in design and development of automated tests for electronic products
Test environment programming experience (LabWindows, Visual Studio or similar)
Analytic / statistical tool experience (MATLAB or similar)
PCB design / layout experience
In-circuit programming experience of CPLDs / FPGAs / Flash using JTAG and other methods
Experience in computer programming / scripting techniques (C / C++ / C# / XML / PERL/ PYTHON or similar)
Excellent troubleshooting and debugging skills
ISO 9001 quality standards experience
Knowledge of company products



PS for those who made it to the end of this post, I'm in the process of building a simple run-of-the-mill laser. I'll post about it another time, I'm waiting of delivery of components currently.

[DimitriP]

The best way to test a capacitor in parallel with other capacitors would be to ...disconnect one end. But I am open to suggestions
 
As for the job description...it sounds a bit like everything but the kitchen sink, but that could be my own bias against Job Description writers

[MarvinTheMartian]

The best way to test a capacitor in parallel with other capacitors would be to ...disconnect one end.

I was thinking that also. Sorry Jackson _ Carroll, I can't provide any other advice for you but best of luck in your interview.

PS
Edonork, marmite just does not cut it To be a true Aussie, it needs to be Vegemite  (which is no longer an Australian owned brand - argh )
 

Welcome! The only advice I can give is to try butter and Vegemite on toast for breakfast. It's really quite delicious.

Halcyon is spot on too!