| Mainescience.org Interview
with Fairchild Semiconductor engineer Julie Stultz
Maine Science and Technology Foundation
February 28, 2003
Did your
high school education help attract you to engineering?
I graduated
from high school in 1997 from Windham Christian Academy. During my high
school
years, I found that I enjoyed my math and science
classes
significantly more than any of my other classes. I liked the objectivity
of math and science. In my later high school years, I began considering
options for my college major and considered studying medicine or physical
therapy. As much as I enjoyed school, I really didn't want to spend
more than four years in college. Another consideration was engineering.
I
learned that many engineering bachelors programs only took four
years to complete,
and there were many career opportunities for college grads with a BS
degree. So far, engineering looked appealing, but what was it all
about?
 |
| Julie Stultz |
How much did
you know about engineering at that stage?
My dad was
an engineer, and I realized that I didn't really know what he did every
day, although
I knew it had something to do with math and science.
I knew there were many different types of engineering and within each
type there were different concentrations. The possibilities seemed
endless! I was convinced that with so many opportunities, there was bound
to be
an aspect of engineering that would interest me. What
did you end up deciding?
I enrolled
in the Electrical Engineering program at the University of Southern Maine.
My engineering classes were challenging
but informative, and there
were many "mysteries" of physics that finally seemed to make
sense to me.
How did you
start working at Fairchild Semiconductor?
At the end
of my junior year in college, I began working as a co-op at Fairchild
Semiconductor. After
a brief co-op with Project Management,
I transferred to Circuit Design. After a few weeks in my new department,
I realized that I had found the career for me! I enjoy the challenges
and variety that my position incorporates. There's always a new concept
to learn or a new situation to address. A large contributor to my contentment
at Fairchild is the work environment. Most of my colleagues are encouraging,
and the managers are very approachable. I believe it's an ambiance
that is rare in larger companies.
Please talk
a bit about your current job at Fairchild.
I currently
work as a circuit design engineer in the Integrated Circuits Group. My
job mainly includes
evaluating the performance of different
circuit architectures. I design parts by considering different device
types, configurations, and sizes. I'm usually faced with very specific
performance requirements that need to be achieved with my designs.
I also provide consultation to other functional branches of the company
when necessary. I'm frequently asked questions regarding the operation
of my circuits and their performance under particular criteria.
How many engineers
work in Fairchild's various locations?
Fairchild
employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide, over 1,200 are engineers
and approximately half
of them are employed in the U.S.
Why do you
think so few women go into engineering?
A lot of men
have very logical and analytical minds, which tend to make them very
good engineers. I've
found that women have the tendency to
be more intuitive and relational. Because of such traits, I think
women bring a very unique perspective to the engineering profession.
Women
often approach problem-solving differently and are typically strong
communicators. These qualities are extremely valuable when working
with a team of engineers. Why do you
think that Fairchild has such a long-term presence in Maine?
Fairchild
Semiconductor opened its doors over 40 years ago here in South Portland
and the company continues to thrive. The fact that a technological
company as such could endure and flourish in Maine for so many years
speaks highly of our engineering community and the state of Maine.
However, technology is constantly advancing, and the industry needs
engineers who can keep up with the demands of the field and adapt to
the rapid
developments.
How should
schools and industries ensure that Maine continues to supply companies
like Fairchild with qualified engineers?
I think it's
the responsibility of our state's schools and colleges to
educate the engineers of the future. Students need to be exposed to
the principles and concepts of math and science at a young age. These
concepts
need to be reinforced throughout their education by exposing students
to math and science "in action." The Maine Engineering Promotion
Council's goal is to provide these opportunities by organizing the Maine
Engineers Week banquet and expo. Hopefully the scholastic horizons of
the students will be broadened during Engineers Week. |
