Justin, a test engineer at Entegris in Prior Lake, Minnesota, discusses his career progression from working as technician to becoming an engineer. As a test engineer, Justin tests materials and designs using metrology and microscopy. Previously, Justin worked as an applications technician at Optima, where he demonstrated aerosol jet technology to c…

Logan is a Quality Tech 3 at Renewal by Anderson in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Logan highlights career development opportunities at Anderson, including promotions to technologist positions. Logan notes that technicians can earn around $25 an hour and can secure benefits like 401(k) plans and PTO. Logan contrasts his experience at a large company with hi…

Ani, an intern at Caltech's KNI clean room, discusses her role in nanotechnology fabrication. Ani trained on various machines, including the Orion metal deposition equipment and an ellipsometer. Ani emphasizes the importance of protective gear and the challenges of working in a loud environment. She recounts her first day and the impact of the Cali…

Ian, a maintenance technician at Polar Semiconductor in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, discusses his career path and work as a maintenance technician. Ian troubleshoots equipment and tools, including those for low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LP CVD) at high temperatures. Ian transitioned from running his own business to becoming a technician aft…

Gabriel is a field service engineer at Applied Materials in Hillsboro, Oregon. In this episode, Gabriel discusses his career path. He attended the Early College High School Program, focusing on microelectronics technology automation. Gabriel works inside Intel's Ronler Acres campus, troubleshooting and maintaining semiconductor equipment. Gabriel a…

Matt is a senior research technician at the University of Kentucky's Institute of Sustainable Manufacturing. He shares his career path, starting from Somerset Community College, where he earned a 3D printing technician certificate, to working at Blue Origin in Washington State and then returning to Kentucky. Matt emphasizes the importance of proble…

Eldon shares his journey from high school in McCreary County, Kentucky, to his current role as an Additive Manufacturing Project Specialist at Somerset Community College. Eldon initially pursued a 3D printing certificate at Somerset Community College, which prepared him for a technician role at Fast Radius. Despite initial challenges, including mov…

Arman is a fabrication technician at Excelitas in Boulder, Colorado. Arman moved from Santa Clarita, California, and now earns around $50,000 annually. He grinds and polishes lenses for various applications, including commercial and military uses. Arman emphasizes the importance of detail, communication, and teamwork in his role. He transitioned fr…

In this episode of Talking Technicians, you’ll meet Emily, a facilities engineer at Intel. Emily shares her journey from community college to a full-time engineering role, discussing her experiences in the clean room, the challenges she faced as a woman in engineering, and the importance of soft skills and networking in her career. She emphasizes t…

In this episode of Talking Technicians, you’ll meet Josh, a technician at Analog Devices in San Jose, California. Hear about Josh's background, his experience working at Analog Devices, and the opportunities for growth and benefits in the industry. Josh shares his journey from starting in an automotive shop to working in the microelectronics indust…

Kendall, a technician at Indium, shares the experience working in the manufacturing industry and the journey to becoming a technician. Kendall discusses the role of Indium as a materials refiner and supplier to the electronics and semiconductor markets. Kendall describes daily tasks operating a rolling mill and the various alloys produced at Indium…

Jamel is a Technician at Tokyo Electron, also called TEL in Hillsboro, OR outside of Portland. Jamel was part of the Vet S.T.E.P. program that helps military service members transition into the civilian sector. Jamel talks about how the skills and practices he learned and used in the military can be transferred and employed as a technician in the s…

Alberto is a Manufacturing Equipment Technician at Wolfspeed in Marcy, NY. Alberto talks about how his work in the US AirForce and the Vet S.T.E.P. program prepared him to work as a technician in the semiconductor industry. Aberto highlights how some technical skills he learned in the military are transferable to the civilian sector. Hear about the…

Stephen is a Manufacturing Equipment Technician (MET) at Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon. Stephen discusses his journey from Minneapolis to working at Intel and shares insights into his day-to-day responsibilities involving the maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing. Stephen talks about shift schedules, salary r…

Lincoln is a technician working in the semiconductor industry. Lincoln was in the armed services, then went to community college and enrolled in an electrical engineering technology program. He now has experience working as a technician at two different semiconductor companies in the Portland, OR area. Hear about Lincoln’s experience in this episod…

Ethan is a HPM technician at Intel in Hillsboro, OR outside Portland. HPM technicians at Intel support other technicians that work at Intel. Hear about how Ethan went from working in the hospitality industry to long-term career in the semiconductor industry. Ethan talks about his work, what it feels like working in a semiconductor factory (a fab), …

Laury is a Senior Control Engineer at Albireo Energy in Northern Virginia. Laury is passionate about her career. In this episode here about what working in a data center is like and how you can join this exciting career. At the end of the episode, listen to what Laury has to say about encouraging women to work in technical careers. Laury’s work is …

Janaki is a Equipment Engineering Technician at Analog Devices in Beaverton, OR outside Portland. Janaki had a career in small business, but needed to make a change. Hear how Janaki transitioned to working in the semiconductor industry by enrolling in Portland Community College’s Microelectronics Program. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced…

Michelle is a lead thin film vacuum technician at MKS Instruments at the Richardson Gratings Lab in Rochester, NY. Michelle started out working as an operator, then gained additional skills by enrolling in a vacuum technician certificate program at Normandale Community College. Hear Michelle’s story about how she took her career to the next level. …

Mario secured an internship at Intel. Mario worked on submarines in the Navy. When he left the Navy, he needed a new career. Hear how Mario made the decision to work as an engineering technician intern and how his company is helping with his degree and coursework at community college. Mario’s story is inspirational and shows one of the different ba…

Jason works as a technician at Intel. Jason worked as a freelance videographer, but wanted a more stable profession. He graduated from a 2-year community college program and secured a job in the semiconductor industry at Intel. Hear how Jason’s career as a technician has grown and how Intel supports his professional growth. The Talking Technicians …

Jose works at Genentech. Jose grew up in the Bay Area and went from working in restaurants to a career in biotechnology. Hear about how Jose enrolled in a community college program, completed an internship and now has a career at one of the biggest biotech companies. Jose talks about what he is most passionate about at work and how you can work tow…

Sofia is a Lab Services and Media Prep Technician at Genetech. Hear how Sophia went from a degree in world languages to a community college biotech program. Sophia shares her story and journey in this episode and has advice for folks who want to transition careers and start work as a technician. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC…

Olga works at Tenaya Therapeutics. Hear how Olga earned an associates degree from a community college biotechnology program to secure a well-paying job that impacts health and helps people. Olga talks about her work, the hardest part of community college, and has advice for folks just starting their careers. The Talking Technicians podcast is produ…

David works at NanoScience Instruments. Hear how David went from working with computers to working with advanced nanotechnology characterization and fabrication instruments. David talks about how important completing a 1-year certificate from Rio Salado Community College was to his professional journey. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced b…

Ginny works remotely for a company called Serviceminder. Ginny explains her journey from community college to working in the tech industry. Hear how both technical skills and interpersonal skills are important in Ginny’s work. Ginny also talks about her experience at community college and how it shaped her career. The Talking Technicians podcast is…

Heather worked in IT after community college then decided to start her own business using no-code / low-code tools. Hear what it’s like to run your own business after earning a community college degree. Heather talks about the technical and soft skills she uses to run her business and bring value to her clients. Heather’s journey is inspiring and s…

Tiffany changed careers by enrolling in a community college technology program. Now Tiffany works at Nomadic, which specializes in digital marketing and software development. Tiffany highlights how “soft skills” are important in the technology industry and advises students to explore their career opportunities. Hear Tiffany’s story in this episode …

Talking Technicians goes to a hackathon! In this special episode of Talking Technicians, we’ve collaborated with the 2022 Antibody Engineers Hackathon which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program (DUE 2055036). The episode was recorded as part of the Hackathon. You’ll hear from two biote…

Kendra works as an IT tech at a community college in Asheville, NC. Kendra wanted a change and enrolled in a community college program in web and graphic design. This led to her current role as an IT technician. Hear Kendra’s story and how her work involves more than computers and tech. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Mic…

Recorded LIVE! At the HI-TEC Conference in Salt Lake City, UT - A special episode of Talking Technicians: We welcome back Linzee, Mark and Glen from Season 2 and hear different perspectives working as a technician. Hear live questions from the audience and feel what it’s like to be part of the HI-TEC Conference. The Talking Technicians podcast is p…

Amber works in the biotech industry at ICON. She went to a community college biotech program and started working as a technician in Los Angeles. In this episode, hear how technicians save lives by fighting breast cancer. Amber started as a technician and her career shows how far technicians can go. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT…

Mark has over 25 years experience working as a technician. He worked as a technician at Intel in many different areas including hiring and training. Currently, Mark works as a technician at the MTTC at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. Hear how technicians can do more than maintain and fix equipment; Mark’s career shows how far being…

Rick works as a technician at the MTTC at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM. He is an experienced technician and has worked at Phillips. Rick shares his professional journey including his time in the Navy and enrolling in community college. Hear how the role of a technician has evolved in this episode. The Talking Technicians podcast …

Corey works as a technician at MSEI in Lake Oswego, OR. Corey was repairing computers before he went to community college and earned a 2-year technician degree. After graduating, Corey got a job as a technician building pacemakers and defibrillators which help save lives. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technol…

Jeb works as a technician at Intel in Hillsboro, OR. Jeb was working at a supermarket before he went to a community college and gained the technical and professional skills he needed to work at one of the most cutting-edge companies in America. Hear Jeb's story in this episode. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano T…

Linzee is a technician at Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon. Linzee started working in food prep in a hospital then went to community college to become a technician. Hear how Linzee’s life changed when she became a technician and how you can become a technician too. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education…

Yeysen works as a technician at Intel in Hillsboro, Oregon. He graduated from Centralia College with a 2-year degree and now works in a field where he can make more than $50,000. Hear Yeysen’s story in this episode. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through financial support from the …

Sam works as a manufacturing technician at Intel outside Phoenix, AZ. Sam went to a community college and graduated with a 2-year degree. Then he got a job at Intel. Hear Sam’s story in this episode. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through financial support from the National Science…

Cristian works as a technician at the Oak Crest Institute of Science in Monrovia, CA. He started out as an intern and now works full-time as a microscopy technician. Hear Cristian’s story and learn about electron microscopy in this episode. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through fi…

Antonio works as a technician at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. He had experience working in machining and drafting and went to a 2-year community college. He started as an intern at the Lab and now works as a full-time technician. Hear about Antonio’s journey and what working as a technician at a National Lab is all about. The Talking Technician…

Gabe works as a technician at Micron in Lehi, Utah. Gabe started out working in a bike shop, but found out his local community college had a scanning electron microscope. Gabe earned a 2-year Associates Degree and a Microcopy Certificate. Now he’s a senior technician at Micron and trains other technicians. The Talking Technicians podcast is produce…

Our Season 1 recap episode: Welcome back Geovana, Amalia and Danil. We chat about what they have been up to since their first appearance on Talking Technicians. Hear how their lives have changed because of COVID and what it’s like to be on a podcast when you are a technician. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Tec…

Sean works as an intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory or JPL which is part of NASA. He is working remotely on computer modeling. Sean talks about his education journey, how to secure internships, and the benefits of internships at places like NASA. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center,…

Tuff works as a technician at Micron in Lehi, Utah. He earned a 1-year certificate from a community college microscopy program and secured an internship. From there, Tuff advanced into a full-time role as an equipment technician. Hear about how much you could make as a technician like Tuff and how even high-tech factories have low-tech problems. Th…

Teddy works as a technician at Tokyo Electron in Schenectady, NY. He graduated from a 2-year community college, then went to a semester-long nanotechnology program. Teddy started as a contractor, then moved up to work full-time as an equipment technician. He works in semiconductor fabs up and down the east coast. The Talking Technicians podcast is …

Geovana works as a technician at Intel in Hillsboro, OR. She moved from Brazil to Oregon 5 years ago. Geovana graduated from a 2-year community college, then landed a job as a manufacturing technician at Intel. Now she’s working on advancing to become a Manufacturing Equipment Technician. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the M…

Amalia went to Los Angeles to work in the arts. But she found a passion for chemistry in Community College and landed an internship to use her new skills. Now Amalia works at the Oak Crest Institute of Science, a biotech lab in Monrovia, CA. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Center, through f…

Jeanie works at Herman Darrow Lab in Minneapolis. She went to a community college nanotechnology program, and landed a job as a technician at a hi-tech national lab. Now she’s working on a masters degree to further her opportunities and grow her career. The Talking Technicians podcast is produced by MNT-EC, the Micro Nano Technology Education Cente…

Mike started out in the Army Rangers. He went to a Nanotechnology Education Program and landed a job as a technician with a high tech company. Hear how Mike went from the guy who was putting the pepperoni on the pizzas at one o'clock in the morning to completing his engineering degree and moving up at H. B. Fuller - a high tech adhesives company. T…