Interview Experience For Synopsys

This article is contributed by my friend. He is currently working in Synopsys as a Design Intern.

This was an off campus recruitment and I got this opportunity through LinkedIn and profile was for AMS design intern. The total interview process consist of 3 rounds.

Round 1 (Technical) (Duration around 90-100 min):

There were two persons in the panel. They started with a formal introduction and then technical questions.

  • Tell me about your Thesis Work.
  • They drawn some RC circuits (4-5 combinations of such) and asked first to identify type of filters.
    • What will be the time constant of each circuit?
    • How many time constant needed to get it charged or discharged?
    • Given a pulse input and asked to draw it’s transient behavior.
    • Reason for that behavior.
  • Asked me to draw single stage CS amplifier.
    • Asked to write down it’s gain formula.
    • Different ways to increase it’s gain.
    • Problem of increasing Rd resistance (as I used one resistor at drain).
    • What is the alternative to increase it drain impedance?
    • Write down its pole zero values and compare it with common gate amplifier.
  • They drawn one circuit and asked me to identify it (Sense Amplifier).
    • Asked me to explain it’s working.
    • Give some set of pulse inputs and asked me to find their outputs.
    • Some more questions which I don’t remember now.

Round 2 (Technical Round) (Duration Around 80-90 min):

Again there were two members in the panel. Asked me to introduce yourself.

  • Give a short introduction of all your projects.
  • Asked me to explain two stage differential amplifier as it was mentioned in my resume.
    • Draw the circuit that I have designed.
    • Why the various capacitor was there especially that Miller capacitance.
    • Approach to increase its gain.
    • What was the phase margin? what I have aimed for?
    • Asked me to draw it response for various phase margin.
    • Why I have used NMOS as a driver circuit in both first and second stage.
    • Explain slew rate for this circuit and what exactly it’s  mean.
    • How can I change this circuit to Op-amp.
  • Asked me if I want more questions from them. I said yes.
  • Explain Recovery and Removal time.
  • What is Set up and Hold time?
  • Some more questions which I don’t remember now.

Round 3 (HR Round):

  • A short formal introduction.
  • What do you know about Synopsys?
  • If you are interested to join and what will be the date?
  • If you have already any offer?

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