Intern interviews
Interview with Lamiae Touti, Staff Verification Engineer in Morocco
What initially attracted you to Sondrel when you applied for the internship, and what made you decide to continue your career with us?
I was initially drawn to Sondrel because it is a leading semiconductor company, which felt like the perfect fit for my final year of electrical engineering, especially in embedded systems and telecommunications. During the interview process, I was very impressed by how organized everything was, as well as how welcoming the managers, HR, and technical team were. This left such a strong impression on me that I chose Sondrel over the other four internship opportunities I had. The environment made me feel valued right from the start. As my internship progressed, I realized I wanted to build my career here. The projects I worked on were both challenging and rewarding, and I felt supported by a fantastic team and mentors who genuinely cared about my growth. The trust they placed in me, along with the opportunities to learn and advance my skills, made it clear that Sondrel was the ideal place for me to thrive.
Can you describe the journey from being an intern to your current position? What were some key milestones or opportunities that contributed to your growth?
My journey from intern to Staff Verification Engineer and Team Leader at Sondrel has been incredibly rewarding. It began with my internship, where I focused on verifying a new IP, which gave me hands-on experience with the ASIC verification flow and built a strong foundation for my career.
Upon transitioning to a full-time role, I had the opportunity to work on a significant video encoding verification project. This was a major success for the company and a pivotal moment in my development, allowing me to demonstrate my debugging skills and consistently meet project deadlines while contributing to the team’s success.
Thanks to the opportunities and support I received, I was promoted to Senior Verification Engineer before completing my first year. This promotion recognized my ability to deliver results efficiently and my proactive approach to assisting others.
Another key milestone was leading the verification of a critical Safety CPU subsystem for an automotive project. This experience enhanced my expertise in safety features and boot mechanisms, both essential for ensuring reliable design performance.
As I progressed, I took on leadership roles, managing team members and leading teams in specific projects. Each of these milestones has significantly shaped my professional journey, preparing me for future challenges in the dynamic field of ASIC verification.
What skills or experiences did you acquire during your internship that have been most valuable in your current role?
During my internship, I had the opportunity to practice the entire flow of ASIC verification, from developing the verification plan to achieving coverage and sign-off. This hands-on experience gave me a strong foundation and a solid understanding of the verification process, which has been invaluable in my current role.
Additionally, I had the chance to present my work to the entire company, including the CEO, which helped me refine my communication skills and gain confidence in sharing technical achievements with a broader audience. These experiences have equipped me with both the technical expertise and the ability to communicate effectively, which continue to be crucial in my role as a Staff Verification Engineer.
How has the company supported your professional development since you started as an intern?
Sondrel is a company that truly values talent, initiative, and creativity. They provide exceptional support for juniors and new graduates, helping them shape their future and career with the right opportunities. Personally, Sondrel has always given me the space to prove myself and grow. After each successful milestone, they challenged me further, allowing me to continuously expand my skills and capabilities.
What stands out most for me is that age was never a barrier at Sondrel—if you demonstrate ability and dedication, you are recognized and given more responsibility. This culture of trust and recognition has been a huge factor in my professional growth.
Since my internship, Sondrel has fostered a culture of exchange, where learning and collaboration flow freely between junior and senior colleagues. This openness has allowed for mutual growth and made a significant impact on my career development.
Why would you recommend our company to other prospective interns or employees?
Sondrel is where innovation meets growth. It’s the ideal environment to learn, develop yourself, and make an impact from day one. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your skills, Sondrel provides the perfect platform for both personal and professional development. For me, it was where talent met opportunity, giving me the chance to grow and succeed.
Interview with Salma Elfakir, Physical Design Engineer in Morocco
What initially attracted you to Sondrel when you applied for the internship, and what made you decide to continue your career with us?
When I initially applied for the internship at Sondrel, I was drawn by the company’s strong reputation and its commitment to utilizing the latest technology nodes. I also had the chance to speak with a colleague who was already at Sondrel, and their insights about the company’s collaborative culture and positive work environment made a big impression. With this understanding, choosing Sondrel felt like a natural and exciting decision.
Can you describe the journey from being an intern to your current position? What were some key milestones or opportunities that contributed to your growth?
The internship was structured in two main phases. The first phase focused on building foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in the physical design department where we worked intensively on a lab project to understand the fundamentals. In the second phase, the focus shifted to contributing directly to the team by developing an automation tool. This tool assists physical design engineers with timing analysis by gathering all timing reports and displaying them in a clear, user-friendly way, reducing repetitive tasks and making the analysis process much more efficient.
What skills or experiences did you acquire during your internship that have been most valuable in your current role?
Gaining in-depth knowledge in the physical design department during the internship, along with becoming familiar with the team and work environment, greatly facilitated my integration. This foundation proved invaluable, especially when collaborating on projects, as it allowed me to contribute more effectively and feel connected within the team.
How has the company supported your professional development since you started as an intern?
Since starting as an intern, the company has been incredibly supportive of my professional growth. Mentorship from experienced colleagues has been invaluable, giving me insights and guidance that I could apply directly to my work. Regular feedback sessions also played a key role in my development, allowing me to improve and set clear goals for my career path. This continuous support has made a significant difference in my journey from intern to my current role.
Why would you recommend our company to other prospective interns or employees?
I would highly recommend Sondrel to prospective interns or employees because of the incredible learning environment and supportive culture here. Sondrel is dedicated to innovation and invests in the latest technology, providing an exciting, cutting-edge environment to work in. The company places a strong emphasis on mentorship and development with experienced colleagues who are genuinely invested in helping you grow.
Interview with Fatine El Hassouni, Physical Design Engineer in Morocco
What initially attracted you to Sondrel when you applied for the internship, and what made you decide to continue your career with us?
While I applied to several companies, Sondrel’s emphasis on cutting-edge technologies and its involvement in advanced projects immediately got my attention. After learning more about the company’s culture and values through LinkedIn and their website, I was impressed by how they prioritize innovation and employee development.
What made Sondrel even more appealing was the internship selection process. It was well-organized and focused on evaluating the skills that matter most for the role, while also highlighting the importance of personal qualities and values. This made me feel that everything was aligned, both in terms of my abilities and who I am as an individual.
After being selected, I didn't hesitate to join, and I’ve had no regrets. The internship experience further solidified my decision to stay. The support from the team, the emphasis on learning, and the opportunity to work on challenging projects, all contributed to my confidence in continuing my career here.
What started as an internship project focused on the physical implementation of a 5nm block and the development of a design audit tool eventually led me to my current role as a Physical Design Engineer -- a role I’m passionate about and thoroughly enjoy.
Can you describe the journey from being an intern to your current position? What were some key milestones or opportunities that contributed to your growth?
My journey from intern to Physical Design Engineer at Sondrel has been both rewarding and filled with continuous growth. The internship program itself was very structured and well-organized, with strong support from mentors who guided us every step of the way. In addition to our mentors, the entire team was incredibly supportive, sharing knowledge and providing the resources needed to help us achieve our goals. This collaborative environment made the transition from intern to full-time engineer at Sondrel feel seamless.
A key milestone in my career has been working on a major project for one of Sondrel’s clients. Taking on such a high-profile project early on has been invaluable in providing hands-on experience and offering opportunities to apply and refine my skills in physical design. This work is continuously contributing to my growth and has further reinforced my confidence in the field, allowing me to take on more complex challenges with each project’s milestone.
What skills or experiences did you acquire during your internship that have been most valuable in your current role?
During my internship, I had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire ASIC design flow. My internship focus was deeply on the physical design process from creating the initial floorplan and selecting the right methodologies to performing synthesis, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and signoff checks. I learned how each stage contributes to the overall design. Working on the implementation of a 5nm block provided me with hands-on experience that reinforced my technical understanding and deepened my expertise in physical design.
In addition to technical skills, my communication and collaboration abilities greatly improved. We were encouraged to present our work regularly to the entire team, which helped refine my presentation skills. Moreover, interacting with colleagues from different regions, especially those in India and the UK, enriched my experience, providing me with diverse perspectives and enhancing my ability to work effectively in a global team.
How has the company supported your professional development since you started as an intern?
One of the greatest advantages of working at Sondrel is the opportunity for continuous learning. From day one, I’ve felt fully supported by my team, who are always ready to share their valuable expertise and guide me in my professional development. This collaborative environment has been instrumental in helping me grow, both technically and personally.
Even after transitioning to my full-time role as a Physical Design Engineer, the support has only continued to grow. A key part of this is my participation in the ECD (Engineer Career Development) program, which provides a comprehensive two-year training plan for new engineers. This program covers multiple disciplines, offering invaluable mentorship and training in both technical areas and essential soft skills, including leadership and management. This ongoing support has been crucial in accelerating my growth and ensuring I have the skills needed to succeed in my role.
Why would you recommend our company to other prospective interns or employees?
I would highly recommend Sondrel to anyone looking to work at the forefront of technology. The company offers the unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects with major clients, making each day both challenging and exciting.
What stands out most to me about Sondrel is the strong, supportive, and collaborative environment. It’s a place where continuous learning is not just encouraged but integrated into daily experience, helping employees grow and reach their full potential. The company’s commitment to personal and professional development, combined with the support from talented mentors and colleagues, creates a culture that empowers individuals to excel.
Beyond the technical growth, Sondrel also fosters a healthy work-life balance with flexibility that allows employees to manage their personal and professional lives effectively. The company’s values of communication, collaboration, and mutual respect are at the core of its culture, making it an inspiring and motivating place to work.
In short, Sondrel is not only a place to grow and learn but also an environment that pushes you to achieve your best and reach your full potential.