Ear-End Musings for PD fellas

 

Dear PD fellas,

a) in PD, 1here will be lots of pressure. We handle it normally but dont take stress. keep a sensor out there and the moment it is crossing a stress threshold, reduce the voltage and take it easy. 

b) Always enjoy your work. Most of the work will be routine and needed but I am sure all of u like PD and enjoy it. Take a break when it gets overwhelmed. there will be incessant things that keep coming from all the PVT corners. just inform that u will get back or u need time or just take time to respond is all fine. Hold it..hold time is ur best weapon.. 

c) manage your breaks, off times, as per your timelines and way of work. If any meetings r not convenient, inform ahead. Health is priority. Make sure there is an architectural clock gating for all work with enable directly coming from the health.

d) always keep a secondary owner for things that you drive. so, help each other out and cover for each other. Like the Gladiators team up in the arena. Alone, u cannot win. team work is not just good and fancy but thats needed for survival for PD Engineers

e) be very very organized... its not natural for PD folks but if there is one trait you should develop, it is this...keep trackers, plan things, take help. prepare for the meetings etc

f) There will be lot of people involved and different frequencies, different voltages and they create different PVT conditions. We need to keep our cool...keep at 0-25C only. Do not respond harsh or anything. If things get hot, just give it more hold time and the best is 'thanks and we will get back". If you dont agree, say you will discuss internally or other leads and get back. Bring it to next level on any asynchronous clocks and they will provide the bridge you need

g) learn learn learn. current project or for that matter, any project can get shot any time. until it is there, learn as many things as you can. Contribute and add value to your best and take back whatever learning you can. Keep an eye, ear to other aspects even if it is not in your scope and learn things. Spare some time to go in more depth on things others talk but you dont fully understand. Every project has many new things to learn. Also, learn on non technical things too. How others handle things, how they drive etc

h) challenge yourself. Every project will have enough challenges. Challenge yourself on each of the things and raise the bar for yourself. Keep a watch on the risk factor. Challenge in terms of value add, perfection. The chip is an art and it needs lots of skill and patience too. We need the clutch, brake as much as the accelerator. Setup is key but hold is a must. 

i) current times, we are all working in a very very collaborative mode and that is the norm everywhere. Listen to others, take inputs, analyze, get it reviewed with peers/leads as needed and take your decision or pass it on 

j) timeline is essential. Plan your things, commit what all you can and deliver what all you commit. take time before you commit. if there is a voltage difference, talk to leads and ask for a level shifter.