Tell me about your job and what your main responsibilities are
I support verification engineers, enabling them to use our internal platform that my team develops and maintains and make sure that they can get their job done.
I talk to different partners, work with them on solving their problems, suggest solutions, collect requirements for new enhancements and find new ways to enhance our platform.
How did you get into this job? What did you study at university? Why did this particular career interest you?
I studied at Cairo University, Egypt where I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
I joined Mentor Graphics and worked as a developer/technical support for a complex simulation tool, then moved to a consulting engineer position. In doing consultancy, I dealt with different customers on-site, assisting in solving issues and collecting feedback while bridging the gap between developers and our customers.
I moved to Austin, Texas and joined Global Foundries, which gave me a great insight in manufacturing.
I took a year off Semiconductor, wanting to explore other industries and developed myself in other areas, such as communication, marketing, and business development.
During that time, I took further education courses to stay up to date with the industry. I fell in love again with problem solving, debugging and automation, which led me to Arm.
Arm was the perfect place for me.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I enjoy problem solving, debugging and developing as an engineer by learning new skills. Arm is investing in me and supporting me while I continue to build upon my skills set.
What made you decide to work for Arm?
I have a lot of connections in the industry and heard great things about Arm, especially how they care about their people and how great the work-life balance is.
Also the potential of the company, and the exciting technologies Arm is working on and having a great experience with working at Arm.
I am proud to be part of such a great company.
What’s the best thing about working for Arm?
The people at Arm. Everyone is welcoming and willing to help, to teach and be a mentor to you.
How has Arm enabled you to learn and develop?
I asked to take some courses, essential to my line of work, and it was approved. I got access to several platforms offering courses and classes for free. My manager has given me the opportunity to spend some time each week to develop and learn new skills. Hence, I feel very appreciated and well taken care of.
What are the people like at Arm?
People at Arm are very warm, helpful and professional. I joined during the pandemic and have not been able to meet anyone I work with in person, but I feel like I know them to a great extent, and it feels that we’ve developed a good connection virtually. People put a huge effort in getting to know you, enabling you for success, and supporting you.
What kind of benefits do you get working at Arm?
The vacation system is great at Arm. You can buy-in more days, but even without buying-in, you get 20 days off. The healthcare is phenomenal, I worked with other companies, and I can say it’s the best healthcare program I’ve received through any company
What excites you about working with cutting-edge technology?
Being an Electronics Engineer, I am very proud of what Arm is doing. It’s easy to see that we, Arm, will continue providing the best Architecture for processing in the future. That is an exciting thing to be part of. I can say that my company’s product is on Mars right now. Not everyone in our industry can say that.
What’s your best memory during your career at Arm?
I worked on a project with a hard problem to debug. I found the source of the problem, and I didn’t think much of it, as it’s part of my job. Later, in the developers meeting, they mentioned my name and praised me for my work. I was not in the meeting and they didn’t have to bring it up, but it was nice and unexpected to hear praise and feedback.
What is the culture like at Arm in Austin?
We not I mentality, Passion for progress, and Be your brilliant self. These are the core beliefs. We don’t have to cover each one of them, but let’s talk about the last one, “Be your brilliant self”. This empowering to you as an individual, and it shows that personal development is important to Arm.
Is there a specific project you’re working on or have worked on in the past that’s particularly interesting or exciting?
We are working on running some simulation in the cloud, which is very exciting and allows me to be a part of, and gain great experience in something that is hot in Cloud Computing.
What made you want to live and work in Austin?
I came to Austin in 2010 working on a project as a Consulting engineer, and I fell in love with the city. I decided to move to Austin 2012 and been living here ever since.
I have been to 67 countries and at least 32 states, and I can easily say that Austin is one of the best cities to live in.
How have Arm supporting you during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Arm has been supportive, and I was impressed with how much they care. During the snow storm that hit Austin, I lost power and it was very cold. I had to evacuate my house and go stay with a friend who had power and water. Arm management in Austin and my manager in France both separately agreed that I don’t have to worry about work and should focus on my situation. That was a great example if putting people first.
Also, since we have been working from home all the time, Arm understands how stressful it can be, and how hard it is. To help with stress management, we have been given a day of care, to take a day off and recharge. It has been occurring once every quarter and is a nice gesture.
What would you say to someone who was looking for a new job in your field, why should they come to Arm and not a competitor in Austin?
At Arm, we put people first and care about your development. At Arm, you will grow professionally and technically as it’s part of your goals and the whole company’s goals. At Arm, the work life balance is great, and it enables you to recharge and work efficiently.
What would you say to someone who was looking for a new job but lived in another area of the US, what’s great about moving to Austin?
Austin is growing fast, with an amazing music scene, great food and lovely people.
Austin offers lots of activities, and very kid/pet friendly.
What advice would you give someone who is joining Arm in Austin?
Arm is a place where you will feel welcome, appreciated, and you will grow on so many levels. Be part of the future. Have fun in the process, make friends and enjoy your time at Arm.
