Tech Companies

National Semiconductor Corp.

Overview
Culture
Recruiting
Facts & Resources
Subsidiaries & Divisions
Competitors

JOB SEARCH TOOLS

Overview

National Semiconductor Corp., founded in 1959 and relocated to Santa Clara, Calif. in 1966, was among Silicon Valley's first computer chip companies. Today it makes a wide variety of integrated circuits, including analog and mixed-signal chips, used in sensors and other power management equipment.

Analog chips transform physical information such as light, sound and pressure into data that a computer can use. Nat Semi, as it's called in its industry, provides these chips to the communications, consumer electronics, networking, automotive, and aerospace industries.

Two products from National Semiconductor were selected winners in the 2009 EDN Magazine Innovation Awards. The company was recognized for its WEBENCH Visualizer, a real-time visual comparison of power supply solutions; and its SolarMagic Power Optimizers, which allows solar array owners to recoup over 50 percent of lost power.

In 2010, Nat Semi acquired the technology of GTronix, a semiconductor design company specializing in programmable and adaptive analog sensor technology. In 2009, National Semiconductor eliminated 850 jobs worldwide.

Culture

National Semiconductor holds its own awards for employees, including its Innovation Awards, which provide cash to key technologists to encourage and recognize product innovation. The Success Sharing Incentive Plan enables employees to share National's success through quarterly cash payouts that are made when profitability goals are met.

Employees who significantly impact National's strategic goals are eligible to participate in the Employee Variable Pay Incentive Plan, which pays bonuses based on achievement of corporate strategic objectives and business-unit financial goals.

The company's Santa Clara, Calif., office provides employees with services including: on-site dry cleaning, dental care, banking, fitness center, postal services and commuter-assistance benefits.

Recruiting

National Semiconductor's career paths include: engineering, marketing and sales, manufacturing and corporate groups. The company offers the following resume tips: Keep it to one page; don’t list references, the prospective employer will ask for those if needed; begin your resume with a meaningful objective.

Nat Semi employees are rewarded for individual, team and company performance through various incentive programs, and the company pays for its employees to take classes that help with career development.