There is a final hurdle that all semiconductor development must clear: verifying whether the product operates exactly as designed within the customer’s actual system and ensuring optimal performance. After all, a semiconductor product proves its value only when it operates flawlessly in its real-world environment. And Application Engineering (AE) oversees just that. The Newsroom, alongside Student Ambassadors of SK hynix Yurim Lee and Kyungtae Kim, sat down with Hyewon Kim and Eunwoo Gil (TL, DRAM AE) to talk about how semiconductors make their way into the real world and the role of AE along the journey.
Enhancing Product Reliability and Readiness through System-Level Verification—AE
Application engineering is responsible for carrying out tests on semiconductor products that are in the development phase to see if they can deliver optimal performance in the actual use environment. The performance tests are conducted under various physical conditions. If any failures are identified, AE hunts down the root causes and fixes them to enhance product reliability and readiness. The key in this process is “System-level Test.” It is a procedure to test the reliability and performance of a product by emulating identical or similar environment of the customer’s system. This is to verify if the product performs according to the specs that are designed in the development phase. Since the test environment emulates the customer’s system, close collaboration with the customer is essential for AE engineers. In that, AE leads customized technical support, serving as a bridge that connects our products to customers. AE can be divided into two pillars. One is Memory Product Development which involves verifying memory operations across different customer system environment such as PCs, mobile devices, and graphic cards. This process ensures that memory products deliver their expected performance and features in real-world applications and builds improvement strategy based on the test results. Also, engineers in this role are responsible for supporting product qualification through collaboration with overseas offices and customers and achieving the product’s reliability and quality that are optimized to the customer’s system through module PCB* analysis and device development. * PCB(Printed Circuit Board): 전자 부품을 기계적으로 지지하고 전기적으로 연결해주는 회로 기판으로, 반도체 모듈의 성능과 신뢰성을 좌우하는 핵심 부품 The other role is Application Solution Development. It involves developing software and test environment necessary for memory verification and analysis. To enable this, engineers develop firmware*, BIOS*, and test programs and build hardware solutions using FPGA* or controllers. Also, they develop solutions for next generation products and analyze system architecture, power and performance, ensuring reliable and optimal performance across different customer environment. * PCB (Printed Circuit Board): A circuit board that mechanically supports and electrically connects electronic components. It is a critical component that determines the performance and reliability of semiconductor modules. * Firmware: Software embedded within hardware to control basic device functions and support system operations. * BIOS (Basic Input/Output System): A fundamental program that initializes hardware during computer startup and loads the operating system (OS). * FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array): A semiconductor that allows users to design custom circuits to implement specific functions. It is utilized to simulate various conditions during new product testing and solution validation.
Who We’re Looking For
No matter how exquisitely designed and manufactured a semiconductor product is, failures can occur unexpectedly in actual customer systems or real-world environments. For this reason, AE is a core function that determines the product readiness in the last-but-not-least phase of development process. As product applications and customer needs become more diversified, the AE’s role is rapidly evolving into one that drives custom product development and differentiated solutions tailored to customer’s specific needs. To fulfill this role, AE engineers require in-depth understanding of semiconductor architectures and the overall industry, along with programming capabilities and software-related knowledge. Since they navigate a broad spectrum—from semiconductors to systems and software—when a defect or quality issue arises, they must analyze the problem from multiple angles and collaborate closely with experts in various fields to derive an optimal solution. Therefore, a proactive problem-solving attitude, high accountability, and communication skills are also important. Sangmok Song (TL, Talent Acquisition) said, “As customer needs are changing across applications including mobile devices, servers, and AI, it is increasingly important to optimize product performance tailored to end-user environments. AE is evolving beyond merely checking if a product works; it plays a key role in strengthening SK hynix’s technological competitiveness by driving customization tailored to application conditions.” “For those with a strong curiosity and a desire to discover their true aptitude, seeking a role in AE—where you can grow extensively by experiencing both Hardware and Software—would be an excellent choice,” he added.
Q. Could you briefly introduce yourselves?
Hyewon Kim (TL): The GDDR7 is the world’s first product to deploy the PAM3* signaling method. As it is significantly faster than the previous generation GDDR6, it is highly sensitive to even minor changes in conditions. In this demanding interface environment, I fine-tune various parameters like voltage and timing, collaborating closely with our customers to secure both reliability and performance. * PAM3(Pulse Amplitude Modulation 3-Level): A method of transmitting data using 3-level voltage signals with higher transmission efficiency and lower power consumption compared to 2 voltage levels (NRZ). Eunwoo Gil (TL): I am in charge of CXL* solutions on the DRAM AE team. CXL solutions are next-generation server memory, fundamentally different in architecture and operation from conventional DRAM modules. I am leading development and verification of CXL solutions to ensure they operate stably across diverse server system environments. * CXL (Compute Express Link): A next-generation interface that efficiently connects CPUs, GPUs, and memory in high-performance computing systems to support large-scale, ultra-high-speed computation. Applying CXL to existing memory modules can expand their capacity by more than 10 times.
Q. What is the key objective of the AE role, and what efforts do you make to achieve it?
Hyewon Kim (TL): I believe the most important objective of AE is to secure the best performance and quality by verifying the product through system-level testing, proactively discovering and analyzing issues, and providing solutions. To achieve this, AE engineers collaborate seamlessly with customer engineers. We constantly communicate based on test data, share results, and discuss areas of improvement from multiple perspectives. When necessary, we visit the customer’s site in-person to conduct evaluations. Eunwoo Gil (TL): The essence of AE lies in understanding the entire system. The goal is not just to look at the memory in isolation, but to analyze problems from a holistic system perspective to develop the optimal product. Therefore, “systematic thinking” is the most vital trait for an AE engineer. Only by analyzing and resolving memory defects based on a deep understanding of the system, can we create a truly world-class, top-tier product that reflects our technological prowess.
Q. What qualities or competencies do you expect from new hires in the AE role?
Hyewon Kim (TL): Since AE engineers carry out system-level tests, they must be able to analyze and interpret problems from various angles. As the testing consists of different kinds of elements intertwined such as hardware, software, circuits, and signals, logical thinking and data analysis skills are essential, as well as teamwork skills. The AE engineers, who are responsible for graphic products, especially need to understand not only high-performance system architectures but also respond to fast changes in the GPU market with agility. Given the short release cycle of GDDR products, it is essential to maintain perseverance to keep tracking the fast-changing technology and market. Eunwoo Gil (TL): As mentioned earlier, because AE engineers handle various issues that arise in the end-user system environment, understanding how the system works is essential. You need to keep asking why and how—“Where did this failure come from? And what could be the solution?” To keep up with fast-evolving technologies including modules and architectures, I believe curiosity leads to problem-solving.
Q. What advice would you give to prospective applicants aspiring to a career in AE?
Hyewon Kim (TL): AE is not just about a single piece of memory, but it encompasses entire system, diverse application environments, and markets. What you learn in semiconductor-related majors is important, but programming and data analytics skills are necessary as well. Also, training yourself to view problems from diverse, multi-dimensional perspectives will give a big advantage in this role. Eunwoo Gil (TL): If you are an engineering student, I highly recommend creating at least one graduation project or lab assignment that you pour your heart and passion into. After all, our device development and verification work is an extension of such experience. If you have the experience of independently defining a problem and solve it, you will undoubtedly grow into a successful AE engineer.
