For Malaysian engineering students entering their final semesters, the transition from academia to the professional world can feel daunting. Nicholas Tan Peng Gen, a Computer Engineering graduate from Asia Pacific University (APU), found himself at that exact crossroads just a year ago. Today, he is thriving as a Firmware Engineer at Phison Electronics' subsidiary MaiStorage in Malaysia, contributing to semiconductor R&D that powers storage devices globally.
In a recent interview, Nicholas shared his journey of landing a role at Phison through the Taiwan Semiconductor Job Fair in Malaysia, the steep but rewarding learning curve of R&D work, and why more Malaysian students should consider global IC design houses like Phison to kickstart their careers.
The Gateway: A "Two-for-One" Career Opportunity
The Taiwan Semiconductor Job Fair was organized as part of Taiwan's efforts to strengthen international semiconductor talent connections. Through initiatives supported by Taiwan's Industrial Development Administration (IDA), Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwanese semiconductor companies and academic institutions were brought together overseas to connect with promising STEM talents, introduce career opportunities, and build long-term talent partnerships with local universities.
Nicholas's journey began when his university lecturers shared details about the Taiwan Semiconductor Job Fair. One lecturer even chartered a bus to ensure the entire class could attend. For Nicholas, who was seeking industry experience but was also curious about further studies, the fair proved to be an eye-opener.
"It wasn't just a regular job fair. It is an absolute must-attend because it's a rare 'two-for-one' opportunity. You aren't just getting face-to-face access to industrial heavyweights; you're also interacting directly with academic institutions from Taiwan offering funded master's and PhD programs," he said.
Walking into the fair, Nicholas secured a direct live screening session, allowing him to have a genuine conversation with Phison's recruitment team rather than simply submitting a resume through an online portal.
Shedding "Vibe Coding" for Real-World Engineering
Transitioning from university projects to a global semiconductor firm brought a fundamental shift in perspective. Nicholas noted that in university, students often get by with short-term, loosely structured code as long as it functions by the deadline.
At Phison, the standards are stringent. Every line of code must possess meaning, clarity, and purpose so that it remains readable and robust before being deployed on actual hardware. This completely eliminates what modern developers refer to as "vibe coding," because guessing or patching on the fly is highly risky when dealing with complex controller chips. Instead, engineers must trace code step by step and thoroughly understand the system architecture, backed by a rigorous peer-review process where technical logic is closely scrutinized by experienced senior engineers to rapidly accelerate a junior engineer's competence.
Why Phison? Full-Stack Architecture Exposure with a Strong Support System
One of the key advantages of joining a prominent Taiwanese multinational like Phison from its Malaysian branch is the depth of technical support available. When tackling highly complex technical issues, local teams are never isolated - they have direct access to decades of foundational expertise and the engineering resources of Phison's Taiwan headquarters.
Furthermore, rather than being confined to a single, repetitive task, firmware engineers at Phison are given ownership of the full development pipeline. They read and interpret core design specifications, implement advanced features, write testing scripts, verify across multiple hardware platforms, and execute end-to-end debugging. Handling the full pipeline naturally trains engineers to think like system architects, enabling them to see the bigger picture of how their code interacts with physical hardware - making them versatile professionals much faster, Nicholas said.
This borderless collaboration also cultivates strong cross-cultural communication skills. Nicholas noted that while Mandarin is commonly used, teams regularly converse in English and utilize translation tools, making the language barrier a manageable factor. Learning to document complete code-tracing workflows for cross-border engineering teams rapidly builds global competitiveness.
Life at Phison Malaysia: A 9-out-of-10 Experience
When asked to rate his job satisfaction at Phison Malaysia, Nicholas gave it a 9 out of 10. The semiconductor industry is fast-paced and demanding, but the work environment allows engineers to maintain clear boundaries and protect their personal time. Working at Phison's established branch in Malaysia offers a premier international career path without requiring graduates to relocate away from their families, making it a compelling option for local talent.
The company culture also fosters supportive autonomy. Team members are highly collaborative, and while senior engineers are always available to troubleshoot, they challenge junior engineers to bring their own analysis to the table first - fostering independence and professional accountability.
Advice to Graduating Students
As global demand for semiconductors surges - driven by the explosive growth of AI hardware - Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly moving up the value chain from back-end assembly and packaging into high-value R&D and IC design.
For students weighing their next career steps, Nicholas offered one definitive piece of advice regarding the upcoming career fair: "Just go. You might walk out of there with a lot more clarity for your future. Taking on challenges early in your career helps you grow much faster, and the skills you build at an international standard with Taiwanese companies such as Phison are instantly transferable worldwide."
From a university student seeking his first career opportunity to a firmware engineer contributing to global semiconductor products, Nicholas's journey demonstrates how international talent engagement can create new pathways for young engineers to connect with Taiwan's semiconductor industry.
Through collaboration among Taiwan's semiconductor companies, academic institutions, and global STEM talent communities, more students like Nicholas can discover opportunities within Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem and contribute to the next generation of semiconductor innovation worldwide.
