On paper it should be a great job but it's very poorly managed and politics dominate the scene. - Engineer TSMC Employee Review

2.0
17 Dec 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Possible chance to work with latest semiconductor technology. Maybe some liberty to choose what you work on. Good work-life balance.

Cons

Management at this remote & separate TSMC division is poor and overly political. Decisions are slow to come and most times politically driven. Parent company (TSMC-Taiwan) imposes heavy restrictions on tech info access among employees which makes job difficult and limits ability to succeed and advance. Information restrictions are used by management & other politicians to serve own personal agendas. Company in general is not interested in input from low level employees, this company is very heriarchical even at this US location. Rewards are not based on merits but rather politics. Parent company penny pinches everything which makes getting anything from the smallest tools to software or hardware often a long and futile process. There is no local or even US based HR serving this center and this is abused by management.

Explore other reviews about TSMC

5.0
27 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stability despite layoffs across the semiconductor industry

Cons

Lower compensation than competitors. The fab in Washington works on less exciting science than the one in Arizona

1.0
4 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

TSMC looks good on a resume

Cons

My contract (through TSMC) was originally 6 months. Instead of hiring me on Full time, they have tacked on 3 90 day extensions, with a revolving door of expectations. They always change the goal at the last minute, and fail to communicate these changes until you find out that you are being extended. They do not allow personal phones past any of the security gates, and are extremely strict regarding anything they do. This includes sharing of basic information you need to do your job. Management is a joke, the allegations in the clase action going on are real. The cleanroom is hot as heck, and kept humid. They have two single drinking fountains that serve all 4 floors of the cleanroom. OSHA anyone? Prepare to only do PMs and make sure you are hydrated enough to spend 15 hours of your 13 hour shift in the cleanroom. Exposure to toxic chemicals and gasses is one open chamber and breath away, as PAPR and other proper PPE usage is rare. The number of people who have died on site or been injured here is abnormally high for this industry. Money, PM completion, and daily photos of trash you pick up in your module all come before safety. This company will not work with you when it matters, image and reputations are at the forefront of this political environment. Management has no effin clue on how to work in America.

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