Supermicro

Hardware Engineer Interview Experience - San Jose, California

July 1, 2019

Neutral ExperienceGot Offer

Process

The interview takes about 4 weeks, with two rounds.

First round: technical phone interview with the tech lead. They will ask some basic questions in circuits and about projects on your resume.

Second round: onsite interview with 7 people. This is a long interview, from 1pm to almost 8pm. It's technical and resume-based.

Questions

Circuit related question: I2C, level shifter.

PCB layout related question: Stackup, routing traces.

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Interview Statistics

The following metrics were computed from 5 interview experiences for the Supermicro Hardware Engineer role in San Jose, California.

Success Rate

0%

Pass Rate

Supermicro's interview process for their Hardware Engineer roles in San Jose, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.

Experience Rating

Positive40%

Neutral40%

Negative20%

Candidates reported having good feelings for Supermicro's Hardware Engineer interview process in San Jose, California.

Supermicro Work Experiences

No headline

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

Pros: Almost 70% of people have a low workload. The work is stable, and layoffs are rare. Stock shares are granted based on the number of shares, not the cash value. So when the stock price increases, you make a lot of money. But when the stock price drops, you lose value accordingly.

Cons: Even though 70% of people have a light workload, they still work overtime. Most communication is in Chinese. There is a strong preference for paperwork.

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

Pros: Almost 70% of people have a low workload. The work is stable, and layoffs are rare. Stock shares are granted based on the number of shares, not the cash value. So when the stock price increases, you make a lot of money. But when the stock price drops, you lose value accordingly.

Cons: Even though 70% of people have a light workload, they still work overtime. Most communication is in Chinese. There is a strong preference for paperwork.

work and life balance

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

September 13, 2024

Pros: Work and life balance, and you do not usually need to work over 8 hours a day.

Cons: It is hard to promote in the current system.

work and life balance

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

September 13, 2024

Pros: Work and life balance, and you do not usually need to work over 8 hours a day.

Cons: It is hard to promote in the current system.

Waste of time working here.

Hardware Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Working with Intel CPUs and learning the architecture. Learning about OrCAD schematic software and PCB layout software.

Cons: 10 hour work days. 2 hour lunches for no reason. Engineering change orders must be signed in person because DocuSign doesn't seem to exist. They literally have you walk around with the piece of paper, and walk to every engineer's desk just to have them sign the form. This company likes to waste your time.

Waste of time working here.

Hardware Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Working with Intel CPUs and learning the architecture. Learning about OrCAD schematic software and PCB layout software.

Cons: 10 hour work days. 2 hour lunches for no reason. Engineering change orders must be signed in person because DocuSign doesn't seem to exist. They literally have you walk around with the piece of paper, and walk to every engineer's desk just to have them sign the form. This company likes to waste your time.

No headline

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

Pros: Almost 70% of people have a low workload. The work is stable, and layoffs are rare. Stock shares are granted based on the number of shares, not the cash value. So when the stock price increases, you make a lot of money. But when the stock price drops, you lose value accordingly.

Cons: Even though 70% of people have a light workload, they still work overtime. Most communication is in Chinese. There is a strong preference for paperwork.

4.0
No headline
Hardware Engineer • Current Employee
San Jose, CA
April 24, 2025
Pros: Almost 70% of people have a low workload. The work is stable, and layoffs are rare. Stock shares are granted based on the number of shares, not the cash value. So when the stock price increases, you make a lot of money. But when the stock price drops, you lose value accordingly.
Cons: Even though 70% of people have a light workload, they still work overtime. Most communication is in Chinese. There is a strong preference for paperwork.

work and life balance

Hardware Engineer • Current Employee

September 13, 2024

Pros: Work and life balance, and you do not usually need to work over 8 hours a day.

Cons: It is hard to promote in the current system.

4.0
work and life balance
Hardware Engineer • Current Employee
Taipei
September 13, 2024
Pros: Work and life balance, and you do not usually need to work over 8 hours a day.
Cons: It is hard to promote in the current system.

Waste of time working here.

Hardware Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: Working with Intel CPUs and learning the architecture. Learning about OrCAD schematic software and PCB layout software.

Cons: 10 hour work days. 2 hour lunches for no reason. Engineering change orders must be signed in person because DocuSign doesn't seem to exist. They literally have you walk around with the piece of paper, and walk to every engineer's desk just to have them sign the form. This company likes to waste your time.

1.0
Waste of time working here.
Hardware Engineer • Former Employee
San Jose, CA
August 7, 2026
Pros: Working with Intel CPUs and learning the architecture. Learning about OrCAD schematic software and PCB layout software.
Cons: 10 hour work days. 2 hour lunches for no reason. Engineering change orders must be signed in person because DocuSign doesn't seem to exist. They literally have you walk around with the piece of paper, and walk to every engineer's desk just to have them sign the form. This company likes to waste your time.

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