As TSMC Arizona continues to grow with its $265 billion U.S. investment, its commitment to providing workforce opportunities to American talent has become a cornerstone of its mission.

In the highly competitive semiconductor labor market, the company is fostering this talent by partnering with colleges and universities to train and hire the next generation of engineers and fab technicians. It is an approach that expands the Arizona economy and gives a new generation of talent a compelling reason to come and stay in Phoenix.

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A Network of University Partners

Since making its U.S. debut in north Phoenix, TSMC Arizona has created enduring partnerships with some of the nation’s most highly respected engineering schools, which host everything from leadership lectures and career fairs to on-campus “TSMC Days” for interested students. Among these are Arizona State University and University of Arizona, which serve as the company’s primary local engineering talent pipeline.  

TSMC Arizona also welcomes scores of engineering students from other esteemed universities, including University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Purdue University, University of California Los Angeles and Georgia Institute of Technology – to name just a few – into its annual summer internship program.  

Empowering the Next Generation: TSMC Arizona Interns

The intensive 10-week summer internship program gives students an inside look at a giant in one of the world’s most advanced and fastest-growing industries. The interns get valuable practical experience, too, contributing to TSMC Arizona projects, introducing Valley youth to new engineering pathways and STEM careers, and cultivating new competencies of their own through workshops, with learning that extends far beyond their university classrooms.  

The best part: Many TSMC Arizona engineering interns become TSMC employees. The company extended job offers to more than half of its previous engineering intern class. As TSMC Arizona’s partnerships have evolved, so has the internship program. This summer’s cohort was the most attended yet, with a record 283 engineering interns, compared to just 16 participants during the program’s inaugural year in 2023.  

Fun Things to Do in Arizona

Many of the company’s out-of-state interns are housed in dormitories at Arizona State University’s West Campus and Grand Canyon University. When the workday ends, the interns get a taste of Arizona, visiting the Grand Canyon, Sedona and other iconic landmarks or taking in the desert beauty while tubing down the Salt River. This unique blend of cutting-edge career opportunities and vibrant local lifestyle gives the new generation of talent a great reason to plant roots in the Phoenix area.

Free Technician Training Offers Additional Pathways

Along with a network of university partners for its engineering summer internships, the company is teaming up with state colleges and universities on free specialized training programs to prepare facilities, equipment, manufacturing and processing technicians for careers in the field.  

Each program, aligned with industry standards and drawing upon TSMC’s Taiwan-based training programs and U.S.-based apprenticeship models, combines technical instruction with on-the-job learning and professional development. A benefit of the program is that training takes weeks or months – not years – to complete, creating a pathway for good-paying careers that do not require a college degree.  

What’s Next at TSMC Arizona?

As the demand for semiconductor chips that power everything from smartphones to autonomous vehicles and cutting-edge medical devices continues to grow, TSMC Arizona is moving rapidly to meet the future.  

The company currently employs more than 3,500 workers on its way to a 6,000-member team by the end of the decade. TSMC Arizona is also expanding its physical footprint, with plans to invest another $100 billion into its north Phoenix facilities, bringing the company’s total investment to a historic $265 billion. Through strategic education partnerships and robust workforce training, TSMC Arizona is proud to put skilled U.S. workers into the high-tech jobs of tomorrow.  

Click here for more information on the company’s job and training opportunities.