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Heather McCabe
CST 300 Writing Lab
9/22/2015
Software Engineering the Internet of Things with Intel
Over the past half-century, the semiconductor industry has led the world into the

information age with increasingly powerful and innovative electronic components.

Semiconductors are the materials and devices that power modern computers and electronics,

from discrete parts such as diodes and transistors to more complicated integrated circuits and

microprocessors. In the last few years, semiconductor industry leaders have begun to focus their

development efforts on the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT is a network of physical objects

equipped with electronic sensors and connected to the internet, which will enable data collection,

analysis, and response on a vast scale. The realization of the IoT will be the next great

technological revolution. For this revolution to be successful, the semiconductor industry and

industry leader Intel will need software engineers with the skills to integrate hardware and

software and develop related security solutions.

The semiconductor industry is already booming as it begins this pursuit of a connected

world. The $335.8 billion global industry is a key growth sector in the global economy with an

average annual growth of 11.5% in the last 20 years (Semiconductor Industry Association [SIA],

2015). U.S. semiconductor companies are major players in that growth. Of the top three

corporations in the semiconductor industry by market share Intel, Samsung, and Qualcomm

two are U.S. companies (Gartner, 2015). Combined, U.S. companies hold more than half of the

semiconductor global market share (SIA, 2015). With this level of representation in the industry,

U.S. semiconductor companies like Intel will play a big role in the development of the IoT.
The IoTs development will be rapid. Industry leaders forecast that 50 billion devices

will be connected to the IoT by 2020, up from an estimated 5 billion connected devices in 2015

(McKinney, 2015). Intel is applying Moores Law to the development of the IoT, predicting that
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the law will also describe the IoTs growth patterns (McKinney, 2015). Moores Law is a

prediction made by Intel founder Gordon Moore in 1965 that the number of transistors in an

integrated circuit and thus the amount of computing power would double every two years.

Moores Law has set the pace for research and development efforts in the semiconductor industry

in the five decades since it was published. Now, that ever-increasing computing power will

come from the expanding networks of the IoT (McKinney, 2015).

While supporting the explosive growth of the IoT, industry developers must maintain a

solid hold on security. Many of the established principles of traditional information security

directly translate to the IoT, but this means that the problems associated with traditional

information security translate as well (Garbis, 2015). In addition, the vastness of IoT networks

and the integration of new technologies and applications will bring entirely new security

challenges (Garbis, 2015). As an industry leader and one of the major proponents of the IoT,

Intel will be in need of software engineers with a strong background in security and the skills to

support the development of a broad range of connected devices.

Intel has been the clear leader of the semiconductor industry almost continuously since

Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore established the company in 1968 in Mountain View,

California. Noyce and Moore already had a long and storied history together. They had been

working together since 1956, when the Nobel-prize-winning physicist William Shockley hired

them as part of an elite team of eight young engineers for his new Shockley Semiconductor

Laboratory (Malone, 2014). Their time at Shockley Laboratories lasted only a year as the

traitorous eight engineers unhappy with their bosss business strategies and difficult

personality left together to start their own company and do things their own way (Malone,

2014). With financial backing from Fairchild Camera & Instrument Company, they founded

Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 (Malone, 2014). In 1959, after seeing Texas Instruments
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engineer Jack Kilbys brand-new type of multiple-transistor device a complete circuit on a

single chip, Noyce introduced his own ideas for such a device (Malone, 2014, p. 18). Noyces

design had several advantages over Kirbys, and with this new integrated circuit Fairchild grew

rapidly (Malone, 2014). However, as the company grew, Noyce became increasingly unhappy

with his corporate bosses and responsibilities and frustrated as he watched other firms hire away

his most talented employees (Malone, 2014). In 1968, Noyce convinced Moore to leave

Fairchild and once again start a new company, this time without a corporate parent and with a

focus on memory chips. Intel (a combination of INT-egrated and EL-ectronics) was born

(Jackson, 1997).
Although he is generally not credited as a founder of Intel, former Fairchild engineer

Andrew Andy Grove is perhaps its most well known leader. Grove, who idolized Moore,

joined the company at its very start as Director of Operations (Malone, 2014). Some company

materials have referred to Grove as a founder, and Noyce often called the company a three-

headed monster (Jackson, 1997, p. 34). Grove had a heavy hand in shaping Intels culture and

business strategies. He is known for being brilliantly intelligent and articulate, driven,

obsessive, neat, and disciplined (Jackson, 1997, p. 10). Groves personal slogan, only the

paranoid survive, defined Intels propensity for secrecy (Jackson, 1997).

Under Groves leadership, Intel has been at the forefront of innovation in semiconductor

device technology and has established itself as a household name. At its start, Intel focused

primarily on memory design and production, particularly dynamic random access memory

(DRAM) (Jackson, 1997). In the late 1970s, however, Japanese semiconductor firms began

selling memory chips on the American market at prices well below their manufacturing cost and

Intel found its primary source of revenue severely threatened (Jackson, 1997). Grove directed

Intel to cut its work force and dramatically cut back its focus on memory, instead shifting its
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attention to microprocessors (Jackson, 1997). In the early 1980s, Grove struck a deal with IBM

to have Intel processors inside their personal computers and Intel bounced back stronger than

before as the primary supplier of microprocessors worldwide (Jackson, 1997). A decade later,

Intel began to market its processors directly to consumers with the launch of the Intel Inside

campaign. The campaign was extremely successful in bringing about household knowledge of

the Intel brand itself in contrast to any would-be competitors (Jackson, 1997). In the following

years, Intel continued to develop its brand reputation for good quality, high-end products as it led

the industry in semiconductor development and sales.

Today, Intel maintains their lead in processor sales while looking ahead to a future in IoT.

Their main headquarters are now located in Santa Clara, California. They have dozens of

campuses across the U.S. and dozens more branch offices around the world. As of December

2014, they employ about 106,700 people, 51% of whom work in the U.S. (Intel, 2015). As an

employer, they have a reputation for being a tough meritocracy (Rogoway, 2009) but a great

place to learn and grow if one works hard and makes the cut (Glassdoor, 2015). They have a

mandatory retirement age of 65 and almost always promote from within (Jackson, 1997). The

three senior executives of Intel have each been with the company since the 1980s.
CEO Brian M. Krzanich and President Rene J. James took their positions as a two-man

team on May 16, 2013 (Intel, 2015). With a bachelors degree in chemistry from San Jose State

University, Krzanich first joined Intel in 1982 as a process engineer (Intel, 2015). He has a

reputation for being analytical and a team player and for having an engaged but quiet

management style (Randewich, 2013). James holds a bachelors degree in international

business and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Oregon (Intel,

2015). She joined Intel in 1987 as a product manager and served as a technical assistant to

Grove for four years, but has spent the majority of her years at Intel as a leader in the software
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division (Darrow, 2015). James has a reputation for having incredible strength, tenacity, and

ambition (Rogoway, 2009). Chairman Andy D. Bryant has been in his position since May 2012.

He received a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Missouri and a masters

degree in business administration from the University of Kansas (Intel, 2015). He worked in

finance at Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation (Intel, 2015) before joining Intel as a

junior finance officer in 1981 (Rogoway, 2012). Bryant has a reputation for being a mild-

mannered but persistent hard-questioner with great attention to detail (Rogoway, 2012).
With leaders chosen from the pool of long-time employees, Intel has maintained steady

performance in the 17 years since Grove retired. Intels primary product is still PC processors,

with a focus on high-end personal PCs, affordable business PCs, and notebooks (Intel, 2015).

Intel holds approximately 82% of the PC processor market share, with the rest held by

competitor Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (Kay, 2014). Intels other products and services

currently include chipsets, the IoT, flash memory, and custom chip design (Intel, 2015). Their

software division includes McAfee anti-virus software, which Intel purchased in 2010, but

mostly focuses on the creation of Intel-compatible developer tools and cross-product platforms

(Intel, 2015).
Intels focus on product quality and public image has paid off. In 2014, Intel had revenue

of $55.9 billion, up 6% from 2013 (Intel, 2015). Their net income was $11.7 billion. Intel alone

holds 15% of the global semiconductor market share (Gartner, 2015). However, with the decline

in PC sales over the last decade, Intel is looking to further diversify its product portfolio with

security solutions, cloud computing, wearables, mobile/wireless devices, and further

development of the IoT (Intel, 2015). To support this development, Intel will need software

engineers with strong programming skills, knowledge of security practices, and the ability to

integrate hardware and software (Intel, 2015).

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Intels information page for their general Developer/Software Engineer career path lists

a wide variety of software development jobs, including applications, middleware, driver,

firmware, graphics and media, OS-kernel, security, silicon co-design, software services,

developer tools, customer enabling, and web (2015). To fill these roles, Intel is looking for

college graduates with degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer

science (Intel, 2015). They look for candidates with specific knowledge of software

development lifecycle methodologies and practices, software security practices, WRT coding,

agile programming, and object-oriented design and analysis (Intel, 2015). More generally, they

are looking for candidates with proven experience in programming, security, and teamwork.
Intel lists more specific job duties and hiring requirements on their job postings. For

example, a Software Engineer IoT Sensor Library Development is tasked with creating

sensor libraries for IoT developer kits (Intel, 2015). Someone in this job will need to be able to

understand sensor datasheets, create sensor drivers, follow company build/test/demo procedures,

and write accompanying documentation (Intel, 2015). The listed qualifications include a

bachelors or masters degree in computer science or engineering and experience in C+

+/Java/JavaScript/Python programming, Linux programming, microcontroller programming,

GitHub/Doxygen/SWIG usage, and low-level I/O protocol knowledge (Intel, 2015).

Students seeking a position as a software engineer at Intel should focus on gaining the

hands-on experience that Intel is looking for. In addition to earning one of the required

bachelors degrees, a student should look for internship opportunities or other industry

experience and develop a strong portfolio. The students classes should include security,

networking, operating systems, and opportunities to experience programming as part of a team.

The student should be comfortable with the required languages and with the Linux operating

system. For the IoT department specifically, the student should also have experience working
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with hardware and microcontrollers. The student should stay up-to-date on industry

developments and practice creative thinking about industry-related projects.

California State University, Monterey Bays (CSUMB) online Computer Science (CS)

program provides students with the degree and many of the skills required for a position at Intel.

Intel creates developer tools that support a variety of languages, so experience with a variety of

languages is essential. The CS program includes courses that utilize several languages: Python

for multimedia programming, PHP and JavaScript for internet programming, Java for software

design, and Java or C++ for algorithm design (California State University, Monterey Bay

[CSUMB], 2015). The program has a unique focus on team-based work, putting students into

small teams that they will stick with throughout the entire program. The service learning and

capstone portions of the program allow students to experience working with a client, an excellent

addition to the students portfolio. The program also features a course in computer networking

fundamentals and courses that use MySQL for internet programming and database management

(CSUMB, 2015). With these courses, students will develop software engineering skills, build a

portfolio through hands-on projects, and develop and demonstrate teamwork skills. Students

may consider pursuing a graduate degree to further their knowledge and job eligibility after

finishing the CS bachelors degree program.

Beyond the courses offered online as part of the CSUMB CS program, a student should

take courses at a local community college to round out the knowledge that Intel is looking for in

its IoT department. For example, for a student wishing to enhance their knowledge of security,

Sierra College in Rocklin, California offers several suitable courses. Systems and Network

Administration and Wireless Networking and Security cover topics such as server hardware

and software, server security procedures, and wireless network implementation (Sierra College,

2015). Introduction to Information Systems Security covers the basics of information security
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and risk management (Sierra College, 2015). Introduction to Cybersecurity: Ethical Hacking

is an interesting course in which students learn the techniques that hackers use to infiltrate

systems as a means of learning to defend against them (Sierra College, 2015). Combined, these

courses provide a solid foundation in network security practices that will be essential skills for an

IoT developer.
Additionally, Sierra College offers a unique mechatronics program, which combines

electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering with hands-on experience in embedded systems

programming. Students learn to design, build, and program a variety of electromechanical

devices. Students also learn to read and create hardware documentation. Graduates of the

mechatronics program have a unique understanding of the union between hardware and software

and creative device design experience that may make them stand out as an Intel IoT software

engineering applicant.
Outside of formal schooling, there are many more sources of information for self-driven

learners. The internet has a tremendous wealth of resources for aspiring software engineers and

IoT enthusiasts. Industry leaders regularly share blogs and articles through their company

websites. Following these leaders on Twitter is a great way to learn about new updates.

Websites like Reddit, Tumblr, and YouTube allow users to share and discuss ideas and articles

with like-minded professionals and hobbyists. Practice and experimentation with a few Linux

distributions is beneficial. Offline, there are countless books written on just about any

technology-related subject available from libraries and booksellers. Hands-on tinkering with

hardware and programming microcontrollers is a great approach to learning the ins and outs of

electronic devices. Passionate students who take the initiative to learn as much as they can about

the semiconductor industry, software engineering, and the IoT will have a lot to bring to the table

as they begin their careers.

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Students can more traditionally prepare for a career at Intel with an internship at Intel.

Intel has opportunities for standard software development internships for upper division students

as well as a program called Intels Early Internship for Software Engineering (IRISE) for first or

second year Computer Science students (Intel, 2015). Intel interns have a tremendous advantage

as applicants as they get to experience Intels culture first-hand, learn from its employees, and

network within the company. Interns work on teams with full-time employees to develop real

software, most of which supports Intels semiconductor devices (Intel, 2015). Intel internships

are paid and include benefits such as vacation and holiday time off, and Intel considers all interns

for full-time employment upon graduation (Intel, 2015). An internship is an unmatched

opportunity to gain real industry skill and make a great impression at the company.
Intels IoT initiative will require software engineers who are able to combine software,

hardware, and effective security. Students who mix a traditional CS program with an education

in security, networking, hardware, hands-on experience in team-based programming, and a

strong portfolio will be excellent candidates for a software engineering position at Intels IoT

department. Software engineers who enter the semiconductor industry with the right set of skills,

knowledge, and passion will have a unique and exciting role in bridging software and hardware

to bring the IoT revolution to the world.

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References

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Darrow, B. (2015, July 2). Whats next for departing Intel president Renee James? Fortune.

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ml

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