They learn. They contribute. They drive Soitec forward.
Nearly 100 work-study students and interns are currently growing across all company sectors: R&D, human resources, communication, finance, sustainability, manufacturing… Everywhere, they hold real responsibilities and contribute fully to Soitec's projects. And to tell their daily story, no one is better placed than one of their own: Sofia, our communications work-study student from Italy, writes these portraits.
Different backgrounds, the same energy. Today, discover the profile of Carle Alzieu, a work-study student in the MTBE & AMHS (Metrology Test Back End) maintenance department.
Carle: learning on the ground to build tomorrow’s Industry
As a maintenance work-study student at Soitec, Carle works on highly practical projects at the crossroads of electronics, programming, and predictive maintenance. This experience allows him to put his knowledge into practice, gain autonomy, and fully experience the role of an engineer. After a successful first year of work-study, he approaches the next stage of his journey with the goal of leading major projects in complete autonomy.
From Electronics to Industry
After earning a STI2D high school diploma specializing in digital systems, Carle pursued a BUT degree in electrical engineering in Grenoble. Leveraging his network, he stepped through Soitec's doors for the first time for a three-month internship. The trial was more than successful: the company offered him the chance to continue the adventure. He then signed a three-year work-study contract alongside his studies at the Polytech Dijon engineering school. Paced by alternating periods of one month at school and one month in the company, he blends theory with practical implementation.
"Stepping outside the classroom and discovering the working world allows you to learn a huge amount."
Predictive Maintenance: a daily technical challenge
Integrated into the AMHS maintenance department, Carle works on electronic board design and programming, with a clear goal: developing predictive maintenance to better understand malfunctions and intervene before a breakdown occurs.
In particular, he works on an automated transport system (OHT) in a cleanroom, where certain alarms remain difficult to interpret. "The goal is to identify the origin of errors more easily and pinpoint the root cause of issues," he explains.
To achieve this, he designs custom enclosures named OPTIFLOW E84 to analyze breakdowns more precisely and, most importantly, track communication exchanges between cleanroom equipment and the OHT in real time. The goal is to reduce E84 communication failures by 50% and boost AMHS System efficiency by eliminating unnecessary transport. His proudest achievement? The completion of the Smartport project, a device connecting equipment to automated transport to prevent operators from carrying heavy loads over long distances:
"We put it into production this year [...] and I had the satisfaction of seeing the project through to the end."
Building confidence and finding his place
This work-study program has also helped him grow on a personal level. Naturally somewhat reserved, working in the field pushed him to assert himself. He learned to present his projects, participate in meetings, and collaborate with other departments, notably with the Transverse team for producing 3D-printed parts.
This growth took place within a particularly close-knit team:
"What I really like here is the quality of the welcome, the working environment, and the kindness of the team around me."
The bond with his mentor, Yannick Rueff, is strong enough that Yannick even traveled to Dijon to visit his school and better understand his training environment.
Work-Study: A Launchpad for the Future
For Carle, the assessment of his work-study experience comes down to a single word: "Awesome." While he briefly considers exploring his passion for being a ski patrol medic in the mountains out of pure personal curiosity, his top choice remains pursuing his engineering career at Soitec. Empowered by his journey, he strongly encourages students to take the leap:
"It's a fantastic opportunity to step outside the classroom, discover the professional world, and gain experience. You learn an immense amount, and I think for career entry, work-study programs are a real asset. I invite anyone who is still hesitating to go for it!"
