Samsung, SK Hynix race to secure chip talent amid AI-driven ‘supercycle'

A supercycle refers to a sustained period of expansion due to high demand for products and services. It can last for years and sometimes decades, and is often an indicator of long-term growth in an industry.

Korean news sources reported on Friday that SK Hynix has begun accepting applications this week as part of its monthly hiring program, October Hynix Talent, which will run until October 15. The company, which supplies DRAM and flash memory chips, seeks experienced professionals in highly specialized fields, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM) circuit design, verification, and solution development. It also targets hundreds of positions across design, devices, R&D, and mass production technology.

SK Hynix said the new hires will bolster its capacity to develop advanced products for use in servers, mobile devices, autonomous vehicles, and robotics.

Samsung is also moving forward with its annual large-scale recruitment drive among new college graduates. Applicants will take the Global Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT) on October 25, followed by interviews. Successful candidates are expected to join the first half of next year and take up positions in process development and circuit design. 

The massive employment campaign signals rising confidence in the prolonged upcycle for high-performance semiconductors. Industry analysts expect the momentum to last for at least the next two to three years due to sky-high demand for AI servers and mobile DRAM. This also reflects a broader shift in the chip industry, where success is increasingly determined by the ability to develop products optimized for growing AI workloads.

"Securing world-class talent in AI-focused semiconductor design is critical to retaining technological leadership," an anonymous industry source told Korea Herald on Friday. "By bringing in highly skilled professionals, companies can better tailor their solutions to meet the increasingly complex needs of global customers.