Semiconductors, often referred to as microchips, serve as the core components powering modern technologies such as smartphones, computers, vehicles, artificial intelligence systems, GPS networks, and internet infrastructure. At the center of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s operations in Arizona is Rose Castanares, president of TSMC Arizona, who oversees a pivotal shift in U.S. semiconductor production.
“Our clients are responsible for designing and marketing the chips; our role is strictly manufacturing,” Castanares explained. “This means they entrust us with their most valuable assets — intellectual property. The level of confidence and cooperation between TSMC and its partners sets us apart in the industry. While most firms handle design, production, and sales internally, we specialize exclusively in fabrication.”
This specialized approach has driven TSMC to establish a major presence in Arizona, backed by a $165 billion investment — the largest foreign direct investment ever recorded in the United States. In an interview, Castanares discussed how this initiative is transforming Arizona’s economic and technological environment.
When asked why Arizona was selected, she noted that customer demand for advanced U.S.-based manufacturing facilities initially sparked the idea. Although the company was initially cautious due to the scale of time and capital required, strong advocacy from clients about supply chain resilience helped solidify the decision. After assessing multiple states, Arizona stood out for its infrastructure, available land, energy capacity, and access to a robust pool of engineering talent.
Arizona State University leads the nation in engineering student enrollment, while local community colleges provide a steady stream of skilled technicians — a critical need given the labor demands of chip fabrication. The state already hosts an established semiconductor ecosystem, further enhancing its appeal.
Equally important was the support from government leaders, including the governor’s office, municipal agencies, the City of Phoenix, and Mayor Kate Gallego. This collaborative environment signaled long-term commitment and partnership, aligning with TSMC’s emphasis on relationship-building across customer, supplier, and community networks.
Manufacturing operations began in 2024, and early results have been highly successful. Performance metrics including quality, yield, and reliability matched those of TSMC’s flagship facility in Taiwan from the very first production run. This achievement stemmed from close coordination between experienced engineers from Taiwan and a flexible local workforce that quickly adapted to the company’s precise methodologies.
The nature of semiconductor fabrication presents unique challenges. Unlike traditional assembly lines, production occurs in ultra-clean environments where even microscopic contamination can disrupt output. Workers manipulate materials at the atomic level, constructing intricate electronic pathways that require near-flawless precision.
As one engineering manager emphasized, “Even if each processing step achieves 99% success, after thousands of layers, the final yield could be zero. We need 99.999% consistency or higher.” Maintaining such exacting standards demands rigorous attention to detail and continuous improvement.
To uphold these benchmarks, TSMC seeks individuals who embrace complexity, value teamwork, and demonstrate resilience. Employees must remain agile, especially since client specifications often evolve rapidly. A culture of excellence is reinforced through round-the-clock equipment operation and deep personal accountability.
Workforce expansion has been significant: employment grew from approximately 2,000 to 3,000 within a year, with plans to reach around 6,000 as Phase 2 ramps up. Three fabrication plants are currently under development. Fab 1 commenced operations in 2024. Fab 2 will utilize N3 technology, representing a more advanced node. Construction on Fab 3 began in April.
The hiring strategy includes 198 interns from 60 universities nationwide, while technician recruitment focuses heavily on Arizona residents. Partnerships with Maricopa Community Colleges and the City of Phoenix support a federally recognized apprenticeship program aimed at building local technical capacity. Many open positions target specialized technician roles.
Cultural integration has involved blending diverse backgrounds rather than simply bridging American and Taiwanese norms. Employees hail from countries including Vietnam, Ghana, Brazil, Greece, and various U.S. states such as Connecticut and Alaska. This diversity fosters a dynamic, inclusive workplace.
Despite varied origins, all team members align around shared principles: integrity, dedication to customers, product quality, and mutual respect. These values form the foundation of TSMC’s corporate identity.
Ideal candidates exhibit a willingness to tackle difficult problems, collaborate effectively, and maintain humility. Given the sophistication of manufacturing tools and the necessity for uninterrupted operation, employees often develop strong personal responsibility for their assigned systems. Many stay until issues are resolved or transitions to the next shift are seamless.
This sense of ownership, combined with TSMC’s core tenets — Innovation, Commitment, Integrity, and Customer Trust (ICIC) — defines the company’s preferred workforce profile.
Individuals interested in career opportunities at TSMC can explore openings through the company’s official channels and partner institutions.
— news from AZ Big Media
— News Original —
How TSMC Arizona changes the state’s economic landscape
Semiconductors — also known as microchips — are the brains behind everything essential to modern life — smartphones, computers, cars, the internet, GPS and artificial intelligence. And one of the brains behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s Arizona operations is Rose Castanares, president of TSMC Arizona. n n“Our customers design and sell the chips; we manufacture them,” Castanares says. “That means they trust us with their crown jewels — their intellectual property. There is a great deal of trust and collaboration between TSMC and our customers, which is unique in the industry. Most semiconductor companies design, manufacture and sell. TSMC strictly focuses on manufacturing.” n nTSMC’s focus on manufacturing led the company to Arizona, where the company’s $165 billion investment is the largest foreign direct investment in U.S. history. Az Business talked with Castanares about how the company is changing the game in Arizona. n nLEARN MORE: AZ Big Podcast: Rose Castanares of TSMC talks building a massive workforce n nAz Business: Why did TSMC choose Arizona? n nRose Castanares: Our customer initially wanted us to build an advanced manufacturing fab in the U.S. We were skeptical at first, knowing the time and financial investment involved. But they were visionary and emphasized the importance of supply resiliency. After evaluating multiple states, Arizona had everything we were looking for: infrastructure, land, power and most importantly, a strong pipeline of engineering talent. n nASU has the largest engineering enrollment in the U.S., and the community colleges are fantastic. We need many technicians and they often come from community colleges. Arizona already had a semiconductor ecosystem in place, which was also important. n nWhat truly sealed it was the support from the governor’s office, local agencies, the City of Phoenix and Mayor Kate Gallego. We felt welcomed and supported for the long-term. Relationships are at the heart of TSMC — with customers, suppliers and the communities we serve. n nAB: You began manufacturing in 2024. How are things going so far? n nRC: It’s going great. From the very first lot, the quality, yield and reliability matched our mother fab in Taiwan. That success came from collaboration between Taiwan experts and a highly adaptable local workforce who embraced our unique processes. n nAB: What are some challenges unique to semiconductor manufacturing? n nRC: It’s completely different. It’s not an assembly line. Semiconductor manufacturing takes place in clean rooms — you could eat off the floors. We’re manipulating atoms, creating structures, channeling electrons. It’s all done at a microscopic level requiring near perfection. n nAn engineering manager once said: “Even with a 99% yield per layer, after thousands of layers, you get nothing. You need 99.999% or better.” That level of precision is extremely demanding. n nAB: How do you maintain that kind of perfection? n nRC: We need people who thrive on challenges and have a perfectionist mindset. It’s about constantly improving, working in teams, and staying agile as our customers frequently change their requirements. It’s fast-paced and demands commitment to excellence. n nAB: How is the recruitment process going? n nRC: We’ve grown from about 2,000 to 3,000 employees in a year, ramping up for Phase 2. We have three fabs underway. Fab 1 began production in 2024. Fab 2 will feature our N3 technology. Fab 3 began construction in April. We expect to need around 6,000 people, half engineers, half technicians. n nWe have 198 interns from 60 colleges nationwide and our technician pipeline is focused on Arizona. We partnered with Maricopa Community Colleges and the City of Phoenix on a federally registered apprenticeship program. Many of our current job postings are for technician roles across various specialties. n nAB: Have there been any challenges with aligning the American and Taiwanese workplace cultures? n nRC: Well, there is that different culture aspect, but what I found is that it’s not just two cultures. You’re talking about many different cultures because we have people coming in from all different aspects of life — different generations, different countries. We have people from Vietnam, from Ghana, from Brazil, from Greece, as well as Connecticut and Alaska and everywhere in between. So it’s not just one culture. It’s really a melting pot of many different cultures. We want the best and the brightest and bringing them all together is really interesting. At TSMC, we have a certain value system. Even though people can come from different cultures, it all comes down to what is important to the workplace, which is integrity and commitment to our customers, to our products and to each other. n nAB: What kind of qualities make for an ideal TSMC employee? n nRC: An ideal employee is someone who embraces challenges, works well in a team, and is committed to problem-solving. We look for people who are humble enough to know they don’t have all the answers and willing to collaborate. Our equipment is highly sophisticated and must run 24/7. Many of our employees treat their machines like their “babies” — they don’t leave until they’ve solved the issue or ensured a perfect handoff to the next shift. That level of ownership, combined with TSMC’s core values — Innovation, Commitment, Integrity and Customer Trust (ICIC) — defines our ideal team member. n nAB: How can people learn more about opportunities at TSMC?