From coding to axe throwing
An adventure to Oregon, USA
5’ read
On August 20th, Ethan Wilkinson, an Applications Engineer intern, had the opportunity to attend the product code bash event in Wilsonville, Oregon, just before returning to university. The product code bash is an occasional event where the Siemens product team invites technical specialists from global sales teams to test and validate the functionality of soon to release Siemens products and gain usability feedback. This year they were evaluating the Siemens Custom IC Design products (formerly known as Tanner). Ethan shared, “When I found out I’d be heading to Oregon for the product code bash, I knew it was going to be an exciting opportunity. The main goal was to test the latest release of the Custom IC design software for bugs and get hands-on training with the new features Siemens has introduced. But little did I know how much more this trip would offer—from meeting the engineers who make it all happen to exploring the vibrant culture of Oregon.”
As a first-time visitor to North America, Ethan was struck by the vastness and diversity of his surroundings. “Touching down in the U.S., one of the first things that hit me was just how big everything is. The streets, the landscapes, the food portions—everything felt larger than life. I quickly realized that America is a true melting pot of cultures, especially when it comes to cuisine. One Siemens engineer even took us to his favourite local Lebanese restaurant.”
Though the scale and cultural diversity of the Pacific Northwest left a strong impression, the real highlight of Ethan’s trip was meeting the Siemens software development team he had worked with during his time at EDA Solutions. “It was great to finally put faces to names. It also provided a fantastic platform to hear direct feedback on the new Custom IC design release features and how we can better meet our customers’ needs.”
Ethan offered a sneak peek into some of the features users can expect in the upcoming Custom IC design release which is set to be released before the end of the year. “There has been a significant update to the SDL (Schematic Driven Layout), and an interactive router has been added. The improvement makes working between schematics and layouts easier and faster. There are major updates to the integration of SDE (Simulation Design Environment) into S-Edit, with the simulation toolbar in S-Edit now optimized for quicker SDE runs.” For more details on the upcoming release, users can check out our Quick Video to be announced in the November e-newsletter.
Outside of the event, Ethan found time to unwind and explore Portland. “First on my list was to try the city’s famous coffee, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I also enjoyed a relaxing walk along the Willamette River Evenings were reserved for team bonding, which included dinners at local spots. On our final night, we did something a bit unconventional—we went axe throwing at the Celtic Axe Throwers Brewery. It turns out, it’s harder than it looks, but it was a fun way to connect with the group and let off some steam and the beer was actually really nice. I had a Red Amber ale and an IPA which passed my very high standards as a European.”
As the trip came to a close, Ethan reflected on his time in Oregon. “Looking back, this trip was so much more than just a chance to learn about new software features. The experience was packed with insights about the tools we use daily, but it also offered opportunities to experience a new culture and build stronger relationships with the team. The changes coming to Siemens Custom IC design software are exciting, and the event gave me a fresh perspective on how the software is evolving to meet our customers’ needs. All in all, it was an unforgettable journey, blending innovation, collaboration, and a bit of adventure.”
Left to right: Ethan Wilkinson (UK), Vardan Paremuzyan (Armenia), Nikita Jorniak (US), Meline Grigoryan (Armenia), Siri Adiraju (US), and Massimo Sivilotti (US).