IIT Delhi Engineer Quit Intel Dream to Join ISRO: How Hemant Kumar Bhukar Secured AIR 7

For many engineering graduates, landing a job at a global technology company like Intel is a dream come true. But for Hemant Kumar Bhukar, an engineer from Rajasthan, a successful semiconductor career was not the final destination.

After nearly three years designing semiconductor chips at Intel, Hemant decided to pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He eventually secured All India Rank 7 (AIR 7) in the selection process for Scientist 'A' at ISRO.

His journey is a lesson in balancing a demanding job with focused preparation—and in staying committed to a goal even when taking the safer career path would have been easier.

From a Rajasthan Village to IIT Delhi

Hemant's journey began in Gothra Bhukran village in Rajasthan's Sikar district. His academic performance eventually took him to IIT Delhi, where he completed his BTech before pursuing an MTech in Semiconductors.

His specialised academic background helped him enter the semiconductor industry, where he joined Intel as a design engineer working on semiconductor chip design.

By conventional career standards, he had already reached a coveted position. Yet his interest in research, public service and India's space programme pushed him towards a different goal.

How Hemant Prepared for ISRO While Working at Intel

The biggest challenge was preparing for the ISRO selection process while working full-time.

Hemant was putting in around 7-8 hours of work each day, leaving little room for the kind of preparation schedule followed by full-time aspirants.

Instead of waiting for ideal conditions, he used the time available to him. Early mornings, evenings and weekends became important parts of his preparation routine.

His experience in semiconductor engineering also gave him an advantage. The technical knowledge acquired through his IIT Delhi education and professional experience at Intel provided a strong foundation for his preparation.

Rather than treating his corporate career as a distraction, he was able to build on what he had already learned.

From Intel to ISRO: A Career Decision Driven by Purpose

Hemant's decision to move from a stable corporate career to a highly competitive government scientific role was not an easy one.

His story demonstrates that a career change does not necessarily mean discarding everything achieved along the way. His experience in the semiconductor industry became part of the technical foundation with which he approached his ISRO preparation.

His eventual AIR 7 in the ISRO Scientist 'A' selection process turned a long-term ambition into reality.

Hemant's Message to Engineering Students

One of the strongest lessons from Hemant's journey is the importance of consistency, discipline and patience.

Preparing for a competitive examination while working full-time meant that he could not depend on long study hours. Instead, he had to make consistent use of limited time.

His journey also carries a message for students from small towns and rural India who may feel that their circumstances limit their career options.

Hemant's path—from a village in Rajasthan to IIT Delhi, then Intel and finally an ISRO Scientist 'A' position—shows that ambitious career goals can be pursued through sustained effort.

A Scientist's Success Inspires His Village

Hemant's achievement brought pride to his family and his hometown.

His father, Shishpal Bhukar, works as an Additional Chief Engineer with the Public Works Department (PWD) in Bikaner, while his mother, Sushila, is a homemaker.

For young engineering students, his journey offers a simple takeaway: there may be no shortcut to a dream career, but consistent effort can make even a difficult career transition possible.