Computer hardware engineers design and develop computer hardware, such as computer chips, circuit boards, modems, and printers. They also test hardware and supervise its installation. Computer hardware engineers have similar duties as electronics engineers, but hardware engineers focus exclusively on computer technology. Most computer hardware engineers work in research laboratories and high-tech manufacturing firms. Some also work for the federal government.
The job profile of a computer hardware engineer includes:
Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
Build, test and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed using computer simulation.
Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, analyzing and recording test data.
Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
Provide training and support to system designers and users.
Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.
Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
Skills required
Operations Analysis -- Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Mathematics -- Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science -- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Programming -- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
Troubleshooting -- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Learning -- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Speaking -- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking -- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension -- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening -- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Technology Design -- Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs
Judgment and Decision Making -- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving -- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Installation -- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Management of Material Resources -- Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
Equipment Selection -- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Quality Control Analysis -- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination -- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems Analysis -- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Federal government
Computer and electronic product manufacturing
Computer systems design and related services
Scientific research and development services
Earnings
The median salary of a computer hardware engineer is more than $98,000 a year. The median salary is the salary at which 50% of the workers earned more and 50% earned less. The lowest 10% of engineers earn less than $62,000 a year, and the highest 10% earn more than $147,000 a year.
The following table shows the industries which employ the most computer hardware engineers, as well as the median salary of engineers in those industries:
Federal government – $102,950
Computer and electronic product manufacturing – $101,320
Computer systems design and related services – $98,860
Scientific research and development services – $92,080
Computer hardware engineers typically work 40 hours a week. Roughly 25% of engineers work more than this.
Recruiting Companies
Wipro
TCS
CTS
Infosys
HCL
Accenture...
How do I get there?
Option 1:
Starting a career as a computer hardware engineer generally requires a 4-year undergraduate degree in computer or electrical engineering, with hands-on experience in laboratory clinics as well as classroom-based seminars. Electrical engineering majors may offer concentrations in hardware engineering, while a computer engineering bachelor's degree program allows an aspiring computer hardware engineer to study both hardware and software applications, and how the two interact. Computer hardware classes include the study of circuit boards and their components, electro-magnetics, digital design, micro systems design, embedded systems and computer networks.
Earning a master's degree gives a graduate advanced skills and the possibility of greater opportunity on the marketplace. Graduate students can choose to focus on areas such as network systems, parallel computing systems or machine vision systems. Coursework includes computer architecture, microprocessor systems, algorithms and computer organization.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES
Computer hardware engineers who are interested in research can earn a doctoral degree in computer engineering, either as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.). The doctoral program is designed for students who have a background in computer engineering or a related field. At the beginning of the program, a student chooses an area of concentration such as networking, machine intelligence or embedded systems hardware
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