Occupation

Computer Hardware Engineers

Human Advantage 65%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Research, design, develop, or test computer or computer-related equipment for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. May supervise the manufacturing and installation of computer or computer-related equipment and components.

Also Known As: Analog Design Engineer, Analog IC Design Engineer (Analog Integrated Circuit Design Engineer), Application Specific Integrated Circuit Design Engineer (ASIC Design Engineer), Application Specific Integrated Circuit Design Verification Engineer (ASIC Design Verification Engineer), Computer Designer, Computer Engineer, Computer Hardware Designer, Computer Hardware Developer +26 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
  2. Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
  3. Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
  4. Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
  5. Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
  6. Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
  7. Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
  8. Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
  9. Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
  10. Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  11. Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
  12. Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
  13. Provide training and support to system designers and users.
  14. Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
  15. Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.

Supplemental Tasks (3)

  1. Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
  2. Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
  3. Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
48%
Master's Degree
34%
Some College Courses
7%
Doctoral Degree
7%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
3%
Find Training Programs

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Apache Subversion SVN
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • C
  • C++
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Oracle Java
  • Perl
  • Python
  • SAS
  • Shell script
  • Structured query language SQL
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • UNIX

Software (116)

  • ASSET JTAG ScanWorks
  • Application-specific integrated circuit ASIC logic synthesis software
  • Automatic test program generation ATPG
  • Block diagram software
  • Boundary scan description language BSDL
  • Boundary scan insertion software
  • Built-in self-test BIST debugging software
  • Cadence Allegro PCB Designer
  • Cadence Concept
  • Cadence Dracula
  • Cadence Encounter RTL Compiler
  • Cadence Opus
  • Cadence OrCAD software
  • Cadence PSpice
  • Cadence Schematic Composer
  • Cadence Virtuoso Layout Suite
  • Cadence Virtuoso Spectre Circuit Simulator
  • Cisco IOS
  • Complementary-symmetry/metal-oxide semiconductor CMOS layout software
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Computer diagnostic software
  • Computer simulation software
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Data acquisition systems
  • Database software
  • Design-for-testability DFT insertion software
  • Discrete Fourier transform DFT analysis software
  • Eko
  • Electronic design automation EDA software
  • Failure analysis software
  • Fast Fourier transform FFT analysis software
  • Field programmable gate array FPGA design software
  • Field programmable gate array FPGA logic synthesis software
  • Freescale CodeWarrior Tools
  • Hardware description and verification language
  • Hardware description language HDL
  • Integrated circuit simulation software
  • Internet search engine software
  • Logic synthesis software
  • LogicVision icBIST
  • M-Sim
  • MAGIC software
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Magma Design Automation Blast Create
  • Magma Design Automation Blast FPGA
  • MathWorks Simulink
  • MathWorks Simulink DSP Blockset
  • MathWorks Simulink Fixed-Point Blockset
  • Mathsoft Mathcad
  • Mentor Graphics BSDArchitect
  • Mentor Graphics Calibre
  • Mentor Graphics LeonardoSpectrum
  • Mentor Graphics Precision RTL
  • Mentor Graphics Xpedition xDX Designer
  • Microarchitecture simulation software
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Monte Carlo simulation software
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Operating system software
  • PARTHENON
  • PCI Express PCIe
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • Place-and-route software
  • Project management software
  • Register transfer language RTL
  • SKILL FMEA software
  • Schematic editors
  • Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE
  • SoftICE
  • Spreadsheet software
  • State diagram software
  • Synopsys Design Compiler
  • Synopsys HSIM
  • Synopsys HSPICE
  • Synopsys Hercules
  • Synopsys TetraMax ATPG
  • Synplicity Synplify
  • SystemVerilog
  • The MathWorks Real-Time Workshop
  • The MathWorks Signal Processing Toolbox
  • The MathWorks Symbolic Math Toolbox
  • The MathWorks Wavelet Toolbox
  • The Mathworks Control System Toolbox
  • The Mathworks Data Acquisition Toolbox
  • The Mathworks Embedded Coder
  • Timing analysis software
  • Tool command language Tcl
  • Verification software
  • Verilog
  • Very high speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL simulation software
  • Very high-speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL
  • Web browser software
  • Windows kernel debuggers
  • Word processing software
  • Xilinx ISE Foundation
  • Xilinx ModelSim
  • Xilinx Synthesis Technology XST

Tools & Equipment (45)

  • Alternating current AC power analyzers
  • Alternating current AC power sources
  • Bit error rate testers BERT
  • Circuit memory testers
  • Circuit testers
  • Color plotters
  • Communications analyzers
  • Communications signal analyzers
  • Computer scanners
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital analysis systems DAS
  • Direct current DC power supplies
  • Dynamic signal analyzers
  • Feeler gauges
  • Frequency counters
  • Function generators
  • Impedance analyzers
  • Inductance capacitance resistance LCR meters
  • Inspection scopes
  • Isolators
  • Laptop computers
  • Logic analyzers
  • Logic probes
  • Mainframe computers
  • Multimeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Pattern generators
  • Personal computers
  • Personal digital assistants PDA
  • Power sensors
  • Probe card devices
  • Probe stations
  • Protocol analyzers
  • Protocol exercisers
  • Pulse generators
  • Resistance meters
  • Sampling oscilloscopes
  • Signal generators
  • Signal source analyzers
  • Spectrum analyzers
  • Thermal chambers
  • Traffic generators
  • Universal source generators
  • Voltage sensors
  • Waveform generators

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

IT Support & Services Healthcare & Human Services

Zone 3
Computer Systems Engineers/Architects 92% match
Zone 4
Computer Hardware Engineers You are here

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