Information Technology

Computer Hardware Engineers

Also Known as: Hardware Design Engineer, Hardware Development Engineer, Digital Hardware Engineer, Electronic Circuit Design Engineer, Component Product Engineer

Average Earnings Over Time

$32/hr

$48/hr

Low

High

Salaries may vary per region

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.

Top Skills for this Job

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Speaking
Writing
Active Learning
Complex Problem Solving
Science
Judgment and Decision Making
Operations Analysis

Top Tasks for this Job

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