Overview and Key Facts
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
$117,220
Job Growth
1.60%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2029
72,200
What Do They Do?
A computer hardware engineer could...
Develop portable storage devices to quickly transfer large amounts of data from one computer to another.
Develop a color printer that creates photograph-quality prints.
Engineer the world's fastest central processing unit (CPU) for PC's.
Design a fast video graphics card to enhance the look of video games.
Overview
Whether you are playing video games, surfing the Internet, or writing a term paper, computers are an integral part of our daily lives. Computer hardware engineers work to make computers faster, more robust, and more cost-effective. They design the microprocessor chips that make your computer function, along with the equipment that makes computing easy and fun to do.
Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Computer Hardware Engineer?
-
Reading Comprehension:
?
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
-
Critical Thinking:
?
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
-
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.
-
Speaking:
?
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
-
Writing:
?
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
-
Active Learning:
?
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
-
Complex Problem Solving:
?
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
-
Judgment and Decision Making:
?
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
-
Science:
?
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
-
Operations Analysis:
?
Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Core Tasks
Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Computer Hardware Engineer might do:
- Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
- Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
- Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
- Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
- Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
- Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
- Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
- Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
- Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
- 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.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
- Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
- Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
- Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
- Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
Salary & Job Openings
Steps to Get There: Becoming a Computer Hardware Engineer
Try it Out with an Activity or Project
On the Job
More Information
Please create a free account to view this career and access our full library of over 160 STEM careers.
Students
Teachers / Parents
With a free account you will have access to our full library of over 160 STEM careers. Each career profile includes detailed information to help you learn about a career and the requirements to get there. You can explore:
- salary information by state
- recommended high school coursework
- fun projects and activities to test out a career
- videos and interviews with professionals in the field
- details on what a day on the job is like