Computer Hardware Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A computer hardware engineer could...

Overview Listen to this section

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?

1. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
2. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
3. 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.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

6. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
7. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
8. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
9. Science: ? Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
10. 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.