COMPUTER HARDWARE ENGINEER

                                      

2100 × 1584 - nasa.gov

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duties

• Maintain knowledge of computer engineering trends and new technology

• Design new computer hardware, creating blueprints of computer equipment to be built

• Oversee the manufacturing process for computer hardware

• Test the completed models of the computer hardware they design

• Update existing computer equipment so that it will work with new software

• Analyze the test results and modify the design as needed

REQUIRED TRAINING

Education

• Highschool Diploma

• Most entry-level computer hardware engineers have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Skills and Qualities

• Analytical skills – Computer hardware engineers analyze complex equipment and improve it

• Creativity – Design new tech devices

• Critical-thinking skills – Engineers use logic and decision making skills to solve problems

YEARLYSALARY

Lowest Median Highest$0

$20,000

$40,000

$60,000

$80,000

$100,000

$120,000

$140,000

Salary

Salary

• Lowest yearly salary is $40,330

• Median yearly salary is $76,270

• Highest yearly salary is $125,940

JOB OUTLOOK

• Employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2012 to 2022, slower than the average for all occupations. A limited number of engineers will be needed to meet the demand for new computer hardware because more innovation takes place with software than with hardware. Although declining employment in the manufacturing industries that employ many of these workers will negatively affect the growth of this occupation, computer hardware engineers should be less affected than production occupations because firms are less likely to outsource their type of work.

• An increase in hardware startup firms and the increase in devices with computer chips embedded in them such as household appliances, medical devices, or automobiles may lead to some job growth for computer hardware engineers

ENGINEERING ASSOCIATIONS

• National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) - This organization advocates for the needs of the professional engineering community and attracts professionals with a high degree of integrity. The NSPE promotes innovation, professional growth, teamwork and professional licensure for its members

JOB LISTING

• http://job-openings.monster.com/monster/4f8e4ede-cc8f-40f4-ae1a-b949170f81e4?mescoid=1700168001001#

CITAITIONS

• http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm#tab-4

• http://engineering.online.ohio.edu/news-and-resources/become-an-engineer-manager/top-10-engineering-associations/