Computer Hardware Engineers - 17-2061.00

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.

Sample of reported job titles: Design Engineer, Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Hardware Design Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Network Engineer, Project Engineer, Senior Hardware Engineer, Systems Engineer, Systems Integration Engineer

Tasks

• 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.
• Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
• Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
• 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.

Technology Skills

• Analytical or scientific software - Cadence Dracula; SAS ; The MathWorks MATLAB ; Xilinx Synthesis Technology XST (see all 52 examples)
• Compiler and decompiler software - Cadence Encounter RTL Compiler
• Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD ; Cadence Virtuoso Layout Suite; Mentor Graphics Xpedition xDX Designer; PTC Creo Parametric (see all 17 examples)
• Data base user interface and query software - Database software; Microsoft Access ; Structured query language SQL
• Development environment software - C ; Microsoft Visual Basic ; National Instruments LabVIEW ; Verilog (see all 13 examples)
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Microsoft Visio
• Information retrieval or search software - Internet search engine software
• Internet browser software - Web browser software
• Object or component oriented development software - C++ ; Oracle Java ; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl ; Python (see all 6 examples)
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Operating system software - Cisco Systems IOS; Linux ; Shell script ; UNIX
• Pattern design software - Block diagram software
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Program testing software - Windows kernel debuggers
• Project management software
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Word processing software

Tools Used

• Brushless motor DC - Direct current DC power supplies
• Calibrated resistance measuring equipment - Resistance meters
• Capacitance meters - Inductance capacitance resistance LCR meters
• Circuit tester - Circuit memory testers; Circuit testers
• Desktop computers
• Digital testers - Bit error rate testers BERT
• Electronic measuring probes - Logic probes; Probe card devices; Probe stations
• Feeler gauges
• Frequency analyzers - Spectrum analyzers
• Frequency calibrator or simulator - Dynamic signal analyzers; Signal source analyzers
• Frequency counters or timer or dividers - Frequency counters
• General purpose motor AC - Alternating current AC power sources
• Heated walk in environmental or growth chambers - Thermal chambers
• Impedance meters - Impedance analyzers
• Integrated circuit testers - Digital analysis systems DAS; Logic analyzers
• Isolators
• Level generators - Pulse generators
• Magnifiers - Inspection scopes
• Mainframe computers
• Multimeters
• Network analyzers - Communications analyzers; Traffic generators
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers
• Oscilloscopes - Communications signal analyzers; Sampling oscilloscopes
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA
• Plotter printers - Color plotters
• Power meters - Alternating current AC power analyzers; Power sensors
• Protocol analyzers - Protocol exercisers
• Scanners - Computer scanners
• Signal generators - Function generators; Pattern generators; Universal source generators
• Voltage or current meters - Voltage sensors
• Wave generators - Waveform generators

Knowledge

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• 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.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• 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.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Interests

• Interest code: IRC
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Electronic Mail - 100% responded “Every day.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 73% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 86% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 64% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 77% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Telephone - 55% responded “Every day.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 50% responded “Extremely important.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 45% responded “Very important.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 59% responded “Some freedom.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 33% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Level of Competition - 41% responded “Highly competitive.”
• Contact With Others - 36% responded “Contact with others about half the time.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 50% responded “Important results.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 41% responded “Very important.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 43% responded “High responsibility.”
• Time Pressure - 32% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
68%	Bachelor's degree
27%	Master's degree
5%	Doctoral degree

Work Styles

• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Work Values

• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $55.35 hourly, $115,120 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 74,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Average (5% to 9%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 5,100