Computer Hardware Engineer
A computer hardware engineer’s job is to design and develop faster, more powerful and more efficient computer hardware components and peripheral devices. Memory chips, CPUs and graphics cards and are just a few of the many pieces of a computer’s hardware that they will work on. A few examples of peripheral devices that engineers frequently redesign are keyboards, scanners and printers. These components (and devices) require constant improvement because there is always a demand for smaller, more powerful computing devices and more complex computer systems and networks. Computer hardware engineers are involved with every stage of the development process – from a component’s initial design, to the testing and manufacturing processes and finally integrating it into a computer system. The courses they take during their degree and their basic set of skills are very similar to those of an electrical engineer, but they work exclusively with computer hardware and devices that interface directly with computers.
Job Description
Computer hardware engineers work in offices and laboratories that maintain the climate conditions required by the various components and devices they work with. They work standard 40 hour weeks, but projects in computer related industries tend to have tight deadlines so 60+ hour weeks are not uncommon. That being said, the job often includes significant portions of time for researching new technologies and testing prototypes that could be used for future projects. Engineers who provide consulting services to other companies travel frequently to their client’s offices. The most talented and experienced engineers will find themselves flying across the country and even internationally to provide their consulting services. The remainder of their working time is spent attending seminars, reading technical research papers and going to conferences to keep up with the constantly changing field of computer hardware.
Education and Training Requirements
Most of the positions in the field require at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. However, the occasional entry-level position is awarded to someone who has previous computer-related experience and/or a solid understanding of all the components that make up a computer and how they interact with each other. In order to be promoted from the entry level positions and work as a Professional Engineer (P. Eng), you must have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering which requires at least 4 years of study at a college or university with an accredited engineering program. Some engineer’s will also complete a Master’s degree or PhD in engineering to further advance their knowledge and skills.
During a Bachelor’s degree, an engineer receives instruction in both classroom and laboratory environments. The classroom lectures provide a basic understanding of the mathematical and scientific theory behind a concept and the lab sessions demonstrate how that theory applies to real world applications. A computer engineer will initially take a variety of hardware and software related courses to learn how the two sides interact. Digital circuits, microprocessors, computer architecture, algorithms and computer programming are just a few of the courses that are required or offered as electives. In the last two years of the degree, they decide to specialize in either hardware or software engineering.
A computer hardware engineer must have an intricate knowledge of all of the components that a computer is made of and how they are integrated and interact with each other. In addition to their study of hardware, the most successful engineers regularly practice writing programs and applications in order to keep their software skills up to date. Attending additional training and courses involving design techniques and the use of specialized design and modelling software is an excellent way to strengthen your resume and get ahead of the competition. If you are interested in being promoted to a management or administration role then it is important to take business courses that cover topics such as leadership principles, strategic planning and accounting. It goes without saying that a strong background in math and physics and the ability to speak fluent English are absolutely necessary to become a licensed engineer in the field.
Hardware Engineer Salary
The average starting salary for a graduate of a Bachelor of Engineering program is $62,000. A computer hardware engineer’s average starting salary is one of the highest of any university or college degree, especially considering that the degree only requires 4 years of study. This is because there is an extremely high demand for both computers and computing devices to be smaller and faster. The average salary is just over $102,000 according to a study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2010. This translates to an average wage of $49 per hour.