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Computer Hardware Engineers design, develop, test and assist in the manufacturing of computer components, products and systems.   Computers are found in nearly all commercial, industrial, educational, health care, government and research setting. The work of Computer Hardware Engineers affects a vast segment of the world population.

NATURE OF THE OCCUPATION

Computer Hardware Engineers may:

Plan the system concept and the hardware needs for a particular computer product by analyzing the market needs and prepare a forecast which defines specifications, the technology to be used and the method, a sales plan and an initial financial product plan

Design the hardware architecture of the computer equipment being mindful of cost and technological considerations

Prepare detailed specifications and methods to interface computer products -the interaction between CPU and peripheral units (hardware) and between the operating system and user programs (software)

Fabricate and test a theoretical model of the computer product often using computer simulation, which provides the necessary programming instructions for its manufacture

Build working prototypes of the computer equipment

Test prototypes to determine their reliability and ability to be manufactured economically and with consistent quality

Discover and correct logic errors and other faults in fabricated prototypes prior to production

Install and monitor initial computer products at various test sites (pilots) to validate actual performance by outside users

Correct any faults reported by pilot users prior to the product being released for mass production

Test the product again after initial mass production to ensure that any fabrication faults are uncovered prior to release and shipping

Write documentation to accompany the computer product at delivery

Supervise workers and manage projects

Provide consulting services to business and industry

Write reports and articles for professional publication or books on an area of expertise

Teach at a college or university

CAD systems are central to the development process of computer equipment. The CAD system is the key tool in the development process because it:

Generates the logic circuit design (diagram), the mathematical equations representing how the product works and the hardware description language (HDL ) from which the product is built

Checks all the design rules (documentation practices, electrical rules resulting from technologies used, and geometric rules or physical spacing in packaging the hardware)

Completes a functional simulation of the design using a computer model to discover faults in the product before a prototype is built

Determines the most efficient routing (connections) between computer assemblies and the physical placement of devices and printed circuit boards

Communicates all of the design data to the manufacturing section

Produces test data for quality assurance using computer simulations

As a result, faster, more powerful and dependable computer equipment is available to the user after a short development cycle and at a significantly lower cost than traditionally engineered products.

The machines, equipment, and work aids used may include:

• Circuit testers and manual test equipment

• Logic state analyzers

• Reference books and manuals

• Schematic diagrams

• Computer programs (simulation programs, diagnostic programs)

• Computer workstations (with Internet Access)

• Cellular telephones & PDA's

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Computer Hardware Engineers may specialize in these areas:

003.061-010 DESIGN ENGINEERS research, develop and design electrical components, computerized equipment and systems for commercial, industrial and domestic purposes.

003.167-018 ELECTRICAL DESIGN ENGINEERS design computer hardware equipment and products, performing duties as described under the Design Engineer.

033.167-010 SYSTEMS ENGINEERS analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout for types of computers and peripheral equipment or modifications to existing equipment and system.

003.061-042 DIAGNOSTICS ENGINEERS plan, develop and conduct tests on electronic components, products and systems. May develop or use computer software and hardware to conduct tests on electronic products and systems.

003.061-014 TEST ENGINEERS conduct tests on electrical equipment and systems.

003.261-018 HARDWARE INTEGRATION ENGINEERS design layouts for integrated circuits according to engineering specifications using Computer assisted design (CAD) equipment and software. May review and analyze engineering design schematics and supporting documents.

007.061-038 HARDWARE INTEGRATION ENGINEERS (Applications Engineer) plan, design and coordinate integration of machinery and equipment into manufacturing process if industrial establishment, applying knowledge of engineering and programming and using computer precision, and measuring instruments and drafting tools. Develop and write equipment specifications, performance requirements, cost analysis and proposal for integrating machinery and equipment.

003.061-034 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS design and develop electronic components, equipment, systems and products, applying knowledge and principles of electronic theory, design and engineering.

012.167-042 MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS ENGINEERS plan, direct and coordinate manufacturing processes in industrial plants. May develop, evaluate and improve manufacturing methods. They analyze and plan work force utilization, space requirements and workflow, and design layout of equipment and work space for maximum efficiency.

There are many areas of hardware development currently being researched. These technologies should lead to more complex, powerful computer systems in the future. Some of these technologies include:

PARALLEL PROCESSING is a computer architecture in which several processors work on different parts of a task simultaneously. This type of array is used where processing speed is more important than cost. Parallel processing applications include weather forecasting, geology, plasma and nuclear physics.

NEURAL NETWORKS are artificial neural nets (ANN) which involve the development of digital, analog and hybrid systems that mimic the behavior of the biological brain. It is a parallel processing computer system capable of learning and which can train and program itself to perform a task. It is used in applications such as robotics, medical diagnosis, image processing and pattern recognition.

FUZZY LOGIC is a mathematical technique for dealing with imprecise data and problems that have many solutions rather than one. Fuzzy logic recognizes "maybe" or "perhaps" rather than conventional logic which only recognizes "yes" or "no". Using hardware architecture such as analog circuits and parallel processing, fuzzy logic can be used for applications in medical systems for signal and image processing, in manufacturing systems for the sequential movements of multi-jointed robot arms or in economics for estimating interest and currency exchange rates.

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following Career Exploration Scripts:

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Computer Hardware Engineers work closely with other engineers, technicians, scientists and top-level managers. They often function as part of a team, but occasionally some of their work is done independently. Computer Hardware Engineers usually work in offices that are comfortable, well lighted and air conditioned. They may also spend time in well equipped laboratories, manufacturing facilities, classrooms or customer worksites.

Computer Hardware Engineers usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. Evening and weekend work may be necessary to complete projects. Additional time may also be spent studying technical journals, attending seminars or taking training in order to keep up with changing technology affecting the field. Out-of-town travel may be necessary for Computer Hardware Engineers who work as consultants.

Computer Hardware Engineers may join professional organizations such as the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or the Association for Computing Machinery. Members pay annual dues.

The State of Michigan requires a license for this occupation.  Click here for "Michigan Licensed Occupations," see Engineer, Licensed Professional for specific licensing information.

Some employers currently require drug testing as a condition of employment.

You Should Prefer:

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature

• Activities which require creative imagination

• Activities dealing with things and objects

• Activities relating to processes, machines and methods

You Should Be Able To:

• Think logically in a clear and organized manner

• Perform a variety of duties which may change often

• Plan/direct/control an entire activity and the activities of others

• Work within precise limits or standards of accuracy

• Compare/see differences in size/shape/form of objects/lines/figures

• Understand and use high level mathematics

• Analyze and solve problems based on accurate information

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

Find two functions implicitly defined by the equation x^2�1=0

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

In a more complicated multi processor system for real line applications, the system is contained in several digital hardware units, for both programmable and special purpose processors.

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a written analysis, proposal and definition of all hardware and budget requirements.

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Should be able to demonstrate excellent analytical skills and be detail oriented to plan system concept for theoretical models and other hardware requirements.

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORT UNITIES

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond high school) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond high school) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond high school) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in this Career Exploration Script:

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

0700 CAREERS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1200 ELECTRONICS , 2200 MATH, 3300 TECHNOLOGY

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this Career Exploration Script.

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

053 ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Programs in Electrical and Electronics Engineering provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for professional leadership in applying the principles of Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Fields of application include electronics, automatic control, power utilization, communications, and computers. Electronics Engineers function as researchers, developers, designers, and inventors.

Courses within this program will vary from school to school but may include:

058 ENGINEERING (PRE-PROFESSIONAL)

Pre-Engineering Programs provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills required for admission to professional engineering colleges.

Many Michigan colleges and universities offer programs which may satisfy the prerequisites for admission to engineering schools. Students should contact the engineering schools of their choice for admission requirements and consult their school's pre-professional adviser to ensure that admission prerequisites will be met.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

The most common requirements for entering a community college are a high school diploma, or GED, or being at least 18 years old and completing application forms. In addition, entering a college or university may require graduation from high school in a college preparatory program, a grade point average acceptable to the school to which you apply, and passing entrance examinations.

215 COMPUTER SCIENCE

Programs in Computer Science provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed in a wide variety of jobs dealing with the programming, analyzing, and operation of computers and other electronic and mechanical equipment. Individuals who teach Computer Science at the secondary school level must have a Michigan Teaching certificate.

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

      Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeship Programs related to this Career Exploration Script

***MILITARY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES***

Please check the Military website at http://www.myfuture.com.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS

The military services use computers to store and process data on personnel, weather, finances, and many other operations. Before any information can be processed, computer systems must be set up, data entered and computers operated. Computer systems specialists ensure information is entered, stored, processed, and retrieved in a way that meets the military services needs.

What They Do

Computer systems specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

• Identify computer user problems and coordinate to resolve them

• Install, configure, and monitor local and wide area networks, hardware, and software

• Compile, enter, and process information

• Provide customer and network administration services, such as passwords, electronic mail accounts, security, and troubleshooting

Helpful Attributes

Helpful school subjects include typing and computer science. Helpful attributes include:

• Interest in work requiring accuracy and attention to detail

• Ability to communicate effectively

• Interest in working with computer equipment

Training Provided

Job training consists of 7 to 13 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty. Course content typically includes:

• Use of computer consoles and peripheral equipment

• Computer systems concepts

• Planning, designing, and testing computer systems

Work Environment

Computer systems specialists work in offices or at computer sites on military bases or aboard ships.

Physical Demands

Computer systems specialists may sit and key information for long periods.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian computer systems specialists work for wide variety of employers, such as banks, hospitals, retail firms, manufacturers, government agencies, and firms that design and test computer systems.   They perform duties similar to those performed in the military. They may also be called network support technicians, computer operators, or data processing technicians.   Most civilian computer systems specialists require a four-year college degree.

Opportunities

The services have about 24,000 computer systems specialists.   They need new computer system specialists each year.   After job training, computer systems specialists are assigned to work under the direction of experienced computer systems officers. With experience, they may become managers of computer facilities.

   E-Learning Courses and Programs

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

It is difficult to explore the computer engineering field with a summer or part-time job because of the technical expertise required in this occupation. Postsecondary programs in computer engineering plus work study and internships offer opportunities to explore this field.

Cooperative education programs in engineering are available through various departments and agencies of the federal government.   Most employers require a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, computer science or electrical engineering as the minimum level of education for Computer Hardware Engineers.

             School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships

mentorships

job shadowing experiences

touring a local Computer Hardware Engineer employer

internships

volunteer work with a Computer Hardware Engineer employer

community service work with an agency

Computer Hardware Engineers enter their fields through direct application to employers, taking civil service exams, consulting want ads in newspapers, contacting college placement offices, or reading job notices in professional journals or magazines such as ComputerWorld. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:

          You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Computer Hardware Engineers depend on the engineer's experience, capabilities, job responsibilities, and education, and on the type, size, and location of the employing organization.

Nationally, recent college graduates of bachelor's degree programs in Computer Hardware Engineering were offered starting salaries averaging $54,877(early 2006).   Those with master's degrees averaged $63,050. The median yearly earnings of "all" workers in the U.S. were $33,852 in 2005.

Depending on their college records, Computer Hardware Engineers with bachelor's degrees and no experience were hired by the federal government at $36,029or $43,068 a year; with master's degrees, $43,068 or $50,773; and with doctorates, $56,812 or more per year (2006). The salaries of these federal employees may be higher in some urban areas.

Computer Hardware Engineers' annual average salaries in early 2006 were:

*Some Computer Hardware Engineers receive bonuses and consulting fees

Salaries for Computer Hardware Engineers in Michigan are comparable to national salaries.

Depending on the employer, fringe benefits for Computer Hardware Engineers usually include paid holidays, vacations, and sick leave; group health, life and disability insurance; pension plans; profit sharing and stock ownership plans; and tuition reimbursement. Some employers may offer paid sabbatical leaves.

Computer Hardware Engineers start out as supervised trainees. Some companies have programs or rotations to acquaint new engineers with industrial practices or engineering specialties. Advancement may come through promotion or increased earnings or benefits.

Engineers usually advance to positions of greater responsibility after gaining experience. Graduate study is becoming increasingly important for advancement. Those with suitable experience may become designers, technical sales representatives, managers, administrators, researchers, or chief Engineers. Others may become consultants or teach in colleges and universities.

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

There were approximately 76,500 Computer Hardware Engineers employed nationally in 2004.   Employment is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2014.   The industry distribution for Computer Engineer looked like this:

Strong demand for computer and telecommunications equipment, particularly semiconductors (simply, the on/off switch or transistor) and network servers (link computers together) will drive employment growth for Computer Hardware Engineers. Over the past two decades, the semiconductor industry suffered from boom or bust business cycles, as demand waned or exploded for a few particular products.

Today, and for the next decade, a steady need for more powerful microprocessors may exceed the domestic market's ability to produce the needed "chips". There is presently a shortage of wafer-fabrication plants in the United States which is being addressed by limited building of new facilities and through mergers and acquisitions of existing facilities. The need for chips in personal computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, and related electronic products will keep demand for Computer Hardware Engineers high.

During the past decade, industry has moved away from mainframe computers in favor of the personal computer or microcomputers. With a personal computer on virtually everyone's desk, the focus is again returning to large computers that can do the work for many people simultaneously. These are known collectively as network servers. They can range in size from a powerful personal computer, through mainframes or even supercomputers. The development of powerful microprocessors using parallel processing techniques that are being constantly upgraded, should provide steady employment growth for Computer Hardware Engineers.

Although the concentration of Computer Hardware Engineers occurs geographically on both coasts of the United States, particularly the Silicon Valley of California and the Northeastern states, other significant large companies are located in the Midwest, Arizona, Texas and the Carolinas. However, because of the Internet connectivity throughout the United States, employment opportunities are currently less tied to particular geographic regions.

There are about 950 Computer Hardware Engineers employed in Michigan. Most Computer Hardware Engineers worked in urban areas including the Detroit metropolitan area and Ann Arbor, many in support of the automotive industry, either for the major automotive manufacturers or their key suppliers. In the services industry, most worked as computer consultants to businesses installing or modifying their computer systems. Some worked for manufacturers of transportation equipment utilizing computerized components and controls.

Employment of Computer Hardware Engineers in Michigan is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. An average of 30 openings is expected annually, with 10due to growth and 20due to replacement of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations. Employment opportunities will occur in computer device development particularly for applications in motor vehicles, technical design consulting services to industry and product development for very large system integration (VLSI) hardware applications.

MICHIGAN 'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2012  

MSA designates a Metropolitan Statistical Area.

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFO RMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from the sources below.

  Copyright © 2006 Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth