What You'll Do

  • Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
  • Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
  • Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
  • Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
  • Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
  • Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
  • Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
  • Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
  • Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
  • Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Active Listening 3.88/5
Writing 3.88/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.88/5
Active Learning 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.62/5
Operations Analysis 3.38/5
Systems Analysis 3.38/5
Systems Evaluation 3.38/5
Mathematics 3.25/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Analytical Thinking, Innovation, Initiative, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Oral Expression 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Information Ordering 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.88/5
Written Expression 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Apache Subversion SVN Application-specific integrated circuit ASIC logic synthesis software ASSET JTAG ScanWorks Autodesk AutoCAD Automatic test program generation ATPG Block diagram software Boundary scan description language BSDL Boundary scan insertion software Built-in self-test BIST debugging software C C++ Cadence Allegro PCB Designer Cadence Concept Cadence Dracula Cadence Encounter RTL Compiler Cadence Opus Cadence OrCAD software Cadence PSpice Cadence Schematic Composer Cadence Virtuoso Layout Suite

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.59/5)
  • Analytical Thinking (High importance: 4.52/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.1/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.03/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.97/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Analog Design Engineer Analog IC Design Engineer (Analog Integrated Circuit Design Engineer) Application Specific Integrated Circuit Design Engineer (ASIC Design Engineer) Application Specific Integrated Circuit Design Verification Engineer (ASIC Design Verification Engineer) Computer Designer Computer Engineer Computer Hardware Designer Computer Hardware Developer Computer Hardware Engineer Computer Installation Engineer Computer Tester Computer Vision Engineer Design Engineer Design Verification Engineer Digital Design Engineer Digital Hardware Engineer Electronics Engineer Embedded Hardware Engineer Engineer Field Service Engineer FPGA Design Engineer (Field Programmable Gate Array Design Engineer) FPGA Design Engineer (Field Programmable Gate Design Engineer) FPGA Engineer (Field Programmable Gate Array Engineer) Hardware Architect Hardware Design Engineer Hardware Development Engineer Hardware Engineer Hardware Systems Engineer Hardware Test Engineer Microchip Specialist Physical Design Engineer Project Engineer Staff Engineer Systems Integration Engineer