What Is Hardware Engineering?

Key takeaways

Hardware engineering plays a vital role in developing computers and devices. 

• The median annual salary for hardware engineers is $155,020 [1].

• Hardware engineers are specialized engineers who develop hardware components like circuit boards and central processing units (CPUs).

• You can start your path to becoming a hardware engineer by earning a bachelor's degree in a field like computer engineering. 

Delve deeper into hardware engineering, the job’s everyday responsibilities, and the skills you’ll need to begin in the industry. If you want to start building skills in software development to complement your hardware skills, try the IBM Back-End Development Professional Certificate, where you’ll have a chance to learn server-side scripting, deployment tools like Docker, and DevOps methodologies. 

Overview of hardware engineering

Several specializations exist for hardware engineers. Each presents slightly different responsibilities regarding the type of systems, hardware, and stage of the development process you can work with. 

For example, some hardware engineers work as test engineers, ensuring various hardware components work properly. In addition, hardware design engineers perform tasks such as prototype testing during the design phase when developing hardware components. 

Hardware engineers may work in different settings, including research laboratories or offices for computer hardware manufacturers. They can also work in organizations, like government agencies and health care providers.

What does a hardware engineer do? Tasks and responsibilities

Hardware engineers can have many responsibilities since roles include researching, designing, developing, and testing hardware components. Your tasks and responsibilities can include the following:

• Building and testing prototypes, including making different models using computer simulations.

• Making modifications to existing equipment and monitoring functions to ensure the equipment works as designed.

• Documenting the hardware development process, detailing the various specifications.

• Collecting, storing, and analyzing data relating to system capabilities and analyzing the specific needs of users. 

• Developing computer hardware components such as hard drives, circuit boards, and central processing units.

• Assisting with the integration of software and applications with hardware.

• Troubleshooting and providing technical support to team members.

• Providing supervision during the manufacturing process of hardware components.

• Performing research to stay up to date on industry advancements and new technology.

Read more: How to Write Test Cases: A Step-by-Step QA Guide

Hardware engineer skills

To succeed in hardware engineering, you need a skill set that includes technical and workplace skills, as you will likely work collaboratively as part of a team. 

You can build valuable hardware engineering skills by focusing on areas such as:

• Problem-solving

• Written and oral communication

• Analytical thinking

• Computer programming languages and software development

• System and engineering design

• Product development

• Circuit design

• Computer-aided design (CAD) platforms

Do hardware engineers need to know coding?

While most of the work done by a hardware engineer is using computing components, it does help to have programming skills in languages like C and C++ that communicate directly with circuit boards.

Education requirements

Employers typically require you to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a hardware engineering position. When choosing a course of study for your degree, your options may include information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a similarly related field. 

Sometimes, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have graduated from an ABET-accredited program. In other cases, employers may require you to have earned a master’s degree. According to employment data from Zippia, 17 percent of hardware engineers have gone on to earn a master’s degree, and 69.3 percent have a bachelor's [2]. 

Computer hardware engineer salary and job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the average yearly salary of computer hardware engineers is $155,020. The job outlook for this field is projected at 7 percent from 2024 to 2034, equating to approximately 5,600 openings each year [1]. 

Factors that can influence your earning potential in hardware engineering include location and your education level. The industry you work in can also impact your salary, with the automotive, technology, and telecommunications industries being amongst the highest-paying industries for hardware engineers. 

Hardware engineering jobs

Hardware engineering positions can have several different job titles depending on the area of specialization. These titles include:

• Hardware design engineer

• Server hardware engineer

• Electrical hardware engineer

• Design verification engineer

• Electronics engineer

• Principal engineer

• Contracting engineer

Hardware engineering vs. software engineering

Although hardware and software engineers both work with computers, the main difference between the two is that hardware engineers design and build a computer's physical components. In contrast, software engineers build software programs and applications. 

Essentially, the software provides instructions to a computer's hardware, enabling it to execute specific functions. Software and hardware depend on one another, as devices wouldn’t work without the proper operation of both. 

The education requirements for hardware and software engineers are similar, with both positions typically requiring at least a bachelor’s degree. Overlap also exists in terms of the skills possessed. Although hardware engineers mainly work on physical components, it's beneficial to cultivate your software development skills since hardware components work in conjunction with software. Doing so can allow you to ensure hardware components are compatible with software tools and applications.

How to get started in hardware engineering

If you want to become a hardware engineer, earning a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is a great place to start. You can also demonstrate your abilities to employers by earning a certification such as the following:

• Engineer in Training Certification

• IEEE Professional Software Engineering Master Certification

• Certified LabVIEW Developer

In addition to earning a certification, completing an internship can help you gain relevant experience while also providing an opportunity to network with professionals in the field. Entry-level positions also help you gain experience, including jobs such as an electrical engineer apprentice or hardware design assistant.

Explore our free resources for computer engineers

Looking for a way to stay connected to industry trends, career path insights, and networking opportunities? Then subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn. Explore our free resources for computer engineers:

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Entry-level Jobs You Can Get with a Computer Science Degree

• Hear from an expert: Meet the Engineer Strengthening His Leadership Skills | Coursera

• Study terms: Information Technology (IT) Terms: A to Z Glossary | Coursera

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