Computer Hardware Engineers

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.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Writing
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Active Learning
Judgment and Decision Making

Key knowledge

Computers and Electronics
Engineering and Technology
Design
Mathematics
English Language
Physics
Telecommunications
Education and Training

What the work involves

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.
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.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Investigative, Conventional.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (48.3% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (27.6%)
On-the-job training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (27.6%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Computer Hardware Engineers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Low	Lower on contact with others than 77% of occupations compared	34% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others”
Dealing with the public	Low	Lower on dealing with the public than 79% of occupations compared	45% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly important”
Teamwork	Moderate	Higher on teamwork than 57% of occupations compared	50% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important”
Freedom to make decisions	High	Higher on freedom to make decisions than 60% of occupations compared	66% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Low	Lower on time pressure than 66% of occupations compared	45% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week”
Conflict situations	Low	Lower on conflict situations than 68% of occupations compared	38% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Very low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 94% of occupations compared	61% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	Low	Lower on consequence of error than 67% of occupations compared	36% of surveyed respondents chose “Serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: low
Conflict situations: low
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
Consequence of error: low

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions