Research, design, develop, and 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.

Other names for Computer Hardware Engineers: Automation Engineer, Computer Architect, Computer Designer, Computer Engineer, Computer Installation Engineer, Computer Tester, Configuration Manager, Design Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Electronics Engineer, Engineer, Field Service Engineer, Hardware Engineer, Information Technology Consultant (IT Consultant), Microchip Specialist, Network Administrator, Network Engineer, Project Engineer, Software Engineer, Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE), Systems Engineer, Systems Integration Engineer, Telecommunications Engineer, Validation Engineer, Validation Specialist,

• 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, analyzing and recording 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 using 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.
• Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
• Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
• Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
• Provide training and support to system designers and users.
• Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
• Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
• Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
• Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.

• Power meters
• Low voltage alternating and direct current AC DC panelboards
• Digital testers
• Circuit tester
• Circuit tester
• Plotter printers
• Network analyzers
• Oscilloscopes
• Scanners
• Desktop computers
• Integrated circuit testers
• Low voltage alternating and direct current AC DC panelboards
• Frequency calibrator or simulator
• Feeler gauges
• Frequency counters or timer or dividers
• Signal generators
• Impedance meters
• Electrical inductance sensors
• Magnifiers
• Isolators
• Notebook computers
• Integrated circuit testers
• Integrated circuit testers
• Mainframe computers
• Multimeters
• Oscilloscopes
• Signal generators
• Personal computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers
• Power meters
• Electronic measuring probes
• Electronic measuring probes
• Protocol analyzers
• Protocol analyzers
• Level generators
• Calibrated resistance measuring equipment
• Oscilloscopes
• Signal generators
• Frequency calibrator or simulator
• Interferometers
• Heated walk in environmental or growth chambers
• Network analyzers
• Signal generators
• Voltage or current meters
• Wave generators

Project management software

Office suite software

Pattern design software

Word processing software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Information retrieval or search software

Development environment software

Object or component oriented development software

Program testing software

Compiler and decompiler software

Computer aided design CAD software

Analytical or scientific software

Internet browser software

Operating system software