Colson-+computer+hardware+engineer

Computer Hardware Engine COMPUTER HARDWARE ENGINEERS: GEORGIA **Occupation Description** 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. Exclude "Computer Software Engineers, Applications" and "Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software".

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 * [[image:http://www.careerinfonet.org/careerimage/17-2061.00-1.jpg caption="Computer Hardware Engineers"]] || ** View career video with one of the following: **

 State and National Wages Wage Table Hourly Wage Chart  Yearly Wage Chart Period ||||||||||~ 2008 ||
 * ~ Location ||~ Pay
 * ^  ||^   ||~ 10% ||~ 25% ||~ Median ||~ 75% ||~ 90% ||
 * United States || Hourly || $28.45 || $36.66 || $46.83 || $59.02 || $71.44 ||
 * ^  || Yearly || $59,200 || $76,300 || $97,400 || $122,800 || $148,600 ||
 * Georgia || Hourly || $22.73 || $29.51 || $40.91 || $49.09 || $58.36 ||
 * ^  || Yearly || $47,300 || $61,400 || $85,100 || $102,100 || $121,400 ||

State and National Wages Wage Table Hourly Wage Chart  Yearly Wage Chart Period ||||||||||~ 2008 ||
 * ~ Location ||~ Pay
 * ^  ||^   ||~ 10% ||~ 25% ||~ Median ||~ 75% ||~ 90% ||
 * United States || Hourly || $28.45 || $36.66 || $46.83 || $59.02 || $71.44 ||
 * ^  || Yearly || $59,200 || $76,300 || $97,400 || $122,800 || $148,600 ||
 * Georgia || Hourly || $22.73 || $29.51 || $40.91 || $49.09 || $58.36 ||
 * ^  || Yearly || $47,300 || $61,400 || $85,100 || $102,100 || $121,400 ||

 **Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities** The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for **Computer Hardware Engineers**. **Knowledge:** **Skills:** **Abilities:**
 * **//Computers and Electronics//** - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 * **//Engineering and Technology//** - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 * **//English Language//** - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 * **//Telecommunications//** - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 * **//Customer and Personal Service//** - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 * **//Complex Problem Solving//** - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
 * **//Critical Thinking//** - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
 * **//Active Listening//** - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
 * **//Active Learning//** - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
 * **//Reading Comprehension//** - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
 * **//Oral Comprehension//** - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
 * **//Deductive Reasoning//** - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
 * **//Inductive Reasoning//** - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
 * **//Oral Expression//** - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
 * **//Problem Sensitivity//** - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
 * **//Written Comprehension//** - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

 **Tasks and Activities** Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for **Computer Hardware Engineers**. **Occupation Specific Tasks:**  > **Education and Training** > **Occupation:** Computer Hardware Engineers > **Most Common Educational/Training Level:** Bachelor's degree > **Related Instructional Programs:** Distribution of Educational Attainment
 * Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
 * Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
 * Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
 * Build, test, and modify product prototypes using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
 * Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
 * Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
 * Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
 * Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
 * Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
 * Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
 * Provide training and support to system designers and users.
 * Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.
 * Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
 * Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
 * Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
 * Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
 * Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
 * Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
 * Computer Engineering, General
 * Computer Hardware Engineering
 * ~ Occupation ||||||||||||||~ Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is ||
 * ^  ||~ Less than high school diploma ||~ High school diploma or equivalent ||~ Some college, no degree ||~ Associate's degree ||~ Bachelor's degree ||~ Master's degree ||~ Doctoral or professional degree ||
 * Computer hardware engineers || 0.3% || 6.3% || 12% || 9.9% || 43.2% || 23.7% || 4.7% ||
 * Engineers || 0.3% || 4.7% || 9% || 8.6% || 50.2% || 22% || 5.1% ||
 * Architecture and Engineering || 1.4% || 10.4% || 17.7% || 14.5% || 38.1% || 14.5% || 3.4% ||
 * Total, All Occupations || 10.7% || 27.6% || 20.6% || 8.9% || 19.4% || 8.3% || 4.5% ||

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