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Computer Hardware Engineers
Designs computer chips, circuit boards and devices.
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Computer hardware engineers design and test processors, memory, circuit boards, sensors and the devices built from them, from phones and cars to medical equipment and data centers. They work closely with software engineers.
Open the computer hardware engineer guide
The guide checks the courses against your plan, with things to try each year. Free account needed.
High school courses that build toward it
- Computer Science Principles · Computer Science
Builds computers and electronics, which this job uses.
- Engineering Design · Career and Technical
Builds engineering, which this job uses.
- Algebra I · Math
Builds math, which this job uses.
- Physics · Science
Builds physics, which this job uses.
- English 10 · English
Builds reading and writing, which this job uses.
- Studio Art · Arts
Builds design and technical drawing, which this job uses.
Ranked by how much the job relies on what each course teaches, from O*NET's knowledge ratings. Your school's own courses and the counselor have the final word.
Computer Hardware Engineers on O*NET OnLine · O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections 2025.