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Computer Engineers have a broad range of career opportunities, and their skills are in high demand across many industries.
The information provided below explains and provides examples of the different roles/responsibilities and career pathways that Computer Engineering students may take after receiving their degree.
Computer engineers can work in a variety of industries and sectors, including:
Technology companies: Many computer engineers work for technology companies that design, develop, and manufacture computer hardware, software, and other high-tech products.
Computer hardware and software companies: Computer engineers can also work for companies that specialize in designing and manufacturing computer hardware and software, such as Intel, IBM, and Microsoft.
Research and development organizations: Computer engineers may work for research and development organizations, such as government agencies or private research labs, where they can help develop new technologies or improve existing ones.
Aerospace and defense industries: Computer engineers may work for aerospace and defense companies that develop software and hardware for military and civilian applications.
Automotive industry: Many automotive manufacturers and suppliers rely heavily on computer engineers to design and develop the software and electronics that control modern vehicles.
Healthcare industry: With the increasing use of technology in healthcare, computer engineers may work for hospitals, medical device manufacturers, or healthcare technology companies to develop and improve medical equipment and software.
Financial industry: Computer engineers may work for financial institutions to develop and maintain banking and financial systems, including trading platforms, risk management systems, and other financial software.
The job responsibilities of computer engineers can vary depending on their specific role, industry, and company. However, here are some typical responsibilities that computer engineers may have.
Design and develop computer hardware and/or software: Computer engineers may be responsible for designing and developing computer hardware or software, from concept to implementation. This could include designing circuit boards, writing code, testing and debugging software, and working with other engineers to integrate systems.
Maintain and improve existing systems: Computer engineers may also be responsible for maintaining and improving existing computer systems, including hardware, software, and networks. This may involve troubleshooting issues, implementing upgrades, and identifying areas for improvement.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Computer engineers often work closely with other teams, such as software developers, hardware engineers, and project managers, to develop and implement new systems and technologies.
Stay up-to-date with emerging technologies: As technology continues to evolve, computer engineers need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and emerging technologies. This may involve attending industry conferences, reading research papers, and experimenting with new tools and techniques.
Document and communicate technical information: Computer engineers must be able to document their work and communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders. This could include writing technical reports, creating presentations, and providing training to other team members.
Overall, Computer Engineers play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining the computer systems that power our modern world. Their job responsibilities are varied and often require a mix of technical skills, creativity, and collaboration.
Embedded Systems are computer systems that are built into devices or products that are not traditionally considered to be computers. They are designed to perform specific tasks and are often integrated into devices or products to provide a specific functionality. Here are some examples of embedded systems:
Home appliances: Many home appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and coffee makers, contain embedded systems. These systems control the operation of the appliance and enable it to perform its specific functions.
Automobiles: Modern automobiles contain many embedded systems, including those that control the engine, braking, steering, entertainment and navigation systems, and safety features such as airbags and backup cameras.
Medical devices: Many medical devices, such as pacemakers, blood glucose monitors, and imaging equipment, contain embedded systems. These systems are critical to the functioning of the device and can help improve patient care and outcomes.
Consumer electronics: Many consumer electronics, such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, contain embedded systems. These systems enable these devices to perform specific functions and interact with other devices and networks.
Industrial control systems: Many industrial control systems, such as those used in manufacturing, energy, and transportation industries, contain embedded systems. These systems are used to control and monitor equipment and processes, and can help improve efficiency, safety, and productivity.
Overall, embedded systems are critical components in many devices and products that we use every day, and they play an important role in our modern world.
Smart TVs: Smart TVs contain embedded systems that enable them to access the internet, stream videos, and run apps. These systems are typically based on a combination of hardware, such as processors and memory, and software, such as operating systems and user interfaces.
Smart speakers: such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, contain embedded systems that enable them to respond to voice commands, play music, and interact with other smart home devices. They are built with microcontrollers, digital signal processors, and wireless communication modules.
Fitness trackers: Fitness trackers, such as Fitbit and Garmin, contain embedded systems that enable them to track physical activity, monitor vital signs, and provide feedback on health and fitness goals. They are built with a combination of sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules.
Home security systems: Home security systems, such as Ring and Nest, contain embedded systems that enable them to detect intruders, monitor activity, and provide alerts to homeowners. These systems are based on a combination of sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules.
Gaming consoles: Gaming consoles, such as PlayStation and Xbox, contain embedded systems that enable them to run video games, interact with online gaming communities, and provide multimedia entertainment. They include processors, memory, and graphics chips.
Digital cameras: Digital cameras contain embedded systems that enable them to capture and store images, and provide a range of features and settings, such as image stabilization, autofocus, and exposure control. They have a combination of processors, sensors, and memory.
Smartwatches: Smartwatches contain embedded systems that enable them to track physical activity, provide notifications, and interact with other devices, such as smartphones and headphones Smartwatches have a combination of microcontrollers, sensors, and wireless communication modules.
Smart home devices: Smart home devices, such as smart thermostats, smart lights, and smart locks, contain embedded systems that enable them to communicate with other devices and perform automated tasks. These systems are typically based on a combination of microcontrollers, wireless communication modules, and sensors.
Portable media players: Portable media players, such as iPods and MP3 players, contain embedded systems that enable them to store and play music, videos, and other digital media. These systems are typically based on a combination of processors, memory, and storage.
E-readers: E-readers, such as Kindle and Nook, contain embedded systems that enable them to display and store digital books, and provide features such as adjustable fonts and built-in dictionaries. These systems are typically based on a combination of processors, memory, and display technologies.
What career pathways are available for Computer Engineering graduates?
Computer Engineering graduates work as Hardware Engineers in multiple roles
| Role and Responsibilities | Company or Organization with similar job offering(s) |
|---|---|
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Role: Register Transfer Level (RTL) Design Typical Job Responsibilities: A computer engineer helps in the verification and lab bring-up of advanced mixed-signal circuits. Typical skills sought in these positions include knowledge of chip architecture/microarchitecture, front end pre-silicon design flow, RTL design/coding, logic design, Verilog/System Verilog, low power design, timing/power/performance analysis, C/C++. |
Apple Intel AMD |
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Role: Modeling/Performance Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: A computer engineer writes code for modeling and performance modeling for GPUs, CPUs, SoCs and other model infrastructures. Typical skills sought in these positions include C++ scripting; Python modeling for H/W verification, workloads, correlation, and analysis. |
Nvidia Apple |
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Role: Power/Battery Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: In this role, computer engineers bring and develop innovative solutions in the industry given their electronic circuit design/development experience for microcontroller-based systems. Typical skills sought in these positions include knowledge of inter-module communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, etc.) and familiarity with embedded systems. |
Apple Amazon Microsoft |
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Role: Embedded Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: In Embedded Engineering, computer engineers make up a significant portion of the Silicon Validation and Productization teams. Embedded engineers develop, port, release, maintain, and enhance software to enable large scale testing of devices for high-tech companies such as Apple’s and TikTok. Computer engineers integrate existing test software between environments, enhance test software to exercise functional blocks, implement device libraries to aid in the portability of device drivers, and bring up low-level code on new SoCs. Embedded engineers focus on various aspects of the chip including feature validation (video, audio, display, etc.), IP validation, performance testing, micro-controller code, and low-level software. C/C++ is the primary coding language (with some ARM Assembly) and Python is the primary scripting language. |
Apple TikTok |
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Role: Platform Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: In these roles, computer engineers work as either FPGA or Emulation engineers who build prototypes on FPGAs, build emulation models, and perform emulation on each yet-to-be-built chip with the primary goal of debugging. Typical skills sought in these positions include knowledge of FPGA tool flow, Verilog, C/C++/assembly, Python/Perl/Tcl, and debugging. |
Xilinx Texas Instruments Apple |
Computer Engineering graduates work as Embedded Systems Engineers
| Role and Responsibilities | Company or Organization with similar job offering(s) |
|---|---|
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Role: Embedded Systems Engineers Typical Job Responsibilities: Participate in the definition of architecture and implementation of designs in consumer products for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). Analyze, design, develop, and debug firmware for a wide variety of AR and VR consumer devices, including novel sensing and imaging systems and audio prototypes. Support all phases of hardware development - including early architecture requirements definition for custom silicon, firmware architecture, implementation, simulation, FPGA debug, chip bring up and support systems and software teams on algorithm development on validated. |
Meta Apple |
Computer Engineering graduates work as Hardware/Software Engineers in the Tech Sector
| Role and Responsibilities | Company or Organization with similar job offering(s) |
|---|---|
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Role: Hardware/Software Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities:
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Microsoft Amazon Intel |
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Role: Software Engineer - Cross Platform Typical Job Responsibilities: Computer engineers work closely with product teams to build innovative and performant cross-platform applications. Computer engineers design, implement, maintain and improve the architecture of cross-platform applications. They analyze and optimize system performance, improve code quality and efficiency. |
TikTok Meta |
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Role: Analog Hardware Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: Computer engineers participate in development of acquisition modules for imaging systems, create requirements documentation, specify schematic block diagrams with data, control, clock and power paths, and develop the PCBA board test plan. Computer engineers develop detailed digital designs from concept through implementation, design test benches and develop simulation tests for the board being developed. Computer engineers work with software engineers to integrate designed boards into the final system. |
Phillips Intel Texas Instruments Analog Devices |
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Role: Hardware Development Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: Computer engineers design and build components for Amazon's fleet of complex computing systems supporting deep machine learning and mission critical enterprise workloads. They solve systemic hardware issues and build hardware and software systems to detect and mitigate future recurrences so as to improve customers’ experience while providing the highest quality of service possible. Computer engineers maintain hardware and systems that improve how Amazon detects and remediates issues. |
Amazon TikTok Meta
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Computer Engineering graduates work as Hardware/Software Engineers in the Aviation and Aerospace Sectors
| Role and Responsibilities | Company or Organization with similar job offering(s) |
|---|---|
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Role: Embedded Flight Software Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: Computer engineers create tools supporting development and testing of avionics system, participate in all hardware/software development life cycle activities including requirements, architecture, design, implementation, and testing. They collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams of electrical, mechanical, aerospace and systems engineers. |
Blue Origin SpaceX Boeing |
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Role: Real-Time Software/Hardware Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: An Electrical Engineer is responsible for the power circuit design, simulation, validation, and characterization of a highly complex consumer electronic device; evaluate and enable innovative solutions for cost, size, efficiency, safety, and reliability; generate design documentation, perform schematic capture and power delivery network simulation, both pre and post board layout, prototype bring-up and design validation; solve technical issues during new product development and in field escalations; characterize power consumption, battery runtime, battery charging/discharging curve at each build; and collect power measurements for weekly SW builds and drive every mA of power out of the system cross-functionally. |
Boeing Blue Origin SpaceX |
Computer Engineering graduates work as Computer/Hardware Engineers in the Defense and Commercial Sectors
| Role and Responsibilities | Company or Organization with similar job offering(s) |
|---|---|
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Role: Computer/Hardware Engineer Typical Job Responsibilities: Computer engineers assess computer processing architectures, technologies, and protocols for any computational platform/capability. They design algorithms that run on hardware components including electrical equipment, digital processing hardware (ASIC, CPLD, FPGA), circuit boards, microprocessor systems, computer system architectures and interfaces. Computer engineers develop innovative solutions in the areas of memory management, computer architecture, or binary analysis. They can also analyze network protocol implementation, vulnerabilities, and concepts. Computer engineers develop embedded security architecture and designs based on system level requirements. |
L3Harris Technologies Intel AMD TSMC |
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