Profession computer hardware engineering technician

Computer hardware engineering technicians collaborate with computer hardware engineers in the development of computer hardware, such as motherboards, routers, and microprocessors. Computer hardware engineering technicians are responsible for building, testing, monitoring, and maintaining the developed computer technology.

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Personality Type

• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Hardware architectures

  The designs laying out the physical hardware components and their interconnections.

• Hardware components

  The essential components that make up a hardware system, such as liquid-crystal displays (LCD), camera sensors, microprocessors, memories, modems, batteries and their interconnections.

• Design drawings

  Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.

• Hardware testing methods

  Those processes in which hardware components or systems are tested, such as the system test (ST), the ongoing reliability test (ORT), and the in-circuit test (ICT).

• Computer engineering

  Engineering discipline that combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering occupies itself with electronics, software design, and the integration of hardware and software.

• Hardware platforms

  The characteristics of the hardware configuration required to process the applications software product.

• Electronics

  The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.

• Circuit diagrams

  Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.

• Hardware materials

  The characteristics, applications and environmental effects of materials used to develop hardware.

• Computer technology

  Computers, computer networks and other information technologies and equipment that can store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data.

Skills

• Liaise with engineers

  Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.

• Adjust engineering designs

  Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.

• Read engineering drawings

  Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.

• Prepare production prototypes

  Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.

• Install hardware

  Assemble the necessary hardware components, such as the motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), hard drive, disk drive, power supply unit, RAM, PCI card, mouse, keyboard, cameras and other necessary components to build the computer device. Attach the components manually using screwdrivers or use assembly machines and install the wiring.

• Fasten components

  Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.

• Record test data

  Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.

• Meet deadlines

  Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.

• Test hardware

  Test computer hardware systems and components using appropriate equipment and testing methods, such as the system test (ST), the ongoing reliability test (ORT), and the in-circuit test (ICT). Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.

• Inspect quality of products

  Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.

• Assist scientific research

  Assist engineers or scientists with conducting experiments, performing analysis, developing new products or processes, constructing theory, and quality control.

• Align components

  Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.

• Read assembly drawings

  Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB