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Job Definition
View MovieResearch, 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.
Job Zone

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Interests
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Knowledge
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.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Skills
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.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Tasks
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.
Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
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.
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.
Wages

In 2008, the California average annual wage was $111,430.00.

Most people employed in this occupation were paid between $65,530.00 and $162,630.00.

Outlook

During 2006, there were approximately 21,400 people employed in this field in California. It is projected that there will be 23,700 employed in 2016. This occupation will have about 230 openings due to growth and about 660 replacement openings for approximately 890 total annual openings. This occupation .

Colleges and Training
Below are college programs that are generally associated with this occupation. To view colleges that offer these programs, click on the titles below.
Computer Hardware Engineering - A program that prepares individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development, and evaluation of computer hardware and related peripheral equipment. Includes instruction in computer circuit and chip design, circuitry, computer systems design, computer equipment design, computer layout planning, testing procedures, and related computer theory and software topics.
Similar Occupations
Computer Support Specialists - Provide technical assistance to computer system users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, via telephone or from remote location. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.
Mathematical Technicians - Apply standardized mathematical formulas, principles, and methodology to technological problems in engineering and physical sciences in relation to specific industrial and research objectives, processes, equipment, and products.
Electronic Drafters - Draw wiring diagrams, circuit board assembly diagrams, schematics, and layout drawings used for manufacture, installation, and repair of electronic equipment.
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians - Operate, install, calibrate, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary - Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis.
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers - Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines.
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment - Repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.
Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers - Develop programs to control machining or processing of parts by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems.
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