Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Hardware Engineer
A Hardware Engineer is a professional who designs, optimizes and prototypes electronic hardware systems. They prepare technical documentation and perform design verification tests. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Hardware Engineers.
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Main Responsibilities of Hardware Engineer
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Hardware Engineer:
Analyze
Analyze performance of hardware / software systems.
Apply
Apply an understanding of high-volume manufacturing processes and materials to optimize designs.
Apply sound engineering principles to technical problems.
Apply technical competencies in somewhat difficult situations.
Assess
Assess and document current site network configuration and site-unique requirements.
Assess opportunities in terms of business attractiveness and make recommendations.
Assess software and hardware test results and analyse and determine final compliance status.
Assist in
Assist in coordinating builds and shipments to support the team and the customer.
Assist in the design and rapid prototyping process.
Assist in the development of any IP's or methods to ease the layout work .
Assist with designing new products and processes and improving and maintaining existing products.
Attend
Attend meetings, report progress, and take technical leadership to troubleshoot and fix defects.
Bring-up
Bring-up and debug of new hardware.
Build
Build and maintain relationships with procurement partners, printer partners and factory teams.
Build and maintains positive relationships with cross functional teams.
Capture
Capture the detailed design with schematic entry tools.
Carry out
Carry on Design Verification Tests (DVT).
Carry out integration trials with a customer.
Characterize
Characterize, verify and validate new ICs for new product integration.
Collaborate with
Collaborate closely with embedded hardware and software engineering teams.
Collaborate with engineering team to scope product functionality.
Collaborate with firmware resources and incorporate feedback into the development plan.
Come
Come up with novel solutions, working well with non-technologists and others.
Communicate
Communicate with contract manufacturers to optimize and troubleshoot production.
Complete
Complete work assignments in a timely efficient manner with a strong emphasis on technical accuracy.
Conduct
Conduct and minute peer reviews of cable design output through project workflow.
Conduct hardware functional and electric verification including signal integrity.
Contribute to
Contribute to development, testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Contribute to evolution of the SWEL (Software and Electronics) domain roadmap.
Contribute towards Company design procedures and corporate policies.
Coordinate
Coordinate station engineering needs and requests between operations and engineering.
Coordinate testing of the circuit.
Create
Create part footprint in conjunction with PCB Librarian.
Create Schematic and layout circuits at high speeds.
Create technical documentation (specifications, descriptions, manuals, .).
Design
Design electrical components and circuit boards for the embedded system.
Design products utilizing engineering principles.
Develop
Develop and document requirements for the Battery management system.
Develop and execute PCB diagnostics and bring-up.
Develop and maintain engineering design schedules and scope definitions.
Develop and report a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress.
Develop architecture, author PRDs, and lead RFQs for our new security portfolio.
Develop basic firmware drivers for validating new ICs.
Develop, design, simulate, and test a range of battery powered cellular devices.
Develop edge computing to include our proprietary security encryption.
Develop embedded software systems and device drivers in Rust or other low-level systems languages.
Develop functional tests to support quality assurance.
Develop hardware installation schedules.
Develop hardware schematic and PCB layout with Altium design.
Develop product and system level test plans for the verification / validation process.
Develop requirement definition aligned with the customer.
Develop technical solutions that focus on a positive user experience.
Direct
Direct and check the work of other hardware design engineers.
Direct mechanical engineering for Division products.
Document
Document electrical and mechanical subassemblies, internal processes, and meeting notes.
Document test plans, procedures, & test reports.
Drive
Drive a project and conduct a meeting to work with cross functional teams.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives.
Drive execution in testing process through test review and analysis.
Engage
Engage, mentor, support and motivate staff in their development.
Enhance
Enhance organisation dynamics by building and maintaining internal and external relationships.
Ensure
Ensure electrical design and documentation complies with medical safety and EMC / EMI standards.
Ensure hazards and risks are identified and controlled for within your area of responsibility.
Ensure low-noise performance of audio subsystem by good design practice.
Ensure programs are meeting quality and schedule commitments.
Ensure that all projects are delivered within scope, budget and time.
Ensure that preventative-maintenance procedures are followed.
Ensure that project goals and project objectives are met.
Establish
Establish goals and plans that meet project objectives.
Evaluate
Evaluate and optimize design in the lab to demonstrate design meets with system requirements.
Gather
Gather aircraft data and develop cockpit configuration CAD layouts.
Generate
Generate Engineering Change Notices to release / change drawings and parts lists.
Generate professional reports and make changes as necessary based on findings.
Guarantee
Guarantee the right product documentation in system.
Guide
Guide team to maintain high standards of hardware engineering practices in an Agile environment.
Help
Help drive product development by understanding Engineering tradeoffs and customer requirements.
Help facilitate production capabilities and processes.
Hire
Hire and retain a diverse, highly qualified staff and provides ongoing performance feedback.
Hold
Hold personal performance and team performance to an exemplary standard.
Identify
Identify design, development and support methods to improve efficiency.
Identify technical problems and provides innovative and creative solutions.
Identify and offer best solutions to complex hardware related issues.
Implement
Implement fixes and patches to assure test H / W stability and quality in HVM.
Improve
Improve and maintain our current design as well as help to create and design our next product.
Initiate
Initiate and co-operate in cost reduction, VAVE activities.
Interface with
Interface directly with the silicon vendors and continuously evaluate new technologies and costing.
Interface with OSP engineers to determine best course of action for cable repairs or relocates.
Interface with Firmware and Mechanical engineering teams to facilitate smooth integration.
Interface with suppliers and other functional teams within Lumentum, such as Product Engineering.
Investigate
Investigate and help reconcile any anomalies in model line-up or system performance.
Lead
Lead and help build consensus and work to bring out the best in other team members.
Lead Architecture / Design reviews.
Lead a team of hardware technician and engineer for all electronic projects of the company.
Lead high-level discussions on hardware development.
Lead projects, new product design or product upgrades.
Lead research and development initiatives ahead of program execution.
Lead teams through prototyping, design, validation and problem solving.
Lead technical excellence on engineering and business processes, key issues, and projects.
Lead the design and prototyping of new electronic hardware systems.
Lead the designs of new products and processes and improve and maintain existing products.
Lead work on design efforts by coordinating, monitoring, and mentoring staff.
Leverage
Leverage existing code from a prior generation system.
Liaise with
Liaise with vendors, reduce BOM costs, resolve supply chain issues.
Make
Make decisions or take actions that move items to closure without divisiveness.
Make suggestions on selection circuit platform, study and build platform for new products.
Manage
Manage a small team responsible for various RF and Antenna modelling within the system.
Manage existing products to ensure the product is meeting supply, quality, and cost requirements.
Mentor
Mentor less experienced professionals.
Modify
Modify and develop test hardware apparatus.
Modify and develop test scripts using Python.
Monitor
Monitor performance and reports status.
Optimize
Optimize the hardware design.
Oversee
Oversee and coordinate the development of Source Control Drawings for optical components.
Oversee product development execution in one or multiple product franchises.
Participate in
Participate in initial unit-level verification and subsequent handoff to the verification team.
Participate in numerical tool development, continuous maintenance, and improvement.
Participate in performance validation tasks after an issue has been identified.
Participate in the validation, development, and maintenance of optical simulation tools.
Perform
Perform competitive product analysis from the architecture and cost perspectives.
Perform equipment GR&R / MSA and resolve discrepancy.
Perform failure analysis and system analysis including the use of hardware debugging.
Perform statistical data analysis on large data sets to characterize and improve the product.
Perform testing of equipment and components in hardware integration test benches.
Prepare
Prepare and present design and analysis summary material during internal and external design reviews.
Prepare design and testing reports upon completion of tasks.
Prepare drawings documenting as-built configurations at each site.
Prepare engineering plans and site Technical Design Packages.
Prepare functional requirements and specifications for hardware acquisitions.
Prepare reports and studies concerning hardware.
Prepare Technical documentation for product design and production.
Prioritize
Prioritize and translate high level requirements into actionable milestones.
Produce
Produce all required design documentation to ensure manufacturability and ongoing technical support.
Produce budget estimates and review technical content of project proposals.
Produce team budget for human and material resources.
Promote
Promote personal and group interaction across the product team.
Propose
Propose and implement solutions (hardware and / or software) resulting in a more robust design.
Provide
Provide cable design effort estimates for project management stakeholders.
Provide coaching and mentorship for team members.
Provide direct front-line support to end-users (phone / Teams / Email / in-person).
Provide hardware-related assistance to Remote Support.
Provide input on project reports.
Provide mentoring and leadership to junior team members.
Provide simple technical documentation as needed.
Provide status reports to project managers and / or division production manager as required.
Provide technical support to internal sales, marketing, and production teams.
Read
Read and interpret Miss Utility tickets and compares to existing outside drawings.
Review
Review and assess supplier's airborne software and electronic hardware certification plans.
Review computer systems in terms of machine capabilities and human-machine interface.
Review engineering specs, IEEE Standards, & devise overall test strategy for new products.
Review mechanical drawings and collaborate to create successful electromechanical products.
Review work of others to ensure quality.
See
See designs through all aspects of the design phase.
Simulate
Simulate and optimize RF circuits, perform schematic capture, and oversee PCB layout.
Splice
Splice and test fiber optic cable in a field environment.
Streamline
Streamline existing test procedures and processes.
Support
Support Production team during NPI stages.
Support qualification activities.
Support sales and services team during new project onboarding.
Support the board layout activities and HW / SW integration activities.
Support Travel domestically or internationally.
Support validation during DV / PV testing.
Take
Take responsibility for PCB outline and layer setup.
Test
Test PCB overall electrical functions.
Troubleshoot
Troubleshoot complex electronics / firmware / software / mechanical issues in PIC burn-in systems.
Understand
Understand mechanical integration and environmental impact on circuit reliability.
Use
Use best business practices to ensure success in area of responsibility.
Use of CAD design tools for schematic entry and library creation (Cadence OrCAD preferred).
Use of lab test equipment while performing advanced electronic measurements.
Work with
Work as part of a multidisciplined design engineering team during the development.
Work closely with SW engineers to optimize design and debug products.
Work in sync with the purchaser to determine product specifications.
Work jointly through engineering design processes.
Work to strict project deadlines & maintain excellent timekeeping.
Work well, both alone and as part of a team.
Work with logistics personnel to develop, release, and maintain spares lists.
Work with the SW team to achieve an optimal balance between HW and SW requirements.
Work with wider teams to better define Optical System Performance.
Write
Write clean, understandable, robust, and sustainable code tailored for embedded systems.
Write equipment-qualification reports.
Write scripts using Perl, tcl, Cadence SKILL, and C.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Hardware Engineer:
Design
Manufacturing
Computer Engineering
Hardware Design
Schematic Capture
Troubleshooting
EMI
C
DFM
Analog
Debugging
IOT
Altium
Product Development
USB
Electronic Engineering
Ethernet
Hardware Engineering
Layout
Pcb Design
Schematic
Multimeters
Pcb Layout
Simulation
Component Selection
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Hardware Engineer:
Written and oral communication skills
Problem-solving attitude
Interpersonal skills
Organizational capacity
Analytical ability
Collaborative
Leadership
Flexible
Self-motivated
Team player
Adaptable to changes
Attention to detail
Multi-task
Creative
Detail-oriented
Organized self-starter
Presentation
Working collaboratively in a cross-functional team environment
Innovative
Time-management
