How to Be Embedded Hardware Designer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 5, 2021 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

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As the demand for smart technology increases, the need for embedded hardware designers increases as well. An embedded hardware designer is responsible for creating the hardware components that power devices such as computers, tablets, robots, and other electronic gadgets. They must have a deep understanding of computer architecture and electronics in order to develop efficient and reliable hardware solutions.

Without embedded hardware designers, businesses would not be able to produce the innovative products that are so important for today's economy. with advancements in artificial intelligence, embedded hardware designers are needed to help create the powerful chipsets and processors that will be the future of computing.

Steps How to Become

Earn a bachelors degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. This is the minimum educational requirement for becoming an embedded hardware designer.
Consider specializing in embedded systems during your studies, if possible. Taking courses in embedded software and hardware design, computer architecture, and digital signal processing can help you stand out in the job market.
Develop experience in the field. Many employers prefer to hire engineers with some experience in the embedded hardware design field. This can be acquired through internships or working as an assistant hardware designer.
Consider certification. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) offers several certifications specifically for embedded hardware designers, such as the Certified Software Design Engineer (CSDE).
Pursue advanced study. A masters degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering can help you stand out in the job market and increase your earning potential.
Look for job opportunities. Job postings for embedded hardware designers are available on job search websites and engineering-specific sites, such as IEEE Job Site. Networking with other engineers can also help you find job openings.

The role of an Embedded Hardware Designer is to design, develop, and optimize embedded hardware systems for a variety of products. This requires a combination of knowledge in computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mathematics to design and implement complex electronic circuits. The design process entails understanding user requirements, developing prototypes, and testing the hardware to ensure that it meets the required specifications.

The ideal Embedded Hardware Designer is someone with a solid understanding of electrical engineering principles, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with other engineers. Qualified candidates should also have a strong technical background, including experience with embedded hardware design, microcontroller programming, and experience with schematic capture and circuit simulation software.

You may want to check Industrial Hardware Technician, Embedded Hardware Engineer, and Mobile Device hardware Technician for alternative.

Job Description

Design and develop embedded hardware systems including board-level circuit design, schematic capture, and layout.
Analyze customer requirements and design appropriate solutions.
Develop embedded firmware for microcontrollers and other processors.
Validate system performance through debugging and testing.
Develop test plans and debug system issues.
Design and implement prototype hardware for testing and evaluation.
Write technical documentation for embedded hardware and firmware.
Research and recommend new components and technologies.
Work with customers to ensure proper system integration and performance.
Develop production test plans and procedures for new products.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of electrical engineering principles and circuit design
Knowledge of microcontroller and embedded systems architecture
Proficiency in developing embedded hardware design specifications
Experience with schematic capture and printed circuit board (PCB) layout tools
Knowledge of signal integrity and high-speed digital design techniques
Ability to debug and troubleshoot embedded hardware systems
Experience with embedded software development for microprocessors
Familiarity with common communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, etc. )
Understanding of safety standards and regulatory requirements (FCC, UL, etc. )
Experience in working with suppliers and vendors to source components and materials

Being an embedded hardware designer requires a unique set of skills in order to be successful. The most essential skill is the ability to design and create complex circuits. This involves understanding circuit theory, electrical components, and being able to troubleshoot any design issues that may arise.

A strong knowledge of coding and programming is also essential as designers must be able to write code to make the embedded system function as intended. understanding the various hardware interfaces between the system and other electronics is important. Finally, embedded hardware designers must have the ability to communicate their ideas effectively, both with their colleagues and customers.

These skills, when combined, help create an effective embedded hardware designer who can handle all aspects of the design process.

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) hardware Technician, Aerospace hardware Engineer, and Mechanical hardware Engineer are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in embedded hardware design?
What techniques do you use to manage the complexity of embedded hardware design?
How do you approach debugging embedded hardware designs?
What challenges have you faced in embedded hardware design?
What is your experience with circuit board assembly, testing, and troubleshooting?
Have you ever implemented FPGA or ASIC designs for embedded systems?
Describe your experience with various microcontroller architectures.
How do you ensure that the performance and reliability of an embedded system meet the requirements?
How do you ensure the security and safety of an embedded system?
What strategies do you use for time management when working on embedded hardware designs?

Common Tools in Industry

Circuit Design Tools. These tools are used to create digital and analog circuits including schematics, logic diagrams and printed circuit boards (PCBs). Examples include EAGLE, KiCad, and Fritzing.
Microcontroller Programming Tools. These tools are used to write code for microcontrollers. Examples include the Arduino IDE, Atmel Studio, and MPLAB.
Debugging Tools. These tools are used to troubleshoot and debug hardware and software issues. Examples include JTAG and In-Circuit Debuggers (ICDs).
Simulation Tools. These tools are used to test the behavior of circuits and systems. Examples include LTspice IV and PSpice.
Embedded Operating Systems. These are specialized operating systems that are designed for embedded systems. Examples include FreeRTOS and Ubuntu Core.

Professional Organizations to Know

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Open Compute Project (OCP)
ARM Connected Community
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Internet of Things Community (IoT)
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Computer Society (IEEE Computer Society)
Embedded Systems Conference (ESC)
International Test and Evaluation Association (ITEA)

We also have Hardware Architect, Mechanical hardware Technician, and Hardware Technician jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Embedded Systems. A type of computer system that is designed to perform specific tasks within a larger system. These systems are typically smaller than regular computers and are often embedded in other machines or devices.
Firmware. Software code that is embedded into hardware, such as a microcontroller, to provide functionality.
Microcontroller. A small computer on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip, usually with a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) peripherals.
PCB Design. The process of designing a printed circuit board (PCB), which is a board used to hold and electrically connect electronic components.
Schematic Design. The process of creating a schematic diagram, which is a graphical representation of a circuit's components and how they are connected.
Component Selection. The process of selecting components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors for use in an electronic circuit.
System Integration. The process of combining multiple components into a single system to achieve a specific goal or set of goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is an Embedded Hardware Designer? A1: An Embedded Hardware Designer is an engineer who designs, creates and tests hardware components for products with embedded systems. Q2: What skills are needed for this role? A2: An Embedded Hardware Designer must have knowledge of microprocessors, circuit design, signal processing, electronics and computer architecture. Q3: What kind of tasks do Embedded Hardware Designers do? A3: Embedded Hardware Designers are responsible for designing, creating and testing hardware components for embedded systems. This includes designing circuit boards, writing firmware, and debugging hardware/software issues. Q4: What type of job opportunities exist for Embedded Hardware Designers? A4: Embedded Hardware Designers can work in a variety of industries, such as consumer electronics, automotive, aerospace, medical, industrial and military. Q5: What qualifications are required to become an Embedded Hardware Designer? A5: To become an Embedded Hardware Designer, one must have a degree in electrical engineering or a related field and have experience in embedded system design. Additionally, a knowledge of programming languages such as C, C++ and Java may be beneficial.

Web Resources

Embedded Systems Hardware Design | UC San Diego Division of extendedstudies.ucsd.edu
Embedded Systems - UCSC Silicon Valley Extension www.ucsc-extension.edu
Embedded System Design: A Unified Hardware/Software Introduction esd.cs.ucr.edu