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Computer Hardware Engineer

Engineering

Research, design, develop, or 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.

Electrical EngineeringComputer Science

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Update knowledge and skills to keep up with rapid advancements in computer technology.
  2. 2Design and develop computer hardware and support peripherals, including central processing units (CPUs), support logic, microprocessors, custom integrated circuits, and printers and disk drives.
  3. 3Confer with engineering staff and consult specifications to evaluate interface between hardware and software and operational and performance requirements of overall system.
  4. 4Build, test, and modify product prototypes, using working models or theoretical models constructed with computer simulation.
  5. 5Write detailed functional specifications that document the hardware development process and support hardware introduction.
  6. 6Test and verify hardware and support peripherals to ensure that they meet specifications and requirements, by recording and analyzing test data.
  7. 7Direct technicians, engineering designers or other technical support personnel as needed.
  8. 8Provide technical support to designers, marketing and sales departments, suppliers, engineers and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process.
  9. 9Select hardware and material, assuring compliance with specifications and product requirements.
  10. 10Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
  11. 11Analyze user needs and recommend appropriate hardware.
  12. 12Evaluate factors such as reporting formats required, cost constraints, and need for security restrictions to determine hardware configuration.
  13. 13Provide training and support to system designers and users.
  14. 14Monitor functioning of equipment and make necessary modifications to ensure system operates in conformance with specifications.
  15. 15Specify power supply requirements and configuration, drawing on system performance expectations and design specifications.
  16. 16Assemble and modify existing pieces of equipment to meet special needs.
  17. 17Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout, including type of computers and peripheral equipment modifications.
  18. 18Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, and humidity in area of system installation.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Engineer
  • FPGA Engineer
  • Staff Engineer
  • Computer Tester
  • Design Engineer
  • Project Engineer
  • Computer Designer
  • Computer Engineer
  • Hardware Engineer
  • Hardware Architect

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
PhysicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Computers and Electronics94%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Engineering and Technology93%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Mathematics83%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Design83%

    Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing

  • English Language76%

    English

  • Physics69%

    Physics

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicA little
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentRarely

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

18%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.98%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Aerospace Engineer

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

TVET

Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.

1–3 years

Related careers

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Computer Hardware Engineers

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org