What does it take to become a Hardware Engineer at Intel?

Education Requirements for Computer Hardware Engineers

Starting a career as a computer hardware engineer generally requires a 4-year undergraduate degree in computer or electrical engineering, with hands-on experience in laboratory clinics as well as classroom-based seminars. Electrical engineering majors may offer concentrations in hardware engineering, while a computer engineering bachelor's degree program allows an aspiring computer hardware engineer to study both hardware and software applications, and how the two interact. Computer hardware classes include the study of circuit boards and their components, electromagnetics, digital design, microsystems design, embedded systems and computer networks.

Earning a master's degree gives a graduate advanced skills and the possibility of greater opportunity on the marketplace. Computer hardware engineers need strong skills in math, science, English and computers. Graduate students can choose to focus on areas such as network systems, parallel computing systems or machine vision systems. Coursework includes computer architecture, microprocessor systems, algorithms and computer organization. Students participate in computer labs and attend required seminars.

Education Requirements for Research and Development Careers

Computer hardware engineers who are interested in research can earn a doctoral degree in computer engineering, either as a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.). The doctoral program is designed for students who have a background in computer engineering or a related field. At the beginning of the program, a student chooses an area of concentration such as networking, machine intelligence or embedded systems hardware, which guides the curriculum for the classroom component of the program and the research direction for the doctoral dissertation.

Coursework includes embedded engineering, computer architecture, networks, and internet technology. Students study very large scale integration (VLSI), wireless networking and nanotechnology. The research portion of the program covers methodology, technologies for business and product development. Doctoral candidates must complete a dissertation and take part in practicums related to their dissertation.

Becoming a computer hardware engineer requires formal education in order to learn the complex systems involved in computer hardware. This is a great profession for anyone who loves working with computers, solving technical problems, and working with their hands.

Probably a good path would be electrical engineering. Or Nano-Engineering. Those two education paths would likely be very much of interest to the folks at Intel.