Monday, October 23, 2000		Article

Hardware route to much hard cash
by Sumesh Raizada

There is a mad rush today among students and working executive from various disciplines and industries, towards lucrative IT jobs. While, most of the courses and jobs that are being offered relate to computer programming, Web designing and e-commerce, there is another field where qualified and trained professionals are in demand. This highly technical important and indispensable computer field is that of hardware engineering.

The Internet boom has created several new users for PCs, like housewives, children and students. PCs are also used in large numbers in commercial establishments, shops, offices, government departments, educational institutes, hospitals, industrial installations and financial institutions. All these have contributed significantly to the rising sale of branded as well as assembled PCs. Job opportunities for hardware engineers, who design computers and related equipment or those involved in their maintenance and repairs are expected to grow at a faster rate.

Globally, there is an acute shortage of qualified hardware professionals and with the rise in PC population, demand for them should further proliferate. The computer hardware is usually referred to as central processing units (CPUs), a machine on which a user runs an operating system and application software, memory and storage devices. Various peripherals and input / output devices, like modems, keyboard, mouse, printers, which are attached to the CPU, may also be considered as hardware devices. Career opportunity in the field of hardware engineering can be broadly classified into two categories, mainly as hardware engineer and maintenance engineer.

Computer hardware engineers are professionals who are involved in design and development of analog and digital circuits, microprocessors, computer architecture and telecommunication network. Hardware engineers are responsible for creating and designing electronic devices that are ultimately utilised in industry, institutions or at home. Hardware engineers work in the computer hardware, consumer electronics, semiconductor, and telecommunications industries.

This is a research-oriented job and persons with background in electrical, electronics or computer engineering are employed for it. In some industries, services of postgraduates or Ph.D., in Physics or mathematics may also be utilised. Hardware engineers have to be continuously updated with the latest developments and scientific research in the related field.

They need to have good communication as well as interpersonal skills and work in close liaison with software developers and other team members. Success or failure of a particular product is dependent upon them. Software programs are prepared to run on the system designed by these persons.

Most of the qualified electrical or electronic engineers are employed and trained by the respective organisations depending upon the requirement. Some qualified and experienced hardware engineers’ work as independent consultants also.

They are in great demand in Silicon Valley and in organisations like IBM, Intel, Sun Microsystems, Compaq, HP, Xerox, Dell Computers. Indian companies like HCL, Wipro, also employ their services for product development. Salaries drawn by these professionals are enormous and may reach up to a couple of lakhs per month (Indian Rupees), within a few years of gaining experience. These professionals may also be referred as product engineer, quality assurance engineer, design engineer and technical leader.

Computer support and maintenance engineers are the second career opportunity related to hardware engineering. These are equally important for any organisation as software or design personnel. These people interact directly with the end-users or customers and are involved in pre-sales and after-sales services of computers. They may also be referred as technical support engineer, field engineer and PC technician.

Considering the vast utility and application of desktop PCs, and as all users are not necessarily aware of hardware aspects, these persons are required almost everywhere for fixing computer-related problems. Many organisations have a staff of desktop or computer technicians for attending complaints of end user. With computers in banks, offices, educational institutions and hospitals, where computers are mainly used as a tool, PC technicians are required to troubleshoot and test the hardware, software, and network problems.

They undergo a specialised technical training in the diagnosis and repair of the computer hardware components; microprocessor and memory upgrades, power supply, and input/output (I/0) devices. They have a thorough understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, and the interface of peripheral devices such as the printer, mouse, keyboard, and monitor. With a huge market of assembled computers in India, these professionals are in great demand in the assembling, repairs and sometimes sale of computer hardware.

They also work independently, setting up a business of their own. While firms dealing in sales and services of computers might employ qualified hardware or computer engineers, those working for unorganized PC industry or in banks, schools, offices or hospitals, may be simple graduates with a certificate course in computer hardware. The learning for them is mostly through on-job training. Companies, like Compaq, HP, HCL, Wipro, which sell directly through their vast dealer networks, employ hardware or customer support engineers, for installation and after sales maintenance of computers. There is no limit of earning for these professionals.

Computer hardware, computer architecture and digital design are courses undertaken by computer scientists, engineers and science graduates. It enables students to understand how computers are constructed and how they work.

While most of the computer colleges provide an exposure on hardware components, as part of their curriculum, some institutions provide regular certificate courses of year duration and above, specifically on hardware engineering. The IBM is one such multinational organisation, which provides a diploma in hardware maintenance, and its students are exposed to the latest technology that is available worldwide.

Another institute of repute is ISCT, which conducts hardware and networking course. Students learn about basics and fundamentals of electronics, PC organisation, input / output devices, CPU, power supply, add-on-cards, preventive and corrective maintenance, customer interactive skills, network operations and trouble shooting. The CMC, a central government organisation, which is for last several years associated with computer maintenance and repairs, also conducts variety of computer-related courses. Several foreign institutes also conduct diploma and degree courses in computer hardware, support and maintenance.

These certification courses helps student in installing, configuring and upgrading computer hardware and software, diagnosing and troubleshooting computer problems. The skills gained in this course are intended to provide a broad base for individuals looking for employment in computer maintenance and support field. Candidates appearing for these courses should have strong analytical and mathematical skills.

Major foreign universities and colleges providing courses in computer architecture, design and organization are Arizona state, Cornell university, Harvard university, Michigan State University, MIT, Oregon State University, University of California, University of Massachusetts, University of Illinois, besides others.

Several books and CDs are also available in the market, which provides a readable, classroom-based knowledge of the computer hardware and related topics, giving a broad overview of the subject. These books and CDs that are written or edited by the experts and experienced persons of the industry, keeps the learner regularly updated. Online courses conducted by some of the foreign universities, also helps in understanding of the subject. There are various consultants and agencies worldwide, especially in USA that help in recruitment and training hardware professionals.

Those interested in getting high-salaried hardware jobs can search through the Web sites of these agencies or those of blue chip companies in Silicon Valley. Some companies are now utilising services of software engineers in the hardware field. This approach works in the short term because in hardware engineering an individual has to think and act beyond logical approach, a task that is sometimes more complex than simple programming.

Every day, we witness hundreds of new products with advanced microprocessors, PC boards, input or output devices, made possible by these professionals. Even though, people may be running around for software-related career, demand for hardware professionals shall always remain in computer industry.