What does a hardware manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025

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Hardware manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real hardware manager resumes:

Manage employees and run cash registers.
Manage multiple PCB builds from initial protos to A0 and to production.
Manage a team that develop the XGEM Capture/Replay feature for 10G Ethernet.
Result achieve by reusing existing power and cables while installing new EMC DMX3 units.
Manage the regulatory approval process for all products including FCC, UL and CE.
Manage all endpoint moves adds and changes including PC's, phones, and mobile devices.
Set up simulation and verification environment for the FPGA system design.
Receive product approvals by UL, CSA, FCC, GLI.
Participate in ISO9000 ASIC design process development.
Research and purchase a suite of FPGA design/verification tools.
Price and recommend LAN and/or desktop hardware and software.
Investigate and select local venders to balance BOM cost and HW performance.
Sole hardware manager responsible for floor and office hardware and desktop support.
Develop strategy for online diagnostics and power-up sequence to boot into Linux.
Train HW teams in multiple sites both domestic and international on LTE technology.

Hardware manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 13% of Hardware Managers are proficient in RF, Customer Service, and Product Knowledge. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Analytical skills, and Communication skills.

We break down the percentage of Hardware Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

RF, 13%
Determined department budgets including lab expansion for RF and digital design, staffing, product prototyping and travel for certification support.
Customer Service, 13%
Supervised and trained department associates in all aspects of customer service and sales strategies to drive increased sales and customer retention.
Product Knowledge, 10%
Job Description: To manage the tool and Hardware departments including product knowledge, availability, merchandising and tagging of same.
CAD, 6%
Communicated on PCB design in an interdisciplinary group with other electrical, thermal, mechanical, and CAD personnel.
Design Reviews, 5%
Supported design reviews from design requirements through PCB layout and design verification.
Direct Reports, 5%
Set goals for direct reports as well as coach them to help them reach those goals.

Most hardware managers use their skills in "rf," "customer service," and "product knowledge" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential hardware manager responsibilities here:

Problem-solving skills. The most essential soft skill for a hardware manager to carry out their responsibilities is problem-solving skills. This skill is important for the role because "computer hardware engineers identify complex problems in computer hardware, develop and evaluate possible solutions, and figure out the best way to implement them." Additionally, a hardware manager resume shows how their duties depend on problem-solving skills: "served as key holding manager- opened and closed the store, resolved employee issues, and diffused customer service problems. "

Analytical skills. Many hardware manager duties rely on analytical skills. "computer hardware engineers use computer programming tools to analyze the digital circuits in hardware to determine the best design.," so a hardware manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways hardware manager responsibilities rely on analytical skills: "maintained quality service by enforcing 100% quality and customer service standards; analyzed and resolved quality and customer problems. "

Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of hardware managers is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday hardware manager duties, as "engineers often work on teams and must be able to communicate with other types of engineers, software developers and programmers, as well as with nontechnical team members." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "architected protocol stacks and developed internal asic cores for framing ip traffic over satellite communication links, dvb-s2. "

Most common hardware manager skills

The three companies that hire the most hardware managers are:

Microsoft5 hardware managers jobs
Apple4 hardware managers jobs
Greystar Real Estate Partners3 hardware managers jobs

Choose from 10+ customizable hardware manager resume templates

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Compare different hardware managers

Hardware manager vs. Verification engineer

A verification engineer is responsible for running quality tests to the production processes to ensure high-quality outputs according to business requirements and client specifications. Verification engineers develop testing methodologies, inspect tools and equipment, and creating instructional manuals. They also resolve inconsistencies within the process, calibrating technical mechanisms, and identifying areas of improvement to enhance efficiency and build accurate deliverables. A verification engineer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in monitoring progress and coordinating with clients for necessary plan adjustments.

If we compare the average hardware manager annual salary with that of a verification engineer, we find that verification engineers typically earn a $36,752 lower salary than hardware managers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both hardware manager and verification engineer positions are skilled in rf, fpga, and unix.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a hardware manager are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," "cad," and "design reviews." On the other hand, a job as a verification engineer requires skills like "python," "uvm," "architecture," and "object oriented programming." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Verification engineers really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $109,698. Comparatively, hardware managers tend to make the most money in the retail industry with an average salary of $118,711.The education levels that verification engineers earn slightly differ from hardware managers. In particular, verification engineers are 13.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a hardware manager. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Hardware manager vs. Design verification engineer

A design verification engineer is responsible for running diagnostic tests on project outputs and adjusting methodologies as needed to achieve high-quality deliverables according to clients' specifications and business requirements. Design verification engineers create efficient techniques to improve products and services by utilizing various system tools and applications. They also design engineering protocols by analyzing previous test designs and calibrating them with the team. A design verification engineer must have excellent technical skills, as well as highly-communicative and organizational, especially on meeting deadlines and working under minimal supervision.

On average, design verification engineers earn a $23,633 lower salary than hardware managers a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Hardware managers and design verification engineers both require similar skills like "rf," "pcb," and "fpga" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, hardware manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," "cad," and "design reviews." Meanwhile, a design verification engineer has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "uvm," "design verification," and "architecture." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, design verification engineers earn a lower salary than hardware managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, design verification engineers earn the most pay in the start-up industry with an average salary of $162,166. Whereas hardware managers have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $118,711.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Design verification engineers tend to reach higher levels of education than hardware managers. In fact, they're 16.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Learn more about hardware managers vs design verification engineers.

Hardware manager vs. Senior computer engineer

A senior computer engineer's main goal is to conduct research and design different types of computer hardware and software systems. They must know to manage servers and create automation in projects. They should also know how to resolve network issues and troubleshoot problems.

On average, senior computer engineers earn lower salaries than hardware managers, with a $13,250 difference per year.hardware managers and senior computer engineers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "rf," "cad," and "iso," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from hardware manager resumes include skills like "customer service," "product knowledge," "design reviews," and "direct reports," whereas a senior computer engineer is more likely to list skills in "c++," "c #," "infrastructure," and "perl. "

Senior computer engineers make a very good living in the retail industry with an average annual salary of $137,685. On the other hand, hardware managers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $118,711.Most senior computer engineers achieve a higher degree level compared to hardware managers. For example, they're 7.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Learn more about hardware managers vs senior computer engineers.

Hardware manager vs. Associate customer engineer

Associate customer engineers tend to earn a lower pay than hardware managers by an average of $36,372 per year.While both hardware managers and associate customer engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like iso, circuit boards, and unix, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "rf," "customer service," "product knowledge," and "cad" are skills that commonly show up on hardware manager resumes. On the other hand, associate customer engineers use skills like pos, troubleshoot hardware, laser printers, and servers on their resumes.The average resume of associate customer engineers showed that they earn lower levels of education compared to hardware managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 8.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.1%.

Types of hardware manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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