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System hardware engineer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer,

Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical system hardware engineer skills. We ranked the top skills for system hardware engineers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.1% of system hardware engineer resumes contained system design as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a system hardware engineer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 system hardware engineer skills for your resume and career

1. System Design

System design refers to the electronic structural component of a system.

Here's how system hardware engineers use system design:

Provided software system requirement specification, system design, system implementation and system testing for next generation cellular system.
Planned and developed specifications for trunk gateway system design and authored technical requirement specifications within scope and schedule.

2. RF

Here's how system hardware engineers use rf:

Designed, qualified and developed improved assemblies, modules and components for MRI imaging system RF and computer systems.
Conducted Antenna subsystem testing to verify antenna RF transmit and receive path operation.

3. Analog

An analog system refers to a system that uses continuously variable signals.

Here's how system hardware engineers use analog:

Designed ECL, TTL, CMOS, and Analog boards.
Designed analog and digital Mother boards, I/O peripherals from electrical engineering schematics and documentation using PCB Artist design software package.

4. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how system hardware engineers use linux:

Installed Windows Enterprise Server and other Operating Systems (OS), SUSE LINUX, in VMWARE ESX.
Experience working with Linux (SLES9/SLES10 - Novell), Unix (NCR MPRAS) and multiple Windows operating systems.

5. Debugging

Here's how system hardware engineers use debugging:

Perform engineering verification testing and debugging of updated products using digital oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and assorted basic test equipment.
Authenticate software specifications and validate game rules as described within supplied documentation using either an in-circuit emulator or debugging program.

6. Circuit Design

Circuit Design is the process of designing how an electrical circuit will be constructed. These designs can be used to create complex electrical systems or smaller systems with individual circuits integrated within a transistor. Simpler systems may only require a single designer, whereas larger and more complex designs require entire teams dedicated to the design and construction.

Here's how system hardware engineers use circuit design:

Circuit design for test systems, lighting suppression, voltage and current emulators and custom battery charge/ discharge system.
Completed Circuit Design Builds in Granite for all newly created links Project-Media Gateway-ReDesign for Pacific Northwest Markets.

7. PCB

The PCB (Printed Circuit Board) refers to the hardware part housing all of the device's electrical connections.

Here's how system hardware engineers use pcb:

Worked on creating schematics and worked closely with PCB layout engineer in designing an ultra-low form factor board.
Realized multiple causes of Hot-plugging one PCB assembly would cause resident PCB assembly to reboot.

8. I2C

12C is a cloud-based database provided by Oracle and it's the first of its kind coming from the company. It's a high-performance database for enterprises with a multitenant framework that allows for seamless consolidation without having to enforce changes in the applications used.

Here's how system hardware engineers use i2c:

Developed the I2C communications interface enabling computer controlled in-field optical transceiver debug and reconfiguration.
Designed and developed an I2C controlled RapidIO thermal load card.

9. Design Reviews

A dеѕіgn review іѕ a mіlеѕtоnе wіthіn a рrоduсt dеvеlорmеnt рrосеѕѕ іn whісh a design іѕ evaluated bаѕеd on іtѕ rеԛuіrеmеntѕ. Thе рurроѕе of dеѕіgn rеvіеwѕ іѕ tо examine thе overall design or a ѕресіfіс аѕресt оf a dеѕіgn аt еасh ѕtаgе of the development оf a nеw оr еxіѕtіng рrоduсt.

Here's how system hardware engineers use design reviews:

Traveled to the United Kingdom in support of UK TTWCS design reviews and training sessions.
Conducted hardware design reviews with both vendor and internal team participation.

10. Ethernet

Ethernet refers to a system that connects a series of computers in a local area network (LAN). This is often done through ethernet cables, which plug into a router or other port in the modem in addition to the computer port. As ethernet connects only a local network, there are more protocols regarding how information is transmitted.

Here's how system hardware engineers use ethernet:

Created specifications for customized tier architecture and configured Ethernet and Wireless Network protocols.
Performed trade studies to select COTS equipment, such as Port Servers, Ethernet switches and Routers.

11. SOC

SOC stands for "System and Organization Controls" report, which is conducted by a third-party auditor independent from the company being reported on. An SOC report demonstrates that a company is acting ethically, which may lead to more retained clients.

Here's how system hardware engineers use soc:

Specialized in logic synthesis/physical design for SoC and microprocessors.
Evaluated system level performance on a SoC including audio qualification and wireless performance.

12. HW

Here's how system hardware engineers use hw:

Defined/documented all aspects of security HW architecture and micro-architecture specifications and the internal HW functional blocks descriptions and interfaces.
Executed HW engineering support and testing required for mainframe data library product development in support of v1.0 and v2.0 product releases.

13. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how system hardware engineers use dod:

Developed the first DOD Tri-service DMSMS Subject Matter Expert (SME) requirements/certification process.
Participated in a DOD technology demonstration evaluating the effectiveness of conductive gaskets.

14. Visualization

Here's how system hardware engineers use visualization:

Supported Defense Intelligence Agency in using Advanced Visualization tools for analysis and strategic/crisis planning.
Apply CT scanning techniques as a creative approach to non-destructive analysis and post-processing volume visualization for presenting key findings.

15. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how system hardware engineers use troubleshoot:

Design, configure, implement, manage, maintain and troubleshoot SAN fabric, data storage provisioning, migrations and growth.
Design, configure, implement, manage, troubleshoot and improve Windows server and desktop environment patching and application deployment packaging.

What skills help System Hardware Engineers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on system hardware engineer resumes?

Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer

Professor and Chair, Xavier University

Programming languages, numerical design and simulation tools, knowledge of various measurement equipment.

What soft skills should all system hardware engineers possess?

Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer

Professor and Chair, Xavier University

Communication, teamwork.

What hard/technical skills are most important for system hardware engineers?

Dr. Heidrun Schmitzer

Professor and Chair, Xavier University

Depends on the engineering career, but in general, an ability to know how to use design software, measurement/testing, and analysis equipment, in addition to prototyping and fabrication tools

What system hardware engineer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Galen Duree

Head of the Department of Physics and Optical Engineering and Professor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

It again depends on what the graduate sees as their next step - graduate school or a job with a company or lab. If the next step is graduate school, the graduate should investigate what they are interested in pursuing and then where the best school is to get the experience that the graduate thinks he or she wants.

General reading about technologies or reading available articles about subjects the graduate is interested in will help generate questions they can ask potential graduate schools. This time would also be a chance to improve areas where the graduate may feel weak while an undergraduate. Many online resources can help them brush up on week background topics. Do not worry about transfer credits because that is usually not helpful in graduate school, but improve knowledge and experience in areas where the graduate feels weak. If the graduate has identified a graduate school and program to study in, the graduate school might have some recommendations about what to review. All of this will help improve success in graduate school.

If the next step is a job with a company or lab, taking courses to improve communication will help. Many technically competent or even technically brilliant people struggle with effective communication. Techniques about writing reports, making oral presentations, or communicating technical information will help improve success. The gap year also provides time to investigate technologies that the graduate wants to be involved in and the companies or labs in those areas.

Once the graduate has identified areas of interest and companies or labs that the graduate might want to work for, they can be contacted to either answer questions or point the graduate in a direction for further investigation.

In either case, a gap year can provide a chance to refine the graduate's choice for the next steps and help them prepare other skills overlooked during the undergraduate years.

What type of skills will young system hardware engineers need?

John Ring

Director Engineering Outreach, Elon University

While our universities consistently educate engineering students with hard skills and strong engineering fundamentals, tomorrow's engineers need to be strong communicators, collaborators, and critical thinkers. Our professional environments are filled with data and information, and the constraint is typically how much time individuals can dedicate to solving a problem. At Elon University, we educate tomorrow's engineers to have the hard skills necessary to analyze the information and situations, apply critical thinking techniques to determine ways to solve the issue, and then concisely and efficiently communicate with colleagues as solutions are being set in motion.

Do you want to know more?

List of system hardware engineer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a system hardware engineer resume and required skills for a system hardware engineer to have include:

System Design
RF
Analog
Linux
Debugging
Circuit Design
PCB
I2C
Design Reviews
Ethernet
SOC
HW
DOD
Visualization
Troubleshoot
Aerospace

C
C++
Bluetooth
GPS
PCIe
FPGA
Failure Analysis
Perl
CPU
SPI
CAD
Embedded Systems
Engineering Support
USB
I/O
Technical Support

Unix
ASIC
Signal Integrity
Hardware Architecture
PC
RTL
Control Systems
DSP
Test Procedures
API
Mac
Circuit Boards
Power Management
Switches

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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