Computer Engineering Jobs Overview
Do you like working with computers, including everything from hardware systems to software programming? Find an exciting, engaging career in computer engineering that lets you put your skills to work. Computer engineering jobs involve designing and operating the components of a computer.
You can do everything from building circuit boards in a manufacturing facility to creating firmware for a new computer product. In addition to being an interesting blend of math, science, and creativity, computer engineering is also a reliable, dependable position. It's a full-time job with stable hours in a comfortable office or lab environment.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer engineering has a growth rate of 5%, and roughly 5,300 new openings develop each year. As a computer engineer, you'll be in high demand in technology, electronics, manufacturing, and government industries.
Salary
Computer engineering jobs pay a higher-than-average salary. The median wage for computer engineers is $128,170. Some may make as much as $208,000 or as little as $77,000.
If you want to earn a high salary, it's important to choose your employer carefully. Research and development jobs pay the most. Other high-paying related industries include computer manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and computer systems design. Many of the biggest salaries for computer engineering jobs are offered in California cities like San Jose and Oakland.
Interested in seeing how much you can make as a computer engineer? Check our salary calculator to find out more.
How to Find Jobs That Fit You
Computer engineering jobs come in all shapes and sizes, so it's easy to customize your job search. If you want the perfect job that suits your personality, career goals, and lifestyle needs, follow these tips.
Know Your Own Strengths and Weaknesses
Knowing yourself — including where your strengths and weaknesses lie — is an essential part of finding the right job. Consider how your experience has prepared you for the job market and think about what you still need to learn.
Here are some of the most important skills that employers look for in a computer engineer:
- Technical skills, such as coding, programming, and software development knowledge.
- Communication and being able to work well within a team.
- Creativity and problem-solving abilities, especially when debugging or developing alternative solutions.
- Adaptability to new technologies and a willingness to learn.
Carefully Review the Job Description
Be sure to read the job listing from top to bottom. Pay close attention to details like wages, work schedules, and job responsibilities. Keep in mind that some employers will be more flexible with remote computer engineering than others.
Take note of all of the qualifications. Some listings may require experience with specific front-end technologies, such as JavaScript, HTML5, TypeScript, or CSS3. On the other hand, many employers require a degree in a related field but offer more on-site training.
Research the Company
Instead of just going off the information in the job listing alone, learn about the company. Research their website to see if their values and goals match your own. It's also helpful to learn about their reputation and see what other employees say about the work environment.
Think Long-Term
It's easy to get caught up in immediate questions like, "Will the salary let me save for vacation?" However, you should also consider your future.
Think about whether the job fits into your career goals and see whether it will prepare you for further advancement. Look for jobs that offer opportunities for promotions and career movement.
Applying for Computer Engineering Jobs
Applying for computer engineering jobs requires you to stand out from other candidates. Do this by customizing your application.
Instead of using the same strategy for every job, make sure to read the job description and make an application that emphasizes you have the key skills the employer is looking for. With a little time and effort, you can craft an excellent application.
Create an Excellent Resume
Your resume is your chance to leave a lasting impression on the hiring manager. To make sure they're fully aware of why you'd be a great candidate for a job, follow these tips:
- Scan the job listing for keywords like "Cognex EasyBuilder," and include those keywords in your resume.
- Keep your resume short, and include only relevant details.
- Consider using the Monster Professional Resume Service to get the perfect resume.
- Emphasize knowledge of popular hardware and software like Keyence, Matrox Design Assistant, or Basler.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Position
You're a computer engineer, not a novelist, so the idea of writing a cover letter may sound scary. However, the truth is that they're not too tricky. You just need to simply, clearly state who you are, why you want the job, and why you'd be a valuable asset. For inspiration, check out this software engineer cover letter example. It includes the applicant's technical expertise and programming language knowledge, so the company can see why they're a good fit.
Fill Out the Application
The final step is the simplest one of all. Monster makes it fast and easy to apply for computer engineering jobs. You can create an account with just your name and email address. Then, go to the job posting you're interested in and click "Apply."
We'll guide you through filling out your profile and sharing all relevant details. Once you double-check your application and submit it, the employer has everything they need to make a decision.
The Importance of Following Up
After applying, don't forget to follow up if you haven't heard back in about a week. Following up gives you a great chance to ensure your resume doesn't get lost in a pile of similar submissions. It also gives the person looking at applications a chance to provide you with feedback or ask for more information about your qualifications.
When applying for computer engineering jobs, you might not necessarily have a phone number you can call. Instead, consider sending an email to the hiring manager or HR team. For example, this sample follow-up letter shows how to politely emphasize your interest.
Interviewing for Computer Engineering Jobs
If you've written an excellent resume and crafted a great cover letter, it's more likely that you'll land an interview. Here are some ways to make your interview go as smoothly as possible.
Plan Ahead for Your Interview
It's rare for "winging it" to be a successful strategy for computer engineering jobs. This field values precision and thoughtfulness, so show you took the time to prepare for your interview.
Before the interview, look up the company and learn more about what they do. Prepare some questions about the company, and think about the types of questions they might ask. These are a few possible inquiries from hiring managers:
- Why do you want to be a computer engineer?
- Explain how you overcame a difficult debugging or troubleshooting task.
- What are the programming languages you know best?
- Talk about a project that you successfully completed.
- What are your specialties in software development?
Don't forget to brush up on your skills, too. Most computer engineering jobs include technical portions. Look at the job description to get an idea of what skills you need to practice. For example, if it mentions you need to know Java, make sure to go over these common Java interview questions beforehand.
What to Expect During the Interview
Computer engineering interviews can take quite a while. Many companies recruit in multiple rounds. They may start with a virtual interview and then schedule the next round in person.
Computer engineering interviews include some basic questions to learn about you and see if you'd be a good fit. You'll need to be polite and friendly while still showcasing the fact that you're smart and motivated.
Your interview will usually include software or technical questions as well. You may need to solve a few problems, troubleshoot an issue, or discuss a project.
Computer Engineering Interview Tips
Here are some other helpful points to consider before your interview:
- Don't stress if you don't know the answer to a technical question the interview asks. Be honest about it, and instead bring up similar experiences you’ve had to show how you would approach the issue.
- If you have past experience, try to work in concrete references to how you saved time or money for your past employer.
- Look up interview methods like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) to give you a framework for handling each question.
- Computer engineering interviews usually aren't formal, but check to see if there is an office dress code. At a minimum, wear slacks or a skirt, nice shoes, and a button-down shirt.
- Within 24 hours, send a thank-you note via email.
- Follow up if you don't hear back within a week. Always remain polite and professional.
How to Handle Job Offers
If everything goes well, you could end up with a job offer. This is a very exciting event, but you still need to approach it thoughtfully.
Most computer engineering companies will send you a formal, written job offer. However, some may pick a more casual approach like an email or a phone call. When you get the offer, you don't need to decide right away. Most job offers will tell you how long you have to reply, or if they don't, you can usually take 24 to 48 hours to think about it.
When considering a job offer, take a close look at the salary and benefits. Make sure it meets industry standards, and do some brief calculations to see if it covers the cost of living in your area.
You also need to carefully examine the required duties to see whether you feel comfortable performing them. Consider whether the job will fulfill your interests, and decide if the schedule suits your needs.
With any job offer, you have three options: You can accept it, you can decline it, or you can negotiate. Negotiating is very common in the computer engineering industry. Most employers do not expect engineers to accept their first offer.
Though it can feel a little awkward, negotiation is worthwhile if you like the job but just want to adjust a few things. For best results, try these negotiating tips:
- Email the hiring manager and politely thank them for the opportunity. Mention that you have a few questions, and ask to talk over the phone or in person.
- During negotiation, emphasize how excited you are to work with the company.
- Explain that your research shows comparable salaries are higher, and ask if the company is willing to negotiate.
- In addition to salary, you can discuss other job benefits like relocation fees, job titles, retirement packages, and vacation days.
- Always remain polite and friendly, and illustrate your worth to the company.
Career Paths to Consider
Computer engineers have a few different options to pursue. Some choose to stay in the same field and seek positions with more responsibility.
For example, you could become a director of engineering and oversee a whole team of other computer engineers. This can include working on very large projects, so it can be both personally and financially rewarding.
Other computer engineers may choose to use their skills to branch out into other careers. You can start designing your own computer products or even become a CEO of a tech company.
If you work in research and development, you could eventually become a computer and information technology research scientist. Computer engineers also have the potential to move into other branches of engineering like aerospace engineering.
If you want to advance your career, it's important to get more experience or education. For positions where you will be overseeing others, having five to 10 years of experience in the industry is useful.
For jobs where you need specialized skills, you may want to get a postgraduate degree. For example, a doctorate in machine learning or a master's in business administration can give you specialized credentials.
Similar Occupations
If you're considering computer engineering jobs but aren't quite settled on this career path yet, don't forget that you have a lot of other opportunities. Some popular options that employ similar skills include: