Hardware designers take original concepts and design equipment which customers will find attractive and comfortable to use.

What hardware designers do

• liaise with research and development engineers about the technical concepts and how these will be implemented in practice
• use computer-aided design to prepare designs and prototypes for market testing, bearing in mind the costs of production and maintenance
• liaise with the production department about manufacturing techniques and costs
• revise designs to incorporate features suggested by production managers, customer focus groups, development engineers and others
• liaise with the marketing department about what is acceptable in the marketplace.

Key skills for hardware designers

• a good understanding of devices and materials, and their properties
• 3-D spatial awareness and an understanding of mechanical issues associated with hardware design
• attention to detail
• understanding of the practicalities of design solutions
• persistence to stay with a product throughout its life, from initial design and launch to modifications dictated by market experience
• ability to communicate well with staff and external clients.

Training to be a hardware designer

Training is mostly carried out in a design department, but also includes time spent gaining an understanding of those departments with which designers liaise. These include production, research and development, and marketing.

The legal, economic and safety aspects of design may also be covered.

Salaries for hardware designers

Initial salaries are typically in the region of £20,000 to £24,000.

Professional bodies

• Institution of Engineering and Technology
• Institution of Engineering Designers
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Intellect UK

Related jobs

• Design engineer
• Electronic designer