What are a couple of things that a Computer Engineer will do on a daily basis as a job?

Duties of a Computer Engineer
The rate at which technology is growing throughout the world makes it easy to see how computer-related job positions are booming. From computer technicians to computer operators in general, there are many different shoes which a computer savvy individual can fill so long as they have the requisite knowledge to do so. One such position is that of a computer engineer.

The General Responsibilities and Specific Duties

The role of the computer engineer is quite varied in nature and this individual must complete a multitude of tasks in their daily work environment. The following will highlight the role of a computer engineer as well as list some of their responsibilities and duties.

What is a Computer Engineer?

A computer engineer has an important job in the world of technology. The basic definition of a computer engineer is one who researches, plans and develops computer operating systems. Computer engineers come in a variety of types as one who is a computer engineer can work with general computer use or deal with computer usage which goes along with a specific job position, such as military, industrial or medical, to name just a few.

General Responsibilities of a Computer Engineer

There are a few general responsibilities which a computer engineer must undertake in their job position. The computer engineer must research information regarding computer operating systems, review current operating systems, make changes to systems and even may develop operating systems of this type. The computer engineer will use his/her knowledge in the fields of computer science, math and engineering to ensure that they carry out their daily job tasks to the best of their ability.

Specific Duties of a Computer Engineer

A computer engineer has many specific duties relative to his/her job. One such duty is that the computer engineer must perform research regarding the computer operating systems. This relates not only to the current operating systems which the computer engineer works with but new concepts as well. The computer engineer will perform a wide array of research in relation to operating systems as a whole.

Another specific duty of a computer engineer is to maintain current operating systems within their job field. This entails checking the systems periodically to ensure that they are working correctly, monitoring their work consistency and fixing any problems that may arise in conjunction with the operating systems.

The computer engineer is also responsible for maintaining contact with a large number of individuals. Pertinent people include customers, project managers and other company employees. The contact is important as it keeps everyone in the loop with regard to the various operating systems and provides the computer engineer with feedback, whether it be of the good or bad variety.

Some computer engineers may also be supervisors in their field of work. Those who supervise others may be responsible for monitoring the work habits of subordinates, solving problems which may arise, preparing schedules and ensuring that the employees get paid as they are entitled.

Computer engineers may also have quite a bit of administrative duties to tend to during the course of their work. Reports, graphs, charts and evaluations may need to be prepared throughout the daily job routines. These will track the progress of computer operating systems as well as detail any issues which have come about as a result of a particular operation system or systems.

Those who fill the role of computer engineer may find themselves given the responsibility of developing programs for the particular operating systems with which they work. These programs may be basic operating programs or more detailed computer programs.

Wonderful Traits for Computer Engineers to Possess

Computer engineers have varied duties to fulfill in their job role. In order to complete the various tasks in the best way possible, there are a few traits which are highly desirable for a computer engineer to possess. The first trait which computer engineers should have is good analytical skills. Thorough analysis is something which a computer engineer must partake in on a frequent basis therefore one who has good skills of this type will benefit in the end.

Another trait which computer engineers will most likely want to have is wonderful problem solving skills. Part of the job of a computer engineer is to fix any and all problems which may arise. If it turns out that the computer engineer cannot fix the problem, they should have the skills to know whom they can turn to in order to get the problem fixed. Those who have excellent problem solving skills may find that their job role is completed in a much easier fashion.

Good communication skills will also come in handy for a computer engineer. A computer engineer must converse with many different groups of individuals in their job role. Therefore, it is easy to see how communication skills will help them to complete their daily tasks and responsibility with greater ease.

Computer engineers who are said to be team players may also find that their job is a lot easier overall. This is due to the fact that many computer engineers do not work in a bubble. They are surrounded by colleagues and subordinates with whom they must work well with in order to get the job done. If a computer engineer is a good team player, getting the job done in an expedient fashion will be more likely in that case.

An additional positive trait which will come in handy for computer engineers is good speaking skills. Those who are good public speakers will find themselves better able to disseminate information to groups of individuals and get their message across in a clear and concise manner. Efficient public speaking skills are a wonderful trait for computer engineers to possess.

Conclusion

If one is interested in working with computers and computer operating systems, it may be that the position of computer engineer is a good one to apply for. In this job role, an individual is not only able to work with computers on a daily basis but may also be in a supervisory role or work with the public from time to time. The various roles that a computer engineer plays are wide and varied. For those who possess excellent analytical skills and problem solving skills, the job of computer engineer may be one to try. Those who wish to fill the job position of computer engineer may work with a small company, large corporation or as an independent contractor. The possibilities are almost endless.

Students who wish to pursue a career in computer engineering need a strong foundation in both math and science, particularly chemistry and physics. Students who wish to pursue bachelor's degrees in computer engineering should try to enroll in more advanced math classes like trigonometry and precalculus while still in high school.

High school students who want to pursue a degree in computer engineering can take advantage of membership in the Junior Engineering Technical Society, which offers students numerous opportunities to test their skills through competitions and scholarship programs. For students attempting to gain entrance to some of the country's most prestigious schools, these extracurricular activities can provide an important edge during admissions reviews.

On-Campus and Online Degree Programs in Computer Engineering

Colleges and universities offer several levels of engineering degree programs. Note that there are two different types of college degree programs in computer engineering. One is specifically in engineering, and the other is engineering technology (a more vocationally oriented specialty). While the two degrees are very similar, students who study engineering technology may not register as certified professional engineers. Despite that distinction, students in either discipline will often find work in similar types of jobs.

Because so many professional computer engineers work online, many colleges and universities can use the same technology to offer their degree programs via distance learning. Online computer engineering degrees allow working professionals the chance to balance their studies with their personal and professional obligations, and have become increasingly popular among adults seeking additional career training.

Associate Degrees in Computer Engineering Technology

Colleges and universities typically restrict their associate degree offerings to computer engineering technology, where the coursework covers circuitry, networking and electronic devices. Computer engineering majors who enroll in this degree program will participate in a significant amount of hands-on work. They learn high-demand skills that will allow them to enter the work force in as little as 18 months.

Along with core computer engineering courses, associate degree candidates must enroll in math and physics courses. Upon receiving their degrees, students who want to go straight into the work force may be able to transfer their credits into a part-time bachelor's degree program, which they can pursue while they gain work experience. Many computer engineering companies offer generous tuition reimbursement packages that encourage students to grow their skills while earning a salary.

Though a handful of programs focus solely on tasks like programming and networking, many computer engineering bachelor's degree programs emphasize the core fundamentals of engineering. First-year students participate in a combination of computer engineering electives and electrical engineering requirements. After completing the core courses for their degree program, students can begin to customize their programs. For example, many students choose to explore classes in computer architecture and design, in order to pursue lucrative careers in the manufacturing industry.

Building on the kind of basic coursework shared with associate degree candidates, bachelor's degree students use their education to deepen their knowledge of key principles of engineering. Required liberal arts courses help computer engineering majors develop important critical thinking skills.

Beyond the challenges of completing rigorous classroom assignments, computer engineering majors also pursue a series of essential internships and cooperative learning experiences. These programs allow students to apply their coursework to real-world problems. As an added benefit, many computer engineering majors seize the opportunity to forge strong relationships with working professionals as potential future employers.

Some places consider Software Engineering as a sub-field of Computer Engineering. In my experience, the daily job of a Software Engineer mostly involves writing code for new features, fixing bugs, refactoring existing code, and reviewing other engineers' code.

Also, this question seems to be a duplicate of https://www.careervillage.org/questions/44522/what-does-a-computer-engineer-typically-accomplish-in-a-day-of-work. You can see more responses there.