Computer Engineer

— Isaac Asimov, science fiction writer

MapMyTalent offers detailed career information about Computer Engineering as a career option:

Today, it is impossible for us to imagine the time when there were no computers. We are living in the times when laptops, net books, tablets, etc. are common knowledge even for a primary school child. Computer Science is being taught as a subject as early as in class 1 therefore looking at Computer Engineering comes quite naturally to a lot of students.

Computer Engineering encompasses studying subjects from both electrical engineering as well as computer science. The knowledge from these two branches is applied in making and development of computers and allied systems. There are two types of computer engineers – hardware engineers and software engineers. Hardware engineers build computers like workstations, laptops, PCs or tablets. They also develop systems, which are computer based like those in electronic equipment, communication networks and even complex navigational systems found in aircrafts and space satellites.

Then there are those who are trained as software engineers. They design the software program, the VLSI chips, analog sensors, circuit boards and other things required to operate the hardware system. Even the highly revered field of robotics, which includes research and design of motors and sensors falls under the purview of a computer engineer. Some of them write programs known as operating system that makes the computer work such as windows and Linux. Others write programs which are meant for specific purpose like creating a document, editing a photograph or designing a house. There are still others who design the communication and network interface between various computers. For all this, there are languages in which codes, that the machines can understand, are written.

With all the development that is happening in the world of computers, for a career in this field, one has to keep oneself knowledge abreast. There are a number of computer languages in which the programs can be written and still newer ones are being developed every day. It is just a matter of time that what is the latest today becomes obsolete. All in all it is not just a technical field, but also a one, that demands constant updating of knowledge.