How to become a computer engineer
Official title: Computer engineer
Also called: Computer hardware engineer, Computer systems engineer, Hardware design engineer (computer), Hardware engineer (computer), IT hardware engineer, Systems engineer (computer), IT hardware engineer
Computer engineer researches on, designs and develops computer hardware systems and components, such as circuit boards, modems, and printers. He/she draughts blueprints and assembly drawings, develops and tests the prototypes, and supervises the process of production, maintenance and repair of hardware and components.
Main tasks
- Advising on and designing electronic devices or components, circuits, semi-conductors, and embedded systems
- Specifying production or installation methods, materials and quality standards and directing production or installation work of electronic products and embedded systems
- Establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of electronic systems, motors and equipment
- Organising and directing maintenance and repair of existing electronic systems, and equipment
- Developing apparatus and procedures to test electronic components, circuits and systems
Ways in
- University: Computing & IT degrees, Offered by 5 universities in Singapore
- University: Engineering degrees, Offered by 4 universities in Singapore
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $72,732 a year. The middle half earn $66,864 to $80,148 a year.
- Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Electronics engineer
- Semi-conductor engineer
- Audio/Video equipment engineer
- Instrumentation engineer
- Embedded systems engineer
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Questions people ask
How do I become a computer engineer?
Ways in include: Computing & IT degrees; Engineering degrees.
How much does a computer engineer earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $72,732 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $66,864 to $80,148.
Will AI change the work of a computer engineer?
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026