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Computer Hardware Engineer Intern Jobs in Richmond, VA

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Software Engineer I & II

Richmond, VA · On-site

$70K - $95K/yr

Software engineers will work with Quality Assurance to develop testing plans and with hardware ... Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics ...

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Company Description Computer Futures is a leading IT recruitment consultancy, specialising in ... This individual will also analyze and resolve network hardware and software problems in a timely ...

Computer Futures is a leading IT recruitment consultancy, specializing in placing IT experts in ... network hardware and software. Responsibilities : • Collaborate with executive management and ...

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Computer Hardware Engineer Intern information

See Richmond, VA salary details

$9

$19

$36

How much do computer hardware engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for computer hardware engineer intern in Richmond, VA is $19.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.28 and $21.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a computer hardware engineer intern do?

A Computer Hardware Engineer Intern assists in designing, testing, and analyzing computer hardware components such as circuit boards, processors, memory devices, and networks. Interns typically work under the supervision of experienced engineers, helping with prototyping, troubleshooting hardware issues, and performing research to support new hardware development. They may also use engineering software and tools to create schematics and document their work. This role provides valuable hands-on experience in the field of computer hardware engineering.

What types of projects can a computer hardware engineer intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Computer Hardware Engineer Intern, you may be involved in a variety of projects such as assisting with the design and testing of circuit boards, supporting prototype development, and helping with troubleshooting and debugging hardware systems. Interns often collaborate closely with senior engineers, participate in team meetings, and contribute to documentation or data analysis tasks. This hands-on experience is valuable for building technical skills and understanding the workflow of hardware development teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a computer hardware engineer intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Computer Hardware Engineer Intern, you need a solid understanding of computer architecture, digital logic design, and hardware troubleshooting, typically supported by coursework in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog), circuit simulation tools, and PCB design software is often expected. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help interns contribute meaningfully to projects. These abilities ensure you can learn quickly, collaborate on complex hardware development, and support innovative solutions in a fast-paced engineering environment.

What is the difference between Computer Hardware Engineer Intern vs Computer Hardware Engineer?

AspectComputer Hardware Engineer InternComputer Hardware Engineer
CredentialsTypically pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or related fieldBachelor's degree in computer engineering or related; often requires experience or advanced degrees for senior roles
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, often in labs or office environments, supervised by experienced engineersFull-time professional setting, including labs, offices, and manufacturing facilities
ResponsibilitiesAssisting with design, testing, and troubleshooting hardware components under supervisionDesigning, developing, and testing hardware systems independently or leading projects

The main difference between a Computer Hardware Engineer Intern and a Computer Hardware Engineer is experience level and responsibilities. Interns are in training, assisting with tasks under supervision, while engineers are full-time professionals responsible for designing and developing hardware systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Computer Hardware Engineer jobs in Richmond, VA?

The most popular types of Computer Hardware Engineer jobs in Richmond, VA are:

What cities near Richmond, VA are hiring for Computer Hardware Engineer Intern jobs?

Cities near Richmond, VA with the most Computer Hardware Engineer Intern job openings:

Infographic showing various Computer Hardware Engineer Intern job openings in Richmond, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 81% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,887 per year, or $19.2 per hour.

Senior Hardware Engineer

Akamai Technologies, Inc.

Richmond, VA • On-site

$126.10 - $261.90/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

New


Akamai Technologies rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

124th of 245 rated software companies


Job description

You will focus on the SmartNIC/DPU software and hardware that underpins our compute and GPU servers. These DPUs offload CPU resources, improve isolation, and accelerate services across Akamai Cloud. You will help define and integrate host + DPU architectures, validate RoCE and virtualization capabilities, and drive platform offload and acceleration from early concepts through mass production and global deployment.

Responsibilities
  • Driving DPU hardware and software integration into Akamai compute and GPU server platforms, including PCIe, networking, storage, and manageability interfaces.
  • Planning and executing validation for DPU platforms, including functional, performance, interoperability, stress, and reliability testing for data-center scale use cases.
  • Implementing and validating networking and offload features such as RDMA/RoCE, L2/L3/L4 Ethernet/IP forwarding, SR-IOV/virtio-net/vDPA, overlay networks, and congestion control behaviors.
  • Developing automation, scripts, and test tooling to exercise DPUs, collect telemetry at scale, and turn results into requirements.
  • Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to translate workload and SLO requirements into configurations and test plans.
  • Working with vendors to evaluate new DPU generations, firmware and feature updates, and trade‑offs between performance, efficiency, supply continuity, and TCO.
Qualifications
  • Have 8 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering or a related field.
  • Have experience with data center SmartNICs, or DPUs, including integration into x86/ARM servers and familiarity with PCIe, SR-IOV, and virtualization concepts.
  • Have familiarity with DPU frameworks and languages such as NVIDIA DOCA/DPL, P4, DPDK, etc.
  • Have an understanding of networking fundamentals, and familiarity with technologies such as congestion control and load balancing in data centers.
  • Have experience with platform validation, PCIe/NVMe and networking qualification, and system‑level stress testing.
  • Have Linux skills and proficiency with scripting languages such as Python and Bash for automation and data analysis.
  • Be comfortable working across HW/FW/SW boundaries, collaborating with teams to debug issues in the data path, control plane, and management stack.
  • Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
Benefits
  • Your health
  • Your finances
  • Your family
  • Your time at work
  • Your time pursuing other endeavors
Compensation

Akamai is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For U.S. based candidates only – the base salary for this position ranges from $126,100 to $261,900 per year; salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. Compensation for candidates outside the U.S. will vary. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual bonus or incentives, equity awards and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Eligibility requirements apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Akamai Technologies is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer that values the strength that diversity brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.

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