COMPUTER ENGINEER
Main functions
Computer system software designer.
Participates and/or coordinates all activities involved in the design of complex software systems. In particular:
° investigates and develops methods for problem solving, promotes the use of advanced technologies for the modelling and development of applications;
° develops new operative techniques and support tools for design, managing the impact of their concrete application;
° designs and participates in the implementation of complex information systems, in accordance with preset functional specifications, system constraints and design guidelines;
° designs and participates in the implementation of knowledge-based systems to solve complex problems using artificial intelligence techniques;
° designs and participates in the implementation of concurrent and distributed applications to solve complex problems in both operating systems and other applications;
° designs and participates in the implementation of even highly complex network services and applications in distributed and heterogeneous scenarios;
° organises and plans the activities for the implementation, testing, verification of the performance of software systems, managing the review and development of prototype solutions.
Hardware designer for computer infrastructure.
Participates and/or coordinates all activities involved in the design and implementation of both complex general purpose platforms and embedded systems satisfying specific application requirements. In particular:
° designs complex architectures using advanced processors and components;
° identifies efficient solutions and executes the logical design of functional units for the satisfaction of special application requirements, managing the impact of their integration in complex architectures.
Industrial machine, system and process automation technician.
Participates and/or coordinates all activities involved in the design of automation hardware systems. In particular:
° defines the architecture, functional units and network infrastructure required for the implementation of complex distributed control systems;
° designs and implements software components for general use;
° designs and participates in the implementation of hardware systems for real-time data acquisition and processing;
° designs and participates in the implementation of supervision systems for the automatic management of diagnostic information and production data.
Research and Development technician
Carries out theoretical and experimental investigations in various computing sectors in industries, research centres and training institutes. In particular:
° carries out research on technologies, products, regulations and patents;
° promotes and participates in national and international research projects;
° promotes technological innovation processes in companies, based on the results of experiments and research activities;
° defines, organises and carries out laboratory experiments and gathers and critically interprets the obtained data.
Career opportunities:
2nd cycle graduates can work in all areas of the modern technological society, and in particular in manufacturing and tertiary sectors, industrial automation companies, process industries, the civil service, research and training institutes, or as freelance professionals, using their skills to promote the process of innovation and development in place in all organisations which are faced with the need to implement a restructuring programme based also on the integration of modern computer technologies. More specifically, the graduates' professional skills are functional to the following main career opportunities:
• industries producing and/or using computer components and systems;
• computer systems services companies and centres;
• suppliers of structures and services for IT networks and systems;
• suppliers of Internet computing and Web infrastructure services;
• software engineering companies;
• companies working in industrial automation and robotics;
• process industries in the mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, energy and chemical sectors;
• industrial research and development laboratories;
• technical departments of public administrations using IT infrastructure to manage internal and public services;
• training institutes;
• research centres.
With explicit reference to the type of businesses working in the region, the career opportunities available for Computer Engineering graduates in one of the highest concentrations of small and medium enterprises in the country is of great interest. The Emilia Romagna Region generally has an extremely advanced industrial system with a strong international vocation. The regional system is also characterised by highly developed traditional and advanced services structures, both in the private sector and within the civil service. The skills developed during the 2nd cycle degree programme in Computer Engineering are particularly requested and appreciated not only in the specific industrial sector, including computer consulting and software engineering companies, but also in a wider technological area covering electrical and electronics businesses, energy management, as well as chemical, civil and food processing sectors.
Of particular relevance is the industrial automation sector, and specifically the automatic packaging machine manufacturers (which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagna region has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley").
