Can you describe the elements of your designs that address the safety issues for the hardware?
An interviewer will ask this question to ensure that you incorporate safety in your hardware designs. Not only does the equipment you design need to function properly, but it also needs to be safe to use. When answering this question, you should address both the high-level design elements and elements specific to a piece of hardware. These same design elements also likely enhance the durability of the equipment and its longevity. The interviewer may also ask you follow-up questions about specific equipment they expect you to work on if hired.
"When designing a piece of hardware, there are several considerations I build into the design. These include functionality, usability, and safety. Each of these is equally as important and must integrate with the others. The major element considered for safety is power. I ensure that the power is appropriate for the piece of equipment, that is consistent, and that there are safety elements such as circuit breakers and fuses if it were to be interrupted. Other safety-related design factors include access to the hardware, physical elements such as sharp edges, and the hardware controls."
