Embedded systems design is a highly challenging exercise requiring an intelligent combination of electronic engineering and software engineering. Throughout the entire design cycle there is a constant interplay between these two disciplines.

Embedded systems design can be split into a number of areas:
- Hardware design and development
- Software design (eg. UML - Unified Modelling Language)
- Embedded software development
- FPGA or CPLD design
- Human Machine Interface (HMI or MMI) design
- Communication protocols design
- Industrial design

An embedded system can benefit from a real-time operating system (RTOS), although it is not essential. An RTOS can make a deterministic system with a smoother user-interface, but an RTOS takes precious resources and can add to unit costs.

• Software design
• Hardware design
• Real time operating systems