How to Become an Electrical Engineer and What They Do

Electronic engineers specifically are responsible for designing, developing, testing, and supervising the manufacturing of electrical equipment. What types of electrical equipment depends upon the company for which they work but may include:

Electric motors
Machinery controls
Lighting
Wiring in buildings
Automobiles
Aircraft
Radar

Many times electrical and electronics engineering are used to mean the same thing although they are different. These engineers focus on generating and supplying power and electronic engineers main emphasis is using electricity to handle systems.

If you want to be an electronic engineer, a bachelor’s electrical engineering degree is a requirement for nearly all entry level electrical engineering jobs. Although some specialties may require a graduate degree, those who work for the public have to be licensed. This means they must continually update their training to keep apprised of the latest technology.

Basically all engineering programs require courses in mathematics, physical science, life science, and may include courses in general engineering. Admissions for undergraduate engineering school will include a background in mathematics, science, English, social studies, and humanities. Although the bachelor’s electrical engineering degree programs are typically supposed to be 4 year programs, there are many who take between 4 and 5 years to finish the program. The first couple of years are concentrated on mathematics, basic science, social sciences, humanities, and introduction to engineering. The last two years are mostly engineering with the type in which you are specializing.

All of the U. S. states and the District of Columbia have mandatory licensing requirements for those engineers who work with the public in a direct manner. The licensed engineers are professional engineers. There are examinations that must be taken in order to acquire a license.

The Fundamentals of Engineering is a required exam after graduating from an engineering program. The next step is to get on the job training. After a suitable amount of this type of training, the Principles and Practice of Engineering test is required. There are a number of states that have mandatory continuing education to renew a license.

In addition to the education that is required to become an electronic engineer, the candidate should be detail oriented, creative, and inquisitive. They should also be a team player and have great communication skills. This includes writing as well as talking.

When beginning their career as an electronic engineer, the graduate will generally work with an experienced engineer so they may be supervised. The larger the company, the more on the job training they will receive. There may also be lectures to attend and some classroom work to get ready to be on their own. This, as well as the experience they get from working on the job will prepare them to eventually take more difficult assignments and to work without supervision. Solving problem and making their own decisions is one of the first steps to working independently.

One of the advancements an electronic engineer can make is to be in charge of his own team of engineers. The managerial side of engineering is not only more responsibility but higher pay as well. Most of these types of engineering duties are in an industrial setting. The engineer may also work in an office or a laboratory.

Did you know for example the global positioning system in your vehicle was one of the items these engineers are responsible for developing. The next time you look at this system in your vehicle, you will know that they were the ones responsible for this technology. Electrical engineers are responsible for the high-tech design of electrical systems such as the ones used in powering generators. They also test the designs they work on to make sure they are in proper working order. There are many types of products that engineers work on including cars, cell phones, wiring for commercial buildings as well as residential, and radar systems.

Electrical Engineering Jobs