Below covers electrical engineering jobs including their qualification requirements and what general tasks they are involved in
Electrical Engineering
: Electrical engineering is the design and development of electrical systems and products. Depending on the flow of electrical power or charge, these products range from power plants to specialized robotics to household appliances. Like other types of engineering, electrical engineering combines creative initiative, invention, practicality, and technology to turn ideas into the tangible.
What is an Electrical Engineer?
An electrical engineer is the one who designs, develops, and supervises the production of equipment, processes, systems, and subsystems that rely on electricity to work. The electrical engineer works with items like circuits, transformers, wiring, and electrical parts to meet project specifications and project deadlines. They are involved with all aspects of a project, from start to finish, often acting not only as the creative lead, but as the team leader as well.
What qualifications do Electrical Engineers need?
Electrical engineers must have a bachelor’s degree with study in a broad range of subjects that focus not only on electronics and design, but on communication, mathematics, the arts, computer science, general business management, and physics. A graduate degree is highly recommended for the electrical engineer with leadership aspirations. An electrical engineer must have analytical ability and also the ability to work both independently and in a team environment. Particularly important are advanced computer skills and project management skills, including management of multiple projects. Those who plan to teach at the university level or work in research must have a PhD.
What type of tasks is involved with Electrical Engineering?
Electrical engineers are creators, planners, designers, and managers. They work with products like restaurant equipment, electronics, industrial equipment, communications systems, weapons, and power. In any one day, an electrical engineer might do all of these tasks at the same time. Electrical engineers can rely on the following tasks being included in their job description at some point in their career:
Anticipate and identify a customers needs and translate them into design specifications
Build prototypes
Manage multiple projects
Supervise the budgeting, testing, and releasing of equipment into the marketplace.
Identify and monitor project milestones
Communicate equipment performance expectations to suppliers including quality, performance, manufacturing, capacity, system fit and life cycle costs
Supervise construction plans and specifications and draw up contracts
Design and produce drawings of electrical systems
Using computer-assisted design software
Select and recommend materials
Write performance requirements, instructions, and reports
Develop maintenance schedules
Work in a problem solving capacity
Are there any areas of specialization?
Electrical engineers have many specialties available to them. Below, are just a few of the many opportunities within the field of electrical engineering:
Maintenance
Energy and power
Electricity
Metals and materials
Telecommunications
Radar and navigation systems
Lighting
Technology
Robotics
Computers
Utilities
Automation
Architecture
Who employs Electrical Engineers?
Electrical engineers are hired in professional environments, science, healthcare, communications, industry, and in technology based companies. Examples of companies that hire electrical engineers include: Ford Motor Company, Sony, Philips, Microsoft, and Armstrong World Industries.
UniXL provides students, general public and businesses with high quality and relevant education and careers related resources.