what is an electrical engineer?
An electrical engineer deals with electronics, power, control systems and signal processing. You apply physics and mathematics to design and develop electronics. You rely on computer-aided design (CAD) to create schematics for electrical components and create simulations illustrating the system functions of electrical devices. You also carry out maintenance and test if the devices work properly.
what does an electrical engineer do?
As an electrical engineer, you work in various industries, including power generation stations, telecommunications companies and instrumentation development companies.
Despite their differences in specialisation, all electrical engineers keep electrical systems up and running in organisations. They make sure that all systems are well maintained and perform system upgrades promptly. These engineers are responsible for planning and initiating electrical projects. Once a project is underway, they participate in the development process to the final installation. Furthermore, electrical engineers offer continuous guidance to company management on all electrical issues and supervise other electrical technicians.
You need various skills to become an electrical engineer, from basic circuit theory to project management skills. You also require specialised tools like simple voltmeters, high-end analysers and advanced design and manufacturing software.
Would working as an electrical engineer suit your project management skills and mathematical aptitude? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in an electrical engineer role.
electrical engineer salary
The median compensation package for an electrical engineer according to National Careers is £20,000 per year at entry-level. When you are experienced, your earnings can rise to over £60,000 annually. You also receive various benefits like medical insurance, life insurance and bonuses. You'll get paid at higher rates if you work overtime.
factors that affect the salary of electrical engineers
As an electrical engineer, your pay fluctuates depending on the work and meticulousness required to make the systems operational and safe. Different specialisations attract diverse wages since some roles are more complex. For instance, you are likely to earn more if you specialise in manufacturing than power engineering. Your experience and educational levels also boost your salary. A professional electrical engineer earns more than a graduate trainee.
Working for private companies pays more than the public sector. The company you work for also dictates your take-home salary. For instance, electrical engineers dealing with research and development projects have better salary prospects than those providing regular maintenance services.
types of electrical engineers
Electrical engineering is a broad field where you can specialise in different categories depending on your preference. Here are some types of electrical engineers:
- electronic engineers: as an electronic engineer, you design electrical components, such as circuit boards, for different devices and machines. Those who deal in very small components are known as microelectronic engineers.
- power systems engineers: as a power systems engineer, you work in electricity production plants and are responsible for electricity generation, distribution and monitoring.
- telecommunication engineers: as a telecommunication engineer, you develop, install and maintain telecommunications systems and equipment.
- computer engineers: as a computer engineer with a background in electrical engineering, you work with software developers to develop computer hardware and software.
- signal processing engineers: your job is to analyse and alter digital signals to improve accuracy and reliability. You also regularly update digital signals for radiofrequency designs, military applications and biomedical signal processing.
working as an electrical engineer
Working as an electrical engineer involves the application of physics to design, develop and control electricity and electronics. Here's a breakdown of electrical engineers' responsibilities, work environment, schedule and job expectations.
-
electrical engineer job description
Electrical engineers have a lot of responsibilities that vary depending on their place of work and specialisation. Nonetheless, some responsibilities are uniform across the board, such as:
- project planning: as an electrical engineer, you are responsible for planning all electrical projects in your company. The planning process begins with designing drafts of electrical systems on paper. During planning, you draft budgets and source all equipment and components essential to the projects. You also organise and hold meetings with investors and clients to discuss budgeting, system specifications, technical requirements and other issues.
- project development: engineers ensure projects are completed on time and perform as expected. After drafting a plan, you need to actualise it using computer-aided design (CAD) machines and oversee its development. Once you make the prototypes, you should test their performance capabilities and make necessary improvements.
- managing and maintaining electrical systems: apart from developing new systems, an electrical engineer is in charge of operating existing electrical systems. You are expected to conduct frequent inspections to ensure that all electrical systems work according to the global safety guidelines and regulations. Depending on your job description, you may conduct system maintenance and upgrades to ensure that electrical systems work efficiently.
- researching and reporting: electrical engineers are responsible for the data collection on system use, performance and client feedback. With this information, they compile and table scheduled reports before clients and employers. Electrical engineers also research and innovate new technologies in development laboratories, such as biotechnology, medical and computer labs.
- ensuring product quality: as an electrical engineer, you ensure electrical products and electronics are working as expected. You also ascertain that electrical systems perform all the functions with ease. Sometimes, you have to design electrical testing methods for manufacturers to determine equipment performance. You also conduct tests on finished products and check system capabilities.
-
work environment
Since electrical engineers work in various industries, they have unique working environments. In most cases, electrical engineers work indoors during project planning, design, budgeting and when holding meetings. Production of electrical systems is also done indoors in workstations and labs. However, there are special assignments that force electrical engineers to work outdoors. In each case, the work environment of an electrical engineer is high-risk, as it usually involves interacting with electricity. High-risk environments include factories, power generation plants and research labs. This profession also involves interacting with different people, including superiors, administrators, fellow employees, technicians and clients. As you can expect, the working environment demands moderate to high interpersonal skills.
-
who are your colleagues?
Depending on your industry, you may work with heavy equipment operators, electricians, electronics technicians, hvac technicians, auto electricians, maintenance supervisors, indiustrial electricians, robotics engineers, manufacturing engineers and mechanical engineer role. You may also work with electronics engineers and broadcast engineers, as well as other specialists that could include project managers, project engineers, civil engineer role, aerospace engineers and programme managers.
-
work schedule
Electrical engineers have regular but often compartmentalised work schedules. For instance, you could design a project in the morning and move on to test another project or conduct maintenance in the afternoon. However, these schedules are often interrupted, especially if more than one project is underway. You can expect to work an average of 40 hours a week. You also work overtime to meet project deadlines.
In large companies, electrical engineers work in shifts to ensure a professional is always available in the workplace. Although most electrical engineers work full-time, independent electrical engineers have an even more dynamic work schedule. This is because they have to divide their time between working on projects and travelling. Both consultants and paid contractors work part-time and, sometimes, for different companies. Remote work is possible for consultants only.
-
job outlook
Electrical engineering skills are crucial in almost all production and manufacturing areas. When it comes to individual growth potential for electrical engineers, skills, education and experience levels are crucial determiners of success. Highly recommended engineers rise to managerial ranks in their industry or company. You can start your private consultancy or contracting firm or become a freelance contractor as a licenced electrical engineer.
-
advantages of finding an electrical engineer job through randstad
Finding your electrical engineer job through Randstad provides important advantages such as:
- a wide variety of training and development opportunities
- an experienced contact person to provide help if needed
- a range of opportunities in your area
- get paid weekly or monthly, depending on the job
- temporary and permanent contracts
Want a permanent contract? A temporary job as an electrical engineer is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!
education & qualifications
To become an electrical engineer, you need to be adept and knowledgeable in the science disciplines, primarily mathematics and physics. Some of the ways to join the field include:
- university degree: you need to pursue a degree in electrical or electronic engineering. You can also join the profession with a degree in applied physics, mechatronics and electro-mechanical engineering. Alternatively, pursue a college course like Level 4 or 5 Higher National Diploma in electrical engineering.
- apprenticeship: an apprenticeship in electrical engineering takes 4 to 6 years. You can choose to pursue an electro-mechanical engineer higher apprenticeship or electrical technical support degree apprenticeship.
skills and competencies
Some qualities for success in electrical engineering include:
- professional skills: you need to be conversant in all relevant theories and applications for the success of your engineering projects in terms of design, production and safety. These include mathematics, circuit design, project development and maintenance of electrical systems. Apart from basic engineering education, you need to prepare projects effectively. The relevant skills you require in this case include sketching, drafting and budgeting for large and small projects.
- people skills: electrical engineers have to be good leaders. You need to ensure your engineers and technicians do everything properly and meet deadlines. You also need good communication skills. Electrical engineers collaborate with peers and people inside and outside the profession, such as clients. Therefore, you should be able to break down technical terms and communicate other details in an accessible manner.
- problem-solving skills: problems tend to occur in the course of engineering work. Therefore, you need sound problem-solving skills to solve the problems and troubleshoot issues.
FAQs
FAQs about working as an electrical engineer.
-
what exactly does an electrical engineer do?
An electrical engineer works in the production and manufacturing processes of various industries. They plan, develop, test, improve, install electrical systems and further maintain and upgrade systems.
-
are electrical engineers paid well?
Electrical engineering is a well-paying job with a salary of over £60,000 per year for those experienced in the field. You can also earn more with specialisations.
-
is electrical engineering a good career?
Electrical engineering is a good career choice for anyone passionate about electrical systems or developing and managing systems.
-
what qualifications do you need to be an electrical engineer?
You need a bachelor's degree in electronics or electrical engineering. Alternatively, join an apprenticeship and improve your skills to become a licenced engineer.
-
is electrical engineering difficult?
Most people consider electrical engineering extremely difficult. Admittedly, the career is generally challenging as it involves a lot of abstract thinking and requires science and math skills.
-
how do I apply for an electrical engineer vacancy?
Applying for an electrical engineer job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our job offers for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV and cover letter. Need help with your application? Check out all our job search tips here!
