Work Area Electronic Ingener

Work area an electronics engineer

Electronics engineers design and develop the systems used by machines and equipment in lots of industries, from mobile communications and computing to aerospace.

If you love electronics and like finding out how things work, this could be a perfect choice of career for you.

To do this job well, you will need to be good at science, maths and IT. Part of the job is about finding better ways of doing things, so you'll need to be good at figuring out problems and coming up with new ideas. You'll also need good communication skills to get those ideas across.

To become an electronics engineer, you will usually need a foundation degree, HND or degree in a relevant electronics subject.

Working hours and conditions

You would normally work around 40 hours a week but you may work longer to meet project deadlines.

Most of your work would take place in offices or in the lab. Occasionally, you may have to work on site in factories, workshops or outdoors.

Work activities

Electronics engineers research, design and develop electronic components and equipment in a range of industries, for example:

• Telecommunications - mobile phones, radio, TV and satellite communications

• Data communications - PCs, tablets and ATM machines

• Scientific research - acoustics, optics, physics and nanotechnology

• Medical instruments - clinical and laboratory equipment

• Military - communications, navigation and weapons systems

• Aerospace – avionics, radar, navigation and communication systems

• Manufacturing - programmable logic controls (PLCs) and industrial machinery.

As an electronics engineer, you would:

• Assess new developments or innovations to see if they are workable

• Prepare technical plans using computer-aided engineering and design software

• Estimate manufacturing and labour costs, and project timescales

• Coordinate the work of technicians and craftspeople

• Test prototypes and analyse data

• Make sure that projects meet safety regulations

• Plan and oversee inspection and maintenance schedules.

You would often work on a project with a team of engineers and technicians

Entry requirements

To become an electronics engineer, you will usually need a foundation degree, HNC, HND or degree in electronic/electrical engineering or engineering technology.

Employers may accept qualifications in related subjects if electronics was covered as part of the course. Examples include:

• Aerospace engineering

• Physics and applied physics

• Software engineering

• Nanotechnology

• Maths

• Computer science.

When looking for your first job, it may help you if you have work experience. You can gain this through a work placement as part of a sandwich degree course, or by arranging your own placement with relevant companies.

(A sandwich degree is a four-year undergraduate course in which students undertake a placement year or internship in industry, normally after the second year at university.)

You may also be able to get into this career by taking a Higher Apprenticeship in an area such as advanced manufacturing, which covers electronics. This could then lead on to a higher education qualification like a degree.

Skills, interests and qualities

To be an electronics engineer, you should have:

• A flair for maths, science, technology and IT

• The ability to analyse problems

• Strong decision-making skills

• Excellent communication skills

• The ability to prioritise and plan work effectively

• The ability to manage a budget

• Excellent

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