Electrical and Electronics Engineer
Why Is Electrical and Electronics Engineering a Job
of Tomorrow?
Technology has pervaded every aspect of modern life. It
has largely replaced cash with credit cards that can draw funds electronically from bank accounts, replaced beepers with handheld mobile phones that can not only instantly connect callers, but also act as a tiny web browser and gaming system, and pushed globalization into overdrive through the World Wide Web. Many companies and individuals are taking advantage of the technological boom, relying more and more on electronic information and processing to conduct business as well as day-to-day activities more than ever before. With so much riding on the efficiency and security of technology, it is little surprise that electrical and electronics engineers are in high demand. Employment opportunities for electrical and electronics engineers are expected to grow four percent by 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Electrical and electronics engineers make an average salary of $81,050 annually.
What Does an Electrical and Electronics Engineer Do?
Electrical and electronics engineers work with the production, transmission and uses of electrical power, as well as working with low power appliances like radios, televisions, and computers. Engineers have a wide array of employment opportunities, from working in aerospace technology to developing personal electronic equipment for the regular consumer. There are also a variety of specialties within the electrical and electronics engineering field. Researchers investigate the possible issues that could affect new products or developments, such as chemical reactions between product components. Design developers use computer-aided design and computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) tools to quickly draft plans for efficient production of the product. Production engineers guide that product through the entire manufacturing process, determining the performance standards for the product as well as writing the technical manual that goes with it.
What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become an Electrical and Electronics Engineer?
Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical or electronics engineering. However, due to the competitive nature of engineering, many employees go on to earn a graduate degree in engineering as well. In fact, some positions and promotions, such as research jobs, require either a master’s or doctoral degree in engineering. A bachelor’s degree takes four years to earn, a master’s requires an additional two to three years, and a doctorate an additional four years after earning a bachelor’s level education. Courses in an electrical and electronics engineering degree program covers physics, mathematics, and other related topics.
