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Electrical Engineers

Also called: Electrical Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Project Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force, Marine Corps, or Navy.

What they do:
Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.
On the job, you would:
  • Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
  • Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
  • Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • design
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • customer service

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • use rules to solve problems
Math
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Integrity

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • Hewlett-Packard HP Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD software
  • Cadence Encounter Test
Development environment software
  • C
  • Programmed logic controller PLC code generation software

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$85,920
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about electrical engineers.