Nature Of The Work:
Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment. Electrical equipment includes power generating and transmission equipment used by electric utilities, and electric motors, machinery controls, and lighting and wiring in buildings, automobiles, and aircraft. Electronic equipment includes radar, computers, communications equipment, and TV sets.
The specialties of electrical and electronics engineers include several major areas - such as power distributing equipment, integrated circuits, computers, electrical equipment manufacturing, or communications, or a subdivision of these areas industrial robot control systems or aviation electronics, for example.
Electrical and electronics engineers design new products, write performance requirements, and develop maintenance schedules. They also test equipment, solve operating problems, and estimate the time and cost of engineering projects.
Working Conditions:
Many engineers work in an office almost all of the time but others work in laboratories, industrial plants, or construction sites, where they inspect, supervise, or solve on-site problems. Engineers in branches such as civil engineering may work outdoors part of the time. A few engineers travel extensively to plants or construction sites.
Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. However, in some jobs there may be great pressure to meet deadlines or design standards. Engineers in these jobs may work long hours and experience considerable stress.
Employment:
Electrical and electronics engineers account for the most jobs held by engineers, making it the largest branch of engineering. Most jobs were in firms that manufacture electrical and electronic equipment, business machines, professional and scientific equipment, and aircraft and parts. Computer and data processing services firms, engineering and business consulting firms, public utilities, and government agencies accounted for most of the remaining jobs.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
A bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited engineering program is generally acceptable for beginning engineering jobs. College graduates with a degree in science or mathematics may occasionally qualify for some engineering jobs, especially in engineering specialties in high demand. Most engineering degrees are granted in branches such as electrical, mechanical, or civil engineering. However, engineers trained in one particular branch may work in another. This flexibility allows employers to meet staffing needs in new technologies and specialties in short supply. It also allows engineers to shift tofields with better employment prospects, or ones that match their interests more closely.
Many 2-year or 4-year college programs in engineering technology prepare students for practical design and production work rather than for jobs that require more theoretical scientific and mathematical knowledge. Graduates of 4-year technology programs may get jobs similar to those obtained by graduates with a bachelor's degree in engineering. However, some employers regard them as having skills between those of a technician and an engineer.
Graduate training is essential for engineering faculty positions but is not required for the majority of entry level engineering jobs. Many engineers obtain a master's degree to learn new technology to broaden their education, and to enhance promotion opportunities.
Many colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in engineering, and a fewer number offer a bachelor's degree in engineering technology. Although most institutions offer programs in the larger branches of engineering, only a few offer some of the smaller specialties. Also, programs of the same title may vary in content For example; some emphasize industrial practices, preparing students for a job in industry, while others are more theoretical and are better for students preparing to take graduate work. Therefore, students should investigate curriculums carefully before selecting a college. Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include courses in advanced high school mathematics and the physical sciences.
In a typical 4-year college curriculum, the first 2 years are spent studying basic sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry, introductory engineering, and the humanities, social sciences, and English. In the last 2 years, most courses are in engineering, usually with a concentration in one branch. Some programs offer a general engineering curriculum; students then specialize in graduate school or on the job.
A few engineering schools and 2-year colleges have agreements whereby the 2-year college provides the initial engineering education and the engineering school automatically admits students for their last 2 years. In addition, a few engineering schools have arrangements whereby a student spends 3 years in a liberal arts college studying pre engineering subjects and 2 years in in the engineering school and receives a bachelor's degree from each. Some colleges and universities offer 5-year master's degree programs.
Some 5-year or even 6-year cooperative plans combine classroom study and practical work experience permitting students to finance part of their education.
All 50 States and the District of Columbia require registration for engineers whose work may affect life, health, or property, or who offer their services to the public. Registration generally requires a degree from an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), 4 years of relevant work experience, and passing a State examination. Some States will not register those with degrees in engineering technology.
Beginning engineering graduates usually do routine work under the close supervision of experienced engineers and, in large companies, may also receive formal classroom or seminar-type training. As they gain knowledge and experience they are assigned more difficult tasks with greater independence to develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Engineers may become technical specialists or may supervise a staff or team of engineers and technicians. Some eventually become engineering managers or enter other managerial, management support, or sales jobs. Some engineers obtain graduate degrees in business administration to improve advancement opportunities; others obtain law degrees and become patent attorneys. Many high level executives in government and industry began their careers as engineers.
Engineers should be able to work as part of a team and should have creativity, an analytical mind, and a capacity for detail. In addition, engineers should be able to express themselves well, both orally and in writing.
Job Outlook:
Employment opportunities for electrical and electronics engineers are expected to be good throughout the year because employment is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations. Despite rapid growth, however, the majority of job openings will result from the need to replace electrical and electronics engineers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Although increased demand by businesses and government for computers, communications equipment, and military electronics is expected to account for much of the projected employment growth, consumer demand for electrical and electronic goods and increased research and development on computers, robots, and other types of automation should create additional jobs.
Since many electrical engineering jobs are defense related, cutbacks in defense spending could result in layoffs of electrical engineers. Furthermore, engineers who fail to keep up with the rapid changes in technology in some specialties risk technological obsolescence, which makes them more susceptible to layoffs or, at a minimum, likely to be passed over for advancement.
Related Occupations:
Engineers apply the principles of physical science and mathematics in their work. Other workers who use scientific and mathematical principles include physical scientists, life scientists, mathematicians, engineering and science technicians, and architects.
