What Do Electronics Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Electronics Engineers research, design, develop, or test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use employing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls. They also determine project material or equipment needs.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare engineering sketches or specifications for construction, relocation, or installation of equipment, facilities, products, or systems.
• Prepare documentation containing information such as confidential descriptions or specifications of proprietary hardware or software, product development or introduction schedules, product costs, or information about product performance weaknesses.
• Evaluate project work to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy, or compatibility in the resolution of complex electronics engineering problems.
• Design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications.
• Analyze electronics system requirements, capacity, cost, or customer needs to determine project feasibility.
• Inspect electronic equipment, instruments, products, or systems to ensure conformance to specifications, safety standards, or applicable codes or regulations.

We asked Electronics Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Electronics Engineers design electronic components, software, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications. They research or develop electronics technologies for use in electric-drive vehicles.

A typical day for an Electronics Engineer will also include:

• Develop or perform operational, maintenance, or testing procedures for electronic products, components, equipment, or systems.
• Confer with engineers, customers, vendors, or others to discuss existing or potential electronics engineering projects or products.
• Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform electronics engineering tasks.
• Provide technical support or instruction to staff or customers regarding electronics equipment standards.
• Evaluate project work to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy, or compatibility in the resolution of complex electronics engineering problems.

We asked some Electronics Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	37% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	62% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	22% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	7% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	47% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Electronics Engineers also inspect electronic equipment, instruments, products, or systems to ensure conformance to specifications, safety standards, or applicable codes or regulations. They may also evaluate project work to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy, or compatibility in the resolution of complex electronics engineering problems.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Electronics Engineers Prepare documentation containing information such as confidential descriptions or specifications of proprietary hardware or software, product development or introduction schedules, product costs, or information about product performance weaknesses. They might also Direct or coordinate activities concerned with manufacture, construction, installation, maintenance, operation, or modification of electronic equipment, products, or systems.

In addition, they Prepare budget or cost estimates for equipment, construction, or installation projects or control expenditures.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze electronics system requirements, capacity, cost, or customer needs to determine project feasibility.

To some Electronics Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Provide technical support or instruction to staff or customers regarding electronics equipment standards.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Electronics Engineer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/electrical-and-electronics-engineers.htm

http://www.abet.org/

http://www.ieee.org/