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

Job Description

Electrical Engineers research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use. They also operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
• Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
• Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
• Conduct field surveys or study maps, graphs, diagrams, or other data to identify and correct power system problems.
• Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
• Compile data and write reports regarding existing or potential electrical engineering studies or projects.

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

---

72% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 58% 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, Electrical Engineers design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes. They confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.

A typical day for an Electrical Engineer will also include:

• Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
• Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
• Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
• Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.

We asked some Electrical 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?	62% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	64% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	72% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	23% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	27% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Electrical Engineers also inspect completed installations and observe operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with operational, safety, or environmental standards. They may also direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Electrical Engineers Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications. They might also Compile data and write reports regarding existing or potential electrical engineering studies or projects.

In addition, they Prepare specifications for purchases of materials or equipment.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.

To some Electrical Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Conduct field surveys or study maps, graphs, diagrams, or other data to identify and correct power system problems.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Electrical Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per 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.asee.org/

http://www.nspe.org/