Electronics drafter

Electronics drafters support electronic engineers in the design and conceptualisation of electronic equipment. They draft blueprints and assembly diagrams of electronic systems and components using technical drawing software.

The duties of an electronics drafter may include:

• Creating technical drawings and plans using computer-aided design (CAD) software and traditional drafting tools
• Incorporating feedback from engineers and project managers into designs and making necessary modifications
• Preparing schematics, diagrams and layouts for electronic systems and components
• Ensuring designs meet industry and regulatory standards and requirements
• Collaborating with other professionals such as engineers, technicians and quality assurance staff to resolve issues and improve designs
• Documenting design changes and maintaining accurate records and files
• Keeping up-to-date with advances in technology and changes in industry standards and regulations

The following job titles also refer to electronics drafter:

electronics drafting specialist
electronics engineering draughter
electronics draughtsperson
electronics drafting adviser
electronic drafter
electronics draughter
electronic draughtsperson
electronics design drafter
draughter in electronics
electronics draughtswoman
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draughter in electronic equipment
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draughter of electronics
electronics draughtsman

Working conditions for electronics drafters may vary depending on the employer and industry. They may work in offices, laboratories, or manufacturing facilities. They typically work full-time hours and may be required to work on evenings or weekends to meet project deadlines. Some electronics drafters may be required to travel to worksites or manufacturing facilities.

Education, training and experience requirements for electronics drafters may vary depending on the employer and industry. However, most employers require a diploma or degree in electrical or electronics engineering technology, or a related field. Experience with CAD software and drafting tools is typically required, and additional training or certifications may be beneficial for career advancement. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate technical information clearly are also important for success as an electronics drafter.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Electronics drafter is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to electronics drafter.

printed circuit board designer
electrical drafter
electromechanical drafter
product development engineering drafter
rolling stock engineering drafter

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of electronics drafter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of electronics drafter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

integrated circuit design engineer
electronics engineer
industrial tool design engineer
container equipment design engineer
electromechanical engineer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of electronics drafter.

• Circuit diagrams: Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.
• Electronic equipment standards: The national and international quality and safety standards and regulations with regards to the use and manufacture of electronic equipment and its components, such as semiconductors and printed circuit boards.
• Integrated circuits: Electronic components, made up from a set of electronic circuits which are placed on semiconductor material, such as silicon. Integrated circuits (IC) can hold billions of electronic components on a microscale and are one of basic components of electronic devices.
• Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
• Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
• Types of electronics: The different categories of electronics, such as consumer electronics, medical devices, microelectronics, computers, information and communication equipment, and measuring equipment.
• Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
• Printed circuit boards: Printed circuit boards (PCB) are essential components to almost all electronic devices. They consist of thin wafers or substrates on which electronic components, such as microchips, are placed. The electronic components are electrically connected through conductive tracks and pads.
• Electronic components: Devices and components that can be found in electronic systems. These devices can range from simple components such as amplifiers and oscillators, to more complex integrated packages, such as integrated circuits and printed circuit boards.
• Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
• CAD software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
• Manual draughting techniques: Techniques used for creating detailed drawings of designs by using specialised pencils, rulers, templates and scales.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.

These skills are necessary for the role of electronics drafter.

• Customise drafts: Edit drawings, schematic diagrams, and drafts according to specifications.
• Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
• Create technical plans: Create detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.
• Design circuit boards: Draught circuit boards used in electronic product such as cell phones and computers, make sure to include integrated circuits and microchips in the design.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Design prototypes: Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
• Draw blueprints: Draw layout specifications for machinery, equipment and building structures. Specify which materials should be used and the size of the components. Show different angles and views of the product.
• Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
• Design electronic systems: Draft sketches and design electronic systems, products, and components using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and equipment. Make a simulation so that an assessment can be made of the viability of the product and so the physical parameters can be examined before the actual building of the product.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of electronics drafter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
• Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
• Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
• Consumer electronics: The functioning of electronic consumer goods such as TVs, radios, cameras and other audio and video equipment.
• Power electronics: The functioning, design, and usage of electronics that control and convert electric power. Power conversion systems are usually categorised as AC-DC or rectifiers, DC-AC or inverters, DC-DC converters, and AC-AC converters.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of electronics drafter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Provide technical documentation: Prepare documentation for existing and upcoming products or services, describing their functionality and composition in such a way that it is understandable for a wide audience without technical background and compliant with defined requirements and standards. Keep documentation up to date.
• Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
• Use manual draughting techniques: Use non-computerised draughting techniques to make detailed drawings of designs by hand with specialised tools such as pencils, rulers and templates.
• Create a product’s virtual model: Create a mathematical or three-dimensional computer graphic model of the product by using a CAE system or a calculator.
• Plan manufacturing processes: Determine and schedule production and assembly steps. Plan manpower and equipment needs taking ergonomic considerations into account.
• Design microelectronics: Design and develop microelectronic systems, products, and components according to specifications, such as microchips.
• Draft bill of materials: Set up a list of materials, components, and assemblies as well as the quantities needed to manufacture a certain product.
• Design hardware: Design and develop new computer hardware systems and components. Draft blueprints and assembly drawings specifying how the computer equipment should be build.
• Review drafts: Proofread and give feedback to technical drawings or drafts.
• Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Develop assembly instructions: Develop a code of letters and numbers to label diagrams for assembly instructions.
• Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
• Prepare assembly drawings: Create the drawings that identify the different components and materials, and that provide instructions as to how they should be assembled.
• Design sensors: Design and develop different types of sensors according to specifications, such as vibration sensors, heat sensors, optical sensors, humidity sensors, and electric current sensors.

3118 – Draughtspersons

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References

1. Electronics drafter – ESCO
2. Electrical or Electronics Drafter Career – Recruiter.com
3. Electronics drafters: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more – RaiseMe