Electronics engineer

An Electronics Engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic systems and components, such as circuit boards, processors, and communication devices. They work on a wide range of applications, including consumer electronics, telecommunications, medical devices, automotive systems, and industrial equipment. Their role is pivotal in creating and improving electronic devices and systems that are integral to modern life.

Duties

Here are some typical duties of electronics engineers:

• Create and design electronic circuits and systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Build and test prototypes of electronic devices to evaluate their functionality and performance.
• Conduct tests to identify and troubleshoot issues in electronic circuits and systems, ensuring they meet specified requirements.
• Prepare detailed technical documentation, including schematics, design specifications, and user manuals.
• Conduct research to stay updated with the latest technologies and advancements in electronics, applying innovative solutions to design challenges.
• Manage projects from conception to completion, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating with other team members.
• Ensure electronic systems comply with industry standards and regulations through rigorous testing and quality assurance procedures.
• Work closely with other engineers, designers, and technicians to develop integrated systems and ensure compatibility with other components.
• Provide technical support and guidance to clients and end-users, addressing any issues or concerns with electronic products.
• Continuously seek ways to improve existing electronic systems and processes, enhancing efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

The following job titles also refer to electronics engineer:

electronic technology engineering consultant
electro engineer
electronics engineering expert
electronics engineering consultant
electronics engineering specialist
electronic technology engineer
electronic technology engineering expert
electronics engineering adviser
electronic technology engineering specialist
electronic technology engineering adviser
electronic engineer

Electronics Engineers typically work in laboratories, offices, and manufacturing environments. They spend considerable time at their desks using CAD software to design circuits and systems, as well as in labs conducting tests and experiments on prototypes. The role may require collaboration with other engineers and professionals, involving meetings and discussions to solve complex design issues. Some projects may require visiting clients or production sites. Standard working hours are common, but project deadlines or troubleshooting urgent issues may require additional hours, including evenings and weekends. Safety protocols must be followed, especially when working with electrical components and equipment.

A bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field is typically required. Some positions may prefer candidates with a master’s degree or higher, especially for advanced research and development roles. Coursework in digital systems, circuit design, microelectronics, signal processing, and embedded systems is beneficial. Practical experience through internships, co-op programs, or entry-level positions in electronics engineering is highly valuable.

Proficiency in CAD software, simulation tools, and diagnostic equipment is essential. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are crucial for designing and troubleshooting complex systems. Continuous professional development and staying updated with advancements in electronic technology and industry standards are important for career progression. Certifications, such as those from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) or becoming a licensed Professional Engineer (PE), can enhance job prospects and credibility in the field.

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 engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

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

instrumentation engineer
equipment engineer
robotics engineer
agricultural engineer
electromagnetic engineer

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

• Electronic test procedures: Testing protocols that enable a variety of analyses of electronic systems, products, and components. These tests include the testing of electrical properties, such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and inductance as well as the testing of specific electronic components, such as the electron tubes, semiconductors, integrated circuits, and batteries. These tests include visual inspection, performance tests, environment tests, and safety tests.
• Electricity principles: Electricity is created when electric current flows along a conductor. It entails the movement of free electrons between atoms. The more free electrons in a material, the better it conducts. The three main parameters of electricity are voltage, current (ampère), and resistance (ohm).
• 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.
• 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.
• Physics: The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
• Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
• Environmental threats: The threats for the environment which are related to biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, and physical hazards.
• 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.
• Electricity: Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
• Electrical testing methods: Test procedures performed on electrical equipment and machinery in order to check the performance and quality of the electrical equipment and their adherence to specifications. During these tests electrical properties, such as voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and inductance, are measured using electrical measuring equipment, such as multimeters, oscilloscopes, and voltmeters.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills are necessary for the role of electronics engineer.

• Design electrical systems: Draft sketches and design electrical systems, products, and components using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and equipment. Draw panel arrangement layouts, electrical schematics, electrical wiring diagrams, and other assembly details.
• Develop electronic test procedures: Develop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of electronic systems, products, and components.
• Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
• Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
• Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
• 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.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Write technical reports: Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
• Execute feasibility study: Evaluate and assess the potential of a project, plan, proposition, or new idea. Realise a standardised study based on extensive investigation and research to support decision-making.
• Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
• 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 engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
• Electromagnetism: The study of electromagnetic forces and the interaction between electric and magnetic fields. The interaction between electrically charged particles can create magnetic fields with a certain range or frequency and electricity can be produced by the changing of these magnetic fields.
• Design principles: The elements used in design, such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
• Programmable logic controller: Programmable logic controllers, or PLCs, are computer control systems used for monitoring and controlling input and output and automating electromechanical processes.
• Consumer electronics: The functioning of electronic consumer goods such as TVs, radios, cameras and other audio and video equipment.
• Risk management: The process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, and the methods on dealing with risks effectively.
• Project management: Understand project management and the activities that comprise this area. Know the variables implied in project management such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.
• Robotic components: The components that can be found in robotic systems, such as microprocessors, electronics, sensors, circuit boards, encoders, servomotors, controllers, pneumatics or hydraulics.
• Cad software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
• Electromagnets: Magnets in which magnetic fields are produced by electric current. By manipulating the electric current, the magnetic fields can be changed and manipulated as well, which allows more control than permanent non-electric magnets. Electromagnets are commonly used in electrical devices, such as loudspeakers, hard disks, MRI devices, and electric motors.
• Regulations on substances: The national and international regulations on the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, e.g. regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.
• Product data management: The use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.
• Robotics: The branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and overlaps with mechatronics and automation engineering.

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

• Process customer requests based on the reach regulation 1907 2006: Reply to private consumer requests according to REACh Regulation 1907/2006 whereby chemical Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) should be minimal. Advise customers on how to proceed and protect themselves if the presence of SVHC is higher than expected.
• Create software design: Transpose a series of requirements into a clear and organised software design.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Design integrated circuits: Design and draft integrated circuits (IC) or semiconductors, such as microchips, used in electronic products. Integrate all necessary components, such as diodes, transistors, and resistors. Pay attention to the design of input signals, output signals, and power availability.
• Design circuit boards: Draught circuit boards used in electronic products such as cell phones and computers, make sure to include integrated circuits and microchips in the design.
• Design microelectronics: Design and develop microelectronic systems, products, and components according to specifications, such as microchips.
• Assess supplier risks: Evaluate supplier performance in order to assess which suppliers do or may not perform adequately, stick to the agreed contracts, meet the standard requirements and desired quality at all times or who may pose future risks.
• 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.
• Design microelectromechanical systems: Design and develop microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), such as microsensing devices. Make a model and a simulation using technical design software to assess the viability of the product and examine the physical parameters to ensure a successful production process.
• Abide by regulations on banned materials: Comply with regulations banning heavy metals in solder, flame retardants in plastics, and phthalate plasticisers in plastics and wiring harness insulations, under EU RoHS/WEEE Directives and China RoHS legislation.
• Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
• Ensure material compliance: Ensure that the materials provided by suppliers comply with the specified requirements.
• Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and project requirements, such as budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment, to determine the project’s benefits and costs. Assess whether the agreement or project will redeem its investment and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.
• Design user interface: Create software or device components that enable interaction between humans and systems or machines, using appropriate techniques, languages, and tools to streamline interaction while using the system or machine.

2152 – Electronics engineers

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References

1. Electronics engineer – ESCO
2. Electronics engineer job profile – Prospects.ac.uk
3. Electrical and Electronics Engineers : Occupational Outtlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. Electronics engineer | Explore careers – National Careers Service
5. Featured image: Image by This_is_Engineering from Pixabay