Electricity is something that people cannot live without. As we depend on machines to do more and more of the work for us, we need Electrical Engineers to ensure maximum equipment reliability at minimum maintenance cost.

Electrical Engineering is a huge field with many sectors in it that not only offers superb long term career development opportunities, but also gives engineers the satisfaction of being able to see the finished product that they have been working on.

An Electrical engineers duties can include;

  • Providing electrical troubleshooting support to minimize downtime and maximize process efficiencies.
  • Providing technical recommendations based on analysis and the results of studies.
  • Serving as a consultant and expert advisor on electrical engineering issues.
  • Reviewing technical drawings to ensure they conform to the highest standards and customer requirements.
  • Designing, developing and maintaining electrical control systems, machinery and equipment.
  • Preparing man-hours estimates.
  • Developing electrical engineer standards and procedures.
  • Debugging and modifying existing drawings.
  • Reviewing the work of junior level engineers, designers and technicians.
  • Performing power calculations.
  • Managing contractor activities.
  • Preparing an engineering projects scope of work.
  • Carrying out root cause analysis to identify and eliminate the cause of any electrical failures.
  • Developing the abilities of junior electrical maintenance technicians.
  • Interacting with technology vendors in evaluating solutions.
  • Documenting designs and testing processes.
  • Carrying out feasibility studies.
  • Analysing and interpreting data.
  • Creating test procedures.

Electrical engineers should have sound knowledge or experience of;

  • Power systems engineering
  • Electric utility operations
  • Cost estimating
  • Energy infrastructure
  • Energy industry operations
  • Systems integration
  • Analysis of Circuits
  • Digital Electronics
  • Energy Conversion
  • Electrical distribution
  • Equipment sizing
  • Systems design
  • Power distribution systems
  • AC/DC drives

Electrical engineers can work on;

  • Transport networks
  • Rail electrification
  • Signalling
  • Power generation
  • Renewable energy sources
  • Solar panelling
  • Wind turbines
  • Aerospace projects
  • Automotive projects
  • Chemical projects
  • Construction projects
  • Defence projects
  • Electronics projects

Key skills required to be an Electrical engineer;

  • Having a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of engineering sciences and techniques.
  • Familiarity with engineering design tools.
  • Being able to apply engineering science and technology to design work.
  • Managing and executing technical projects.
  • Estimating costs and project timescales.
  • Well-organized and ability to multitask.
  • Ability to clearly communicate with clients, stakeholders and senior managers.
  • Ability to use a wide range of CAD tools.
  • Making sure projects meet safety regulations.
  • Ability to communicate technical concepts and strategies to a non-technical audience.

Personal qualities needed for this role;

  • Strong analytical & troubleshooting skills.
  • Good decision making skills.
  • Confident and steady under pressure.
  • Initiative
  • Resourcefulness

Reasons to become an Electrical Engineer

  • It’s a dynamic and growing field with many career opportunities.
  • Electrical Engineering is everywhere and is a part of every major industry.
  • Help to solve energy shortages and thereby save the environment.
  • Be involved in developing clean and efficient renewable energy.
  • Get to be employed in a field that has cutting edge technology and state of the art equipment.
  • Its an ideal subject for anyone who enjoys science and mathematics.
  • Be involved in solving key engineering problems.
  • Career opportunities can exist in diverse areas such as sectors medicine, aviation, communications, transport, entertainment, gaming and space exploration.

Salary
In the UK starting salaries for newly qualified Electrical Engineers are around £20,000 – £25,000. More experienced engineers can earn around £40,000.

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