Helping you find a career in the electrical engineering industry
Electrical and electronics engineers work to design, develop and build electrical components and systems which can be used in a variety of different industries, from construction to nanotechnology, and from medical technology to power systems. Many larger technology or telecoms businesses will have substantial numbers of electronics or electrical engineers.
Apprenticeships are a great route into electrical/electronics engineering. Many larger firms will recruit a number of apprentices at both Advanced Apprentice and Higher/Degree Apprentice levels. Employers can be manufacturing businesses, construction firms, or technology businesses among others.
Quite often electrical and electronic engineers will work as part of a broader project alongside engineers from other background (for instance structural or production engineers). Electrical engineering positions are available in both the private and public sector, while electronics engineers tend to be more concentrated in the private sector.
Electrical engineers will focus on large-scale electrical systems from factories to motors and supplying homes and businesses with electricity. Typically, this will involve working on problems of generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy. Electrical engineering is crucial to both infrastructure projects, as well as the design of household and business appliances.
Electronics engineers work on smaller-scale systems and components. Electronics engineering has grown enormously in recent years, with the growth in the size and sophistication of the technology sector. Electronics engineers will specialise in a specific sub-section of the profession (e.g. signal processing or telecommunications engineering).
Electrical and electronics engineers can work in a variety of different working environments, from laboratories to construction sites or in offices. Often you will work alongside non-specialists on project teams and may also meet with clients or customers to discuss their solutions and to understand their needs and requirements. You will usually need to explain highly technical information to non-experts, or to write reports. You will also need to be able to understand complex data and produce useable product and systems specifications.