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Electrical Engineers

$103.32K Median Salary 13.7K Job Openings (Annual Projection) 6.8% Job Growth

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About This Career

Research, design, develop, test, or supervise the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

Reported Job Titles

Circuits Engineer, Design Engineer, Electrical Controls Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Project Engineer, Engineer, Instrumentation and Electrical Reliability Engineer (I&E Reliability Engineer), Project Engineer, Test Engineer

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Written Comprehension

Written Expression

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Problem Sensitivity

Category Flexibility

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Speech Recognition

Mathematical Reasoning

Number Facility

Fluency of Ideas

Originality

Speech Clarity

Perceptual Speed

Selective Attention

Visualization

Far Vision

Flexibility of Closure

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

Computers and Electronics

Design

English Language

Mathematics

Physics

Production and Processing

Mechanical

Public Safety and Security

Customer and Personal Service

Skills

Writing

Critical Thinking

Reading Comprehension

Active Learning

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Speaking

Monitoring

Mathematics

Coordination

Judgment and Decision Making

Systems Analysis

Systems Evaluation

Operations Analysis

Instructing

Learning Strategies

Management of Personnel Resources

Quality Control Analysis

Science

Social Perceptiveness

Time Management

Technology Skills

Analytical or scientific software

Word processing software

Computer aided design CAD software

Development environment software

Operating system software

Object or component oriented development software

Industrial control software

Geographic information system

Program testing software

Requirements analysis and system architecture software

Project management software

WAN switching software and firmware

Spreadsheet software

Configuration management software

Electronic mail software

Graphics or photo imaging software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

File versioning software

Office suite software

Financial analysis software

Presentation software

Data base user interface and query software

Process mapping and design software

Tools

Semiconductor process systems

Spectrometers

Signal generators

Tube furnaces

Laboratory evaporators

Oscilloscopes

Laboratory safety furnaces

Scanning probe microscopes

Voltage or current meters

Frequency calibrator or simulator

Scanning electron microscopes

Corona treaters

Magnetic spin bars or stir bars or stirring beads

Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers

Flow sensors

Spectrographs

Laboratory balances

X ray generators

Oscillographs

Frequency analyzers

Notebook computers

Ion implantation equipment

Transistor transistor logic TTL

Thickness measuring devices

Frequency counters or timer or dividers

Capacitance meters

Metal markers or holders

Electrical frequency meters

Electronic measuring probes

Reactors

Laser measuring systems

Isolation glove boxes

Digital camcorders or video cameras

Level generators

Plotter printers

Microwave core equipment

Transistor circuit testers

Surface testers

Power meters

Diffractometers

Multimeters

Computer servers

Network analyzers

Pyrometers

Laser printers

Thermocouples

Personal computers

Accelerometers

Abilities

Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Perceptual Speed: The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Operations Analysis: Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Technology Skills

Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Development environment software: Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
Operating system software: Microsoft Windows
Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional
Geographic information system: ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS systems
Program testing software: Selenium
Requirements analysis and system architecture software: Unified modeling language UML
Project management software: Mavenlink; Microsoft Project
WAN switching software and firmware: Wide area network WAN software
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Configuration management software: Chef; IBM Software Configuration and Library Manager SCLM; Perforce Helix software; Puppet
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Graphics or photo imaging software: SmugMug Flickr
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
File versioning software: Apache Subversion SVN; Continuous integration software; Git; Version control software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Financial analysis software: Delphi Technology
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software: Blackboard software; Database software; Microsoft Access; Yardi software
Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio

Tools

Semiconductor process systems: Contact printers
Spectrometers: Spectroscopes
Signal generators: Function generators
Tube furnaces: Split-hinge furnaces; Tubular furnaces
Laboratory evaporators: Thermal evaporators
Oscilloscopes: Sampling oscilloscopes
Laboratory safety furnaces: Oxidation furnaces
Scanning probe microscopes: Atomic force microscopes AFM; Scanning acoustic microscopes; Scanning probe microscopes SPM; Scanning tunneling microscopes STM
Voltage or current meters: Digital voltmeters DVM
Frequency calibrator or simulator: Signal analyzers
Scanning electron microscopes: Scanning electron microscopes SEM
Corona treaters: Cylindrical corona testers
Magnetic spin bars or stir bars or stirring beads: Spinners
Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers: Rapid thermal annealers RTA
Flow sensors: Airflow indicators
Spectrographs: Hyperspectral imaging equipment
Laboratory balances: Electrobalances
X ray generators: X ray guns
Oscillographs: Sweep oscillators
Frequency analyzers: Spectrum analyzers
Notebook computers: Laptop computers
Ion implantation equipment: Reactive ion etch systems
Transistor transistor logic TTL: Pattern generator systems
Thickness measuring devices: Digital thickness gauges
Frequency counters or timer or dividers: Frequency counters
Capacitance meters: Capacitance testers
Metal markers or holders: Centering head tools; Magnetic circle layout tools; Radius markers
Electrical frequency meters: Frequency meters
Electronic measuring probes: Inductive probes
Reactors:
Laser measuring systems: Laser shearography flaw detectors; Verisurf Master3DGage
Isolation glove boxes:
Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras
Level generators: Pulse generators
Plotter printers: Plotters
Microwave core equipment: Microwave automatic load-pull tuners
Transistor circuit testers: Universal microwave transistor test fixtures
Surface testers: Profilometers
Power meters: Direct current DC power testers
Diffractometers: X ray powder diffractometers
Multimeters:
Computer servers: Domain name servers DNS
Network analyzers: Local area network LAN analyzers
Pyrometers: Digital pyrometers
Laser printers: Computer laser printers
Thermocouples:
Personal computers:
Accelerometers: Capacitive acceleration instruments; Magnetic induction acceleration instruments; Piezoelectric acceleration instruments; Resonance acceleration instruments