Manufacturing
Great
What Does an Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technician Do?
This is a profession that’s needed in many industry settings, from a power generating facility to a manufacturing business to the federal government. Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help design, develop, test, manufacture and repair electronic components. They typically work under the supervision of an electrical engineer or a computer hardware engineer.
Electrical engineering technicians focus on electrical control systems, but their work may also include electronics engineering work, which focuses on basic circuitry and building prototypes.
Engineering technicians set up and run tests on equipment, systems and even products. That could include computers, medical monitoring equipment, navigational tools, communications systems or other electronic systems. However, these technicians — also called research electricians or product engineering technicians — usually specialize in one area.
Great
Median Salary $
69,000
Jobs Available
6,900+
These technicians use their knowledge of electronic theory and circuitry, test procedures, mathematics and physics to solve a wide range of problems. (Credit: Kzenon/Shutterstock)
Duties + Responsibilities
- Read blueprints, schematic drawings and instructions for assembly of equipment
- Design basic circuitry and draft sketches for clarification
- Assemble electrical and electronic systems and prototypes
- Perform maintenance and calibration of equipment
- Test and analyze results
- Describe equipment qualities, failures and limitations for engineers to consider
- Write reports and record data
- Research equipment and component needs
Education + Training
Most employers require an associate degree in electrical or electronics engineering technology. Community colleges and technical schools offer programs that include programming languages, chemistry, physics and circuitry. Some businesses also offer on-the-job training or accept candidates who lack an associate degree but have equivalent experience, such as military training in this area.
Certification isn’t generally required but it may open up new job opportunities. Continuing education is a must to keep up with technological trends.
You May Be a Good Fit for This Position If You
- Have a keen eye for detail
- Having strong communication skills
- Have excellent reasoning skills
- Excel at math and science
- Have strong mechanical skills
