what is an electrical engineer?
As an electrical engineer, you deal with electronics, power, control systems and signal processing. You apply physics and mathematics to design and develop electronics. You rely on computer-aided design (CAD) software to create schematics for electrical components and create simulations illustrating the system functions of electrical devices. You also carry out maintenance and test the devices to ensure they work properly.
Electrical engineers work in various industries, including power generation stations, telecommunications companies and instrumentation development companies. Despite the differences in specialisation, all electrical engineers keep electrical systems up and running in organisations. You make sure that all systems are well maintained and perform system upgrades promptly. You are also responsible for planning and initiating electrical projects. Once a project is underway, you participate from the development process to the final installation. Furthermore, you offer continuous guidance to company management on all electrical issues and supervise other electrical technicians.
You need various skills to become an electrical engineer, from basic circuit theory to project management skills. You also require proficiency in using specialised tools, such as simple voltmeters, high-end analysers, and advanced design and manufacturing software.
Would working as an electrical engineer suit your project management skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in an electrical engineer role.
electrical engineer jobsaverage electrical engineer salary
According to the Economic Research Institute, the average salary of an electrical engineer in Greece is €45,500 per year or approximately €22 per hour. You may also get an annual bonus, averaging €1,680. Your earnings depend on experience and qualifications. In an entry-level position with minimal experience, you start your career earning a salary of €31,200 yearly. When you have years of experience and can handle complex projects, you earn a salary of €55,500 annually.
how to increase your earnings as an electrical engineer
Your salary as an electrical engineer depends on experience and qualifications. When starting in the role, you earn a lower salary, but as your experience improves, your earnings increase. Your area of specialisation may also significantly improve your earnings due to the complexity of the projects for some specialisations. For instance, working in manufacturing or power engineering requires additional expertise, improving your earning potential.
The size of the company also influences your earnings. When you work in a small company, you are likely to earn less due to the limited resources. In large organisations, you work on complex engineering projects that require additional expertise. Working with organisations that have unlimited resources and large budgets also increases your earning prospects.
types of electrical engineers
Electrical engineering is a broad field in which you can specialise in different categories, depending on your preference. Here are some types of electrical engineers:
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electronic engineers
As an electronic engineer, you design electrical components like circuit boards for different devices and machines. Those who deal in very small components are known as microelectronic engineers.
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power systems engineers
As a power systems engineer, you work in electricity production plants and are responsible for electricity generation, distribution and monitoring.
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telecommunication engineers
As a telecommunication engineer, you develop, install, and maintain telecommunications systems and equipment.
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computer engineers
As a computer engineer with a background in electrical engineering, you work with software developers to develop computer hardware and software.
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signal processing engineers
Your job is to analyse and alter digital signals. As a signal processing engineer, you also regularly update digital signals for radiofrequency designs, military applications, and biomedical signal processing.
working as an electrical engineer
Working as an electrical engineer involves the application of physics in order to design, develop, and control electricity and electronics. Here's a breakdown of the typical responsibilities, work environment, schedule and job expectations of an electrical engineer.
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what does an electrical engineer do?
Electrical engineers have a lot of responsibilities, which vary depending on their place of work and specialisation. Nonetheless, some responsibilities are uniform across the board, such as:
- Project planning: as an electrical engineer, you are responsible for planning your company's electrical projects. The planning process begins with designing drafts of electrical systems on paper. When planning, you draft budgets and source all the essential equipment and components required for the project. You also organise meetings with investors or clients to discuss budgets, system specifications, technical requirements and other issues.
- Project development: electrical engineers ensure projects are completed on time and perform as expected. After drafting a plan, you actualise it using CAD software and oversee the development. Once you make the prototypes, you test their performance capabilities and make necessary improvements.
- Managing and maintaining electrical systems: apart from developing new systems, an electrical engineer operates existing electrical systems. You are expected to conduct frequent inspections to ensure all electrical systems work according to global safety guidelines and regulations. Depending on your job description, you may conduct system maintenance and upgrades to ensure electrical systems work efficiently.
- Researching and reporting: you collect client feedback and data on system use and performance. With this information, you compile and table scheduled reports before clients and employers. You also research and innovate new technologies in development laboratories, such as biotechnology, medical and computer labs.
- Ensuring product quality: as an electrical engineer, you ensure electrical products and electronics continue working as expected. You ascertain that electrical systems perform all the functions with ease. Sometimes, you design electrical testing methods for manufacturers to gauge equipment performance. You also conduct tests on finished products and check system capabilities.
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work environment of an electrical engineer
Since electrical engineers work in various industries, they have unique working environments. In most cases, you work indoors when holding meetings or during project planning, design and budgeting sessions. The production of electrical systems is also done indoors at workstations and in labs. However, there are special assignments that force you to work outdoors. In each case, the work environment is high risk, as it usually involves interacting with electricity. High-risk environments include factories, power generation plants and research labs. This profession also involves interacting with different people, including superiors, administrators, fellow employees, technicians and clients. As expected, the working environment demands moderate to high interpersonal skills.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on your industry, you work alongside electronics technicians, mechanical engineers and maintenance engineers. You will likely interact with robotics engineers, industrial electricians and automation engineers. You may also work with aerospace engineers, QA test engineers and project managers.
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electrical engineer work schedule
Electrical engineers have regular but often compartmentalised work schedules. For instance, you could design a project in the morning and move on to test another project or conduct maintenance in the afternoon. However, these schedules are often interrupted, especially if more than one project is underway. You work an average of 40 hours a week.
In large companies, electrical engineers work in shifts to ensure a professional is always available in the workplace. Although most electrical engineers work full-time, independent engineers have an even more dynamic work schedule. This is because they divide their time between working on projects and travelling. Both consultants and contractors work part-time and often for multiple companies. Remote work is possible for electrical engineer consultants.
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career opportunities as an electrical engineer
Electrical engineering skills are crucial in almost all production and manufacturing areas. Skills, education and experience are vital determiners of success when it comes to the individual growth potential of electrical engineers. Highly recommended engineers rise to managerial ranks in their industry or company. After gaining sufficient experience, you can start a private consultancy or contracting firm or become a licensed electrical engineer contractor.
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advantages of finding a job as an electrical engineer through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits.
- always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help
- a range of jobs in your area
electrical engineer skills and education
Here are the qualifications you require to become an electrical engineer:
- Education: complete a bachelor’s degree course in electrical engineering to work as an electrical engineer. If you want to specialise in other areas, start with a degree in applied physics, mechatronics or electromechanical engineering. While it isn’t mandatory, having a master’s degree in robotics or electrical engineering gives you a competitive edge in the job market.
- Licences and work experience: you require a professional licence to practise as a certified electrical engineer in Greece. You can get a licence if you have a diploma certificate or a bachelor’s degree from a Greek higher education institution (HEI). You should also register with the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE-TCG) to become a licensed electrical engineer in Greece.
competencies and characteristics of electrical engineers
Some qualities for success in electrical engineering include:
- Professional skills: in terms of design, production and safety, you should be conversant in all relevant theories and applications for the success of your engineering projects. These include mathematics, circuit design, project development and electrical systems maintenance. Apart from basic engineering education, you are required to prepare projects effectively. The relevant skills you need in this case include sketching, drafting, and budgeting for large and small projects.
- People skills: as an electrical engineer, you should be a good leader. You ensure your engineers and technicians do everything properly and meet deadlines. You also need good communication skills since you collaborate with peers, as well as people inside and outside the profession, such as clients and regulatory officials. Therefore, you should be able to break down technical terms and communicate other details in a simple manner.
- Problem-solving skills: problems tend to occur in the course of engineering work. Therefore, you need sound problem-solving skills in order to solve problems and troubleshoot issues.
FAQs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of an electrical engineer.
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what do electrical engineers actually do?
As an electrical engineer, you design and develop electrical systems and electronics. You are involved in the planning and design stage to create blueprints for electronic devices. Aside from building electrical systems, you test them and supervise the manufacturing of the equipment.
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is electrical engineering a good job?
Working as an electrical engineer in Greece is a promising career with great prospects. You earn a lucrative salary and have the opportunity to build your skills and gain valuable experience in designing electrical systems.
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are electrical engineers in demand?
Yes. Electrical engineers are highly skilled in designing and building electronics and electrical systems. They are useful in various industries for the production of electronics and the development of electrical systems.
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how much does an electrical engineer make in Greece?
As an electrical engineer, you earn an average salary of €45,500 per year. The earnings vary based on experience and educational qualifications. You are likely to earn more with experience and additional specialisation.
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do electrical engineers need coding skills?
As an electrical engineer, you use low-level (C++) and high-level programming languages (Python) to test hardware. Hence, knowledge of programming and coding is useful in executing your duties.
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how do I find a job as an electrical engineer?
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