9 Electrical Engineering Career Paths
Wasim Asghar 
July 14, 2023Becoming an electrical engineer is a potential career choice for recent graduates as this field has plenty of employment options. You can serve in any industry that necessitates power, from governmental agencies to private tech corporations.
Learning about the various Electrical Engineering career paths can assist you in figuring out which one of them is the perfect fit for you. In this article, we will review the nine types of jobs in electrical engineering and provide you with the best tips to begin a career in this field.
9 Major Types of Jobs for Electrical Engineers
There are various types of electrical engineering jobs available, ranging from designing and testing electrical systems to managing projects and developing communication networks. Some common roles include:
- Electrical Engineers
- Test Engineers
- Control Engineers
- Design Engineers
- Aeronautical Engineers
- Project Engineers
- Communications Engineers
- System Engineers
- Electronics Engineers
1. Electrical Engineers
Electrical engineers are responsible for creating, assessing, and putting into action various electrical gadgets, from intricate power systems to individual electrical devices.
They utilize their understanding of electrical circuits and currents to supply power to technological equipment in a secure manner. Additionally, they give manufacturing tips and suggestions depending on customer requirements and demands.
2. Test Engineers
Test engineers are responsible for developing the procedures to detect problems and verify their operability. They develop tests to determine whether products fit functional and safety specifications, designing an isolated environment that enables them to monitor experiments precisely. Test engineers monitor test runs and modify the evaluation procedure depending on the outcomes.
3. Control Engineers
Control engineers are responsible for providing dependable, effective, and top-quality production procedures in manufacturing and energy facilities. They create the entire production strategy for the plant, making modifications to maximize the outcome. They also alter the factory floor’s setup and automate crucial workflow procedures to boost productivity.
4. Design Engineers
Design engineers are in charge of studying and developing innovative items and systems for a corporation. They carry out multiple duties in an engineering department, such as formulating schematics, making experimental models, and supervising the production procedure.
5. Aeronautical Engineers
An aeronautical engineer builds systems for airplanes and related systems, such as satellites. Aeronautical engineers thoroughly evaluate their creations to ensure that all systems, including propellers and navigators, work harmoniously.
6. Project Engineers
A project engineer manages and supervises engineering projects, which may also involve electrical engineering. They work within the allocated expenses and timeframe and may recruit extra personnel, such as contract laborers, to ensure the project is completed as per the required criteria.
7. Communications Engineers
A communications engineer is in charge of creating communication technologies like fiber optics and satellites. They may also help with the deployment of the equipment to ensure that it works effectively and that the communication received and delivered by the gadget or gear is of excellent quality.
8. System Engineers
A systems engineer ensures that the systems under their management are entirely operational and optimal. They may upgrade systems as necessary, track their progress, and install new programs and hardware. In addition, systems engineers may set up a feedback procedure to find problems and propose fixes to stakeholders.
9. Electronics Engineers
Electronics engineers are in charge of creating and manufacturing electronics and their parts. They choose the most incredible power supply possibilities and visual components to support a novel item’s essential features.
Furthermore, electronics engineers establish a product’s final criteria so customers can understand its functional needs and constraints.
Tips for Starting a Career in Electrical Engineering
Below are a few tips for electrical engineers to get their foot into this field:
- Get a degree
- Connect with professionals
- Complete an internship program
- Take licensing exams
- Enhance your skillset
1. Get a degree
While several jobs in electrical engineering demand a bachelor’s degree or above, you can still secure entry-level roles emphasizing installation and maintenance if you only possess an associate’s degree.
Apart from that, a master’s degree can probably assist you in becoming suitable for more work prospects if you wish to expand your electrical engineering career.
We have a separate blog on what you can do with an electrical engineering degree. We recommend you go through that for more clarity.
2. Connect with professionals
In an electrical engineer’s field, several social gatherings, conventions, panel discussions, webinars, and training sessions are available. Participating in these will help you understand the sector better and meet experts who have already excelled in it.
These people might be able to provide you with words of wisdom, recommend you to a particular position or company, agree to be your guide, or respond to your concerns about your prospective career path in electrical engineering.
3. Complete an internship program
Finding an internship is possible both during and after your educational career. An internship allows you to earn practical experience in the industry and gives you a chance to work on a project that you can highlight on your CV when seeking jobs in electrical engineering.
By gaining experience, working as an intern will also allow you to collaborate with experts who can refer you to potential companies afterward.
4. Take licensing exams
In addition to your degree, licensing can set you apart from other candidates applying for the same post. Consider enrolling in certification programs and acquiring your license to comprehend the industry and employ it to thrive in your chosen career in electrical engineering.
5. Enhance your skillset
Possessing hard and soft skills that you can utilize on the job to thrive as an electrical engineer is beneficial. Keep a close eye on the competencies ideal for your chosen electrical engineering career and look for ways to enhance the expertise you currently acquire.
For example, you may enroll in classes for particular instruments and programs you’ll have to employ at the workplace or function with a team to strengthen your collaborative abilities. You can also seek feedback to learn how to be more receptive to constructive criticism.
You can also check out our blog on career tips for electrical engineers to advance their careers for further insight.
Conclusion
Electrical engineering is a vast field and can be pursued as a successful career in the long run. You can go and search for a lot of jobs in the electrical engineering occupation and its sub-domain as well. It will provide you with a ton of benefits, such as a handsome yearly income, multiple electrical engineering job career opportunities, etc.
So it’s a wrap. We have discussed nine different types of career paths in electrical engineering.
We hope this article rendered sufficient information for you to make an informed career decision.
If you are just starting and interested in pursuing this field, we suggest you read our article on how to learn electrical engineering to strengthen your foundations.
Licensed Professional Engineer in Texas (PE), Florida (PE) and Ontario (P. Eng) with consulting experience in design, commissioning and plant engineering for clients in Energy, Mining and Infrastructure.