Electrical Engineer Careers and Nature of Work

Electrical engineers specialize in power supply and generation. They design, develop, test and supervise electrical equipment manufacturing. They have also been trained to handle responsibilities like wiring and lighting installations in buildings, automobiles and aircraft.

What is great about being an electrical engineer is that the training is so extensive that graduates may land a job in many different industries such as construction, manufacturing and design.

Moreover, electrical engineers may take part in development and research as assistants to scientists and other engineers. Many kinds of electronic equipment from portable music players to GPS devices pass through an electronic engineer’s hands.

They come up with means to use electrical power to operate a certain product or improve its functions. Among the most challenging and in-demand tasks for electronic engineers today include developing construction plans for electrical lighting systems for skyscrapers, designing remote-controlled race cars and building technology for factories like robots that can perform welding.

Electronic engineers perform their duties in offices and laboratories but may also be sent to work sites for supervising and troubleshooting. This is especially true for those who work in companies that manufacture complex equipment. They spend about 40 hours per week at work, but they may work longer than this.

A typical day for an electrical engineer varies depending on their employer. Those who work for the federal government may handle responsibilities in areas of research, development and electronic device evaluation that may cover systems for manufacturing, transportation, aviation and communication. Electrical engineers use design software and equipment in their projects.

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Network Architect Job Description

Network Architect Job Description

Network architects are responsible for planning, setting up and maintaining computer networks, systems and other related infrastructure for organizations. They may also be hired by organizations to improve their existing computer network.

Network architects must also review business structures in order to ensure proper flow and functionality of Internet systems and information databases. They may be responsible for determining how to grant the employees of an organization access to the Internet and in-house information databases in the most affordable and efficient way.

When planning and designing a computer network project on behalf of an organization, a network architect must take many factors into consideration; they must consider a company’s budget, its number of employees and current computer resources.

Network architects are hired on a part-time, full-time or contractual basis by small, medium and large organizations. As designing network systems is typically a one-time project, computer network architects are frequently only needed for a short period of time; many network architects are hired on a part-time or contractual basis.

Network architects may however be hired as full-time employees of contracting companies, or as full-time employees of large organizations that are in may need to continuously monitor and scrutinize their computer network in order to ensure efficiency, and make modifications and improvements.

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Work Conditions for Network Architects

Work Conditions for Network Architects

Working Hours: Network architects typically work normal weekday working schedules, which involves working 35-40 hours per week. They may be required to work some evenings or weekends to meet deadlines or solve specific problems.

Work Setting: Network architects usually work in well-lit offices or laboratories in comfortable surroundings. Network architects that work for contracting or consulting companies, or that work as self-employed contractors, may work in several different offices or buildings throughout the year.

Work Environment: The workday of a network architect may be quite stressful and busy, as they are responsible for designing and planning new computer networks for a company. Network architects frequently work in teams, but may also work independently. They frequently consult with customers, programmers, managers, and other staff members

Skills Needed to Become a Network Architect

In order to become successful in a career as a network architect, you need to posses a certain set of skills and personality traits. These skills and traits will allow you to perform your job duties with competence, as well as maintain enthusiasm for your work.

• Enjoy working with other information technology professionals

• A keen interest in keeping up to date with technological advancements

• Enjoy performing work that involves precision

• Enjoy developing and implementing solutions for network problems

• Results-oriented approach to work activities

• Value feelings of accomplishment

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Electrical Engineer Careers Nature of Work

Electrical engineers specialize in power supply and generation. They design, develop, test and supervise electrical equipment manufacturing. They have also been trained to handle responsibilities like wiring and lighting installations in buildings, automobiles and aircraft.

What is great about being an electrical engineer is that the training is so extensive that graduates may land a job in many different industries such as construction, manufacturing and design.

Moreover, electrical engineers may take part in development and research as assistants to scientists and other engineers. Many kinds of electronic equipment from portable music players to GPS devices pass through an electronic engineer’s hands.

They come up with means to use electrical power to operate a certain product or improve its functions. Among the most challenging and in-demand tasks for electronic engineers today include developing construction plans for electrical lighting systems for skyscrapers, designing remote-controlled race cars and building technology for factories like robots that can perform welding.

Electronic engineers perform their duties in offices and laboratories but may also be sent to work sites for supervising and troubleshooting. This is especially true for those who work in companies that manufacture complex equipment. They spend about 40 hours per week at work, but they may work longer than this.

A typical day for an electrical engineer varies depending on their employer. Those who work for the federal government may handle responsibilities in areas of research, development and electronic device evaluation that may cover systems for manufacturing, transportation, aviation and communication. Electrical engineers use design software and equipment in their projects.

Read More: computer network engineers

Software Engineering Degrees

Most people are familiar with older, more traditional engineering fields such as mechanical, civil, or electrical. Software Engineering is a relatively new discipline, but in today’s increasingly interconnected world, it is becoming more and more important.

Software Engineering differs from Computer Science or Web Design in that you are formulating how the overall software system functions, and how it works within its intended hardware environment.

Software Engineers are responsible for every phase of a development project, not just for writing the computer code. Upon the initiation of a project, they make sure requirements are documented and validated.

This assures the entire project is working toward the correct goal. They then move on to system design, often overseeing the creation of software prototypes to present to clients for additional validation.

Once the design is solid, Software Engineers manage the overall development effort to make sure the pieces are coming together as planned. Finally, they create and oversee test cases which assure system functionality is complete and traceable to the requirements generated at the time of project initiation.

Software Engineering is the discipline that makes sure computer systems are developed methodically and result in building the right product with quality built in from the beginning.

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Mechanical Engineering Degrees

Mechanical engineering is the broadest of the engineering disciplines. This field focuses on two major topics: thermal systems and mechanical systems.

As a result, the mechanical engineering curriculum overlaps many other engineering fields, including aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, materials and metallurgical and petroleum.

Any prospective engineering student should have a strong high school background in elementary, intermediate and advanced algebra, trigonometry, geometry, pre-calculus, chemistry and physics.

Additionally, the pre-engineering student should have solid reading comprehension skills and the ability to write logically, clearly, concisely and with correct grammar.

University Coursework

The core curriculum of mechanical engineering at any engineering school accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) consists of:

• Statics:

  The study of the effect of forces on a stationary body.

• Dynamics:

  The study of the effect of forces on a moving body.

• Materials Science:

  The study of the structure of materials on a molecular and atomic level.

• Thermodynamics:

  The study of heat and its relationship to pressure, density, temperature and work.

• Fluid Dynamics:

  The study of liquids and gases in motion.

• Heat Transfer:

  The study of the heat transfer process from one body to another.

• Structural Analysis or Mechanical Design:

  The study of the effects of loads on a body and its components.

• Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery:

  The study of a moving body with and without reference to the cause of its motion.

• Electrical Circuits:

  The study of amperage or current flow in a closed loop consisting of voltage sources and resistors.

• Instrumentation and Controls:

  The study of instruments for measurement and controls in modern systems.

• Mechanical Vibrations:

  The study of machine vibrations.

• Computer Science:

  The study of the latest computer language and computer-aided design (CAD).

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Electronic Engineer Employment and Outlook & Salary

Electronic Engineer Employment and Outlook & Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 294,000 electronic engineers employed in 2010. About 14 percent worked for the federal government, 11 percent were employed with wired telecommunications carriers and electronic manufacturing firms and 8 percent held jobs in navigational, electromedical instruments manufacturing, architectural and engineering related services.

The BLS also reports that there will be slower than average growth for electrical engineers. There is only a 6 percent expected increase in the demands for these professionals from 2010 until 2020. This is mainly because of the decline in the manufacturing industry where they are mostly employed.

However, there are good projections for electrical engineers who work on an as-needed basis rather than those who are permanently employed. Similarly, there is a good future ahead for electrical engineers who specialize in research and development.

In 2010, electrical engineers earned as much as $84,540 in median annual wages according to the BLS. The top 10 percent highest earners received about $128,610 while the bottom 10 percent earners took home about $54,030. Among the highest paying electrical engineer jobs in industries employing the largest number of these professionals come from semiconductor and electronic manufacturing companies.

Employees in these firms usually earn about $92,070 on average. This was followed by scientific research and development firms that paid $90,970 in median annual wages.

Electrical engineers with a master’s degree or doctoral degree typically receive higher salaries than those who only obtained a bachelor’s degree. Like any other engineering career, salary rates depend on the employer, location, years of experience and educational background.

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