Electrical Engineer

As an electrical engineer, you may design, develop and maintain electrical control systems and components to required specifications. Your work may also focus on:

• economy
• quality
• reliability
• safety
• sustainability.

The electrical equipment that you’ll design and manufacture is used across many sectors, including:

• the building industry and services, including lighting, heating and ventilation
• transportation and transport networks
• manufacturing and construction
• production and distribution of power.

Electrical engineers maybe involved in projects from the concept and detail of the design, through to implementation, testing and handover. You may also be involved in maintenance programmes.

Most electrical engineers work in multidisciplinary project teams, which are likely to include engineers from other specialist areas as well as architects, marketing and sales staff, manufacturers, technicians and customer service personnel.

Depending on your employer, you may be involved in all parts of the design and development process or just one particular stage. While the work can vary according to the industry, you’ll typically need to:

• identify customer requirements
• design systems and products
• read design specifications and technical drawings
• research suitable solutions and estimate costs and timescales
• make models and prototypes of products using three-dimensional design software
• work to British (BS), European (EN) and other standards
• liaise with others in the design team
• communicate with clients and contractors
• attend meetings on site
• design and conduct tests
• record, analyse and interpret test data
• propose modifications and retest products
• qualify the final product or system
• service and maintain equipment
• prepare product documentation, write reports and give presentations
• monitor a product in use to improve on future design.