Electronics engineer: job description

Electronics engineer : Salaries | Employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills

Electronics engineers create, design and develop and test everyday devices such as mobile phones and computers. The work is different from that of electrical engineers , who focus on large-scale power supplies and systems.

Electronic engineering offers opportunities to work on innovative new products – for example, in telecommunications, robotics, computing hardware, medicine and defence.

Typical duties include :

• working with IT specialists, technicians and other electronics engineers to design and develop electronic equipment and components
• planning projects, and creating documentation and specifications
• preparing and managing budgets
• analysing data
• planning maintenance schedules
• ensuring products meet safety requirements.

Graduate salaries

Salary survey websites suggest that starting salaries for graduate electronics engineers tend to be around £29,000. Earnings will increase with experience, especially if you achieve chartership.

Head to our engineering salary round-up to find out more about what you could earn as an engineer.

Typical employers of electronics engineers

Electronics engineers are typically employed by:

• Manufacturers of consumer electronics such as PCs, tablets and similar devices, and products for industry, such as ATM machines.
• TV and satellite companies.
• Scientific and research institutions.
• Medical device and medical instrument manufacturers.
• Aviation and aerospace companies.
• Local and central government.
• Health organisations and manufacturers of medical devices.

There are lots of opportunities with smaller engineering employers. You can find help on finding and applying for jobs with smaller engineering companies here .

Jobs are advertised on targetjobs and via careers services, and on specialist online jobs boards.

Some employers offer final-year project work, degree sponsorship, vacation work and industrial placements, which can provide valuable contacts and a useful insight into the profession. Take a look at our list of engineering employers who offer student work experience .

If you'd like some guidance on applying for engineering jobs or internships, take a look at our engineering CV and covering letter tips and our advice on filling out online applications .

Qualifications and training required

There are routes into an electronic engineering career for both university graduates and school leavers. Graduates will need an engineering degree and, while undertaking a MEng in electronic engineering is the most obvious route, graduates from other engineering disciplines can make their way in to the field.

Some employers will ask for a 2.1 degree but there are some that will accept candidates with a 2.2 degree. See our list of engineering employers that accept 2.2 degrees .

The fastest route to gaining chartered engineer status is to take an accredited MEng degree, followed by at least four years’ vocational training with an accredited employer. To learn more, head to our guide to chartership .

A career as an electronics engineer can lead in many directions and the long-term opportunities are excellent. For those with strong initiative, interpersonal, teamwork and project management skills, opportunities exist to move into managerial and consulting roles.

Key skills for electronics engineers

To be an electronics engineer, you’ll need:

• Complex problem-solving skills.
• Critical thinking skills.
• An aptitude for maths.
• Good communications skills.
• Computer-aided design (CAD) skills.
• Time management and an ability to prioritise and plan work effectively.

Read our article on the skills engineering employers seek for more information and then find out how you can prove you possess these competencies at engineering assessment centres .