Electronics Engineer

An electronics engineer should have innovative & independent thoughts, a necessity to create things, deep imagination and vision, aptitude and an enthusiasm to learn, along with logical reasoning. An engineer must be capable of quickly grasping a problem and must then find out the fastest and most cost-effective way of solving it. Additionally, an electronics engineer must have good communication skills, including the ability to express himself using figures and words and have the potential to work independently, as well as part of a team.

Natural curiosity is vital in this profession. It is this mindset that helps propel engineers through their career path. Starting right from school days, individuals with an engineering personality love to explore more than what is being taught to them. They spend more time experimenting on new ideas and figuring out things on their own. Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are the base of this career’s foundation. Electronics engineers must also demonstrate a knack for technical drawings and computers.

This field includes individuals from both sexes and every ethnicity. One factor that all engineers have in common is the desire to help solve the world\'s problems and make it a better place to live in. They often have differing views and perspectives but they all steer towards a problem-solving direction. If you feel your personality matches the above mentioned traits, and if you are ready to take on a challenging and stimulating career, you should consider electronics engineering.

Electronics engineers are involved in designing, creating, developing, testing and supervising an extensive variety of technology ranging from broadcasting & telecommunication systems like televisions, computers, telephones and radios to various machinery and equipment like tracking devices, video cameras, electric motors, and power generators. The field of electronics covers a wide range of applications and devices which make our life easier and enjoyable by helping to collect, distribute, control & transmit information. They assist us to see, hear and communicate over long distances within seconds.

Electronics have a major role to play in virtually every industry. They increase productivity in sectors like oil, energy and agriculture. Steel, petroleum, chemical industries depend on electronics for daily processes and functions. Even hospitals in the health-care industry rely heavily on electronics to perform routine tests on patients. Safety measures in transportation, industries and homes also depend on electronics.


Electronics engineers may choose to specialize in various areas like biomedical engineering, microelectronics, power electronics, communications, manufacture of equipment etc. or in one particular specialty within these areas, for example analog and digital electronics or fiber optics. These engineers are responsible for designing new products, writing reports on their performance, as well as overseeing their maintenance. Testing equipment and machinery, solving problems related to operation, and estimating time and cost of products also comes under their job.

An engineering degree, either B.E or B.Tech or a diploma in electronics engineering is needed for those who wish to qualify as electronics engineers. After pursuing the degree, there are some countries that require engineers to pass professional examinations such as AMIE (Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers).

For those who want to pursue teaching or conduct research work in electronics engineering, a postgraduate or master’s degree of M.E or M.Tech in electronics engineering is required. Those who want to hold a position in management or administration should possess an M.B.A degree along with a degree in engineering. 

Statistics suggest that in 2003, those with a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering earned starting salaries of approximately $49,000 per annum, those with a master’s degree earned around $64,000 and those with a Ph.D. degree earned $74,000.

In India, an electronics engineer can expect a salary between Rs. 98,000 to Rs. 550,000 depending on level of education, expertise and location.

Electronics engineers typically work from offices or design centers which may be part of large organizations and firms. These include both private companies as well as government agencies.
A lot of time may be spent in laboratories depending on the type of work. The nature of electronics engineering is such that work is sometimes concentrated around computers. A small amount of work on software or firmware may also be required. One job can last for a few weeks to months and sometimes years. On an average, electronics engineers work around 40 hours per week.

It is vital that electronics engineers continue their education and commit to lifelong learning because those who do not keep abreast of latest advances and developments in technology put themselves at risk of losing their jobs or letting promotion opportunities slide.

A career in electronics engineering is beneficial in all aspects because it teaches you how to think through a problem in order to come up with a solution. These skills can therefore be implemented in real life scenarios for problem solving.

Few other advantages are that the pay in this career is above average and electronics engineers get to experiment with a reasonable amount of high tech equipment. As a beginner, if you are unsatisfied with your choice, a degree in electronics engineering will also put you in a good position to switch fields to software development or IT.

Some disadvantages in this career are that it can be dull & monotonous. If you get bored easily then it may not be for you because a single project can last for 6 months to several years. Some people just don't like working on the same thing for such long periods of time.

Spending ages bashing your head against a wall trying to find the root of a problem can be very frustrating as well. As deadlines approach, engineers may have to endure intense pressure & workload. Additionally, working with high tech equipment and machinery may prove to be hazardous at times.

Electronics engineering constitutes the largest branch of engineering. In 2002, electronics engineers had around 292,000 jobs out of which most were employed in professional, scientific, and technical services firms as well as government organizations. Some were employed by manufacturers of computer and electronic equipment & machinery and the remainders were offered placements in firms which dealt in wholesale trade, communications, and utilities.

Therefore, favorable employment opportunities are anticipated for electronic engineers especially in the service industries. Job opportunities would also result from retirement and transfers of existing electronic engineers. Having said that, the growth rate of electronics engineering is slower than other occupations. In spite of an increased demand for electronics, there is intense competition from foreign countries and such engineering services are highly sought after abroad, which in turn hinders domestic employment.

Job opportunities are concentrated in developed & developing countries like USA, UK, New Zealand, China, and Singapore. In India, industrial cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai have better scope for this field.