Electrical engineering
What is electrical engineering and what does it involve?
Electrical engineering is one of the most diverse of the engineering disciplines. It involves designing, planning, developing and managing the manufacture, installation, operation and maintenance of electrical systems.
Electrical engineers may perform a great variety of tasks depending on the specific job and industry in which they work, and on the specialisation they choose to follow (see box below).
They may find themselves working on a range of complex hardware and software systems including:
- computer systems and telecommunication networks (including the internet)
- mobile telecommunications and wireless networks
- integrated electronic systems
- optical and microwave communications
- advanced robotics and artificial intelligence
- television and image processing systems
- renewable energy systems
- generation and transmission of electric power.
Where do electrical engineers work?
Electrical engineers can work for a broad variety of employers. Potential employers include service providers such as electricity authorities, telecommunications companies; large private companies such as BHP, Boeing Australia, Honeywell, Motorola, IBM etc.; government departments; and small companies that apply new technologies to products and services.
Work conditions
Electrical engineers may need to work alongside a variety of other professional and non-professional people, including civil and mechanical engineers, computer scientists, and various workers in the building and construction, and business sectors.
Employment opportunities and salaries
Engineers Australia report that there are currently chronic skills shortages in this profession throughout the country. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' (DEEWR) Australian jobs 2008 there are good job prospects for electrical engineers. Unemployment in this occupation is low, and future job growth is expected to be moderate.
According to Engineers Australia's 2007 Salary and Benefits survey, the average base salary for a graduate electrical engineer, across the private and public sectors, was $55,397, which was the highest salary across all the engineering disciplines. Electrical engineers with 4-10 years experience earned an average of $81,931.
Specialisations
Among electrical engineering specialisations are:
- electronics engineer
- computer systems engineer
- control engineer
- power generation and distribution engineer
- telecommunications engineer
|
Find out more |
|
Engineers Australia, www.engineersaustralia.org.au
|