Electrical and electronics engineers
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Electrical and electronics engineers design, plan, research, review and test electrical and electronic equipment and systems.
Electrical and electronics engineers can work in the public and private sector. People in this career are employed by companies in many different sectors including manufacturing, processing, transportation, electrical utilities and communications. They may work for manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, consulting firms and government.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, electrical and electronics engineers:
- Research the feasibility, design, operation and performance of power systems, electrical machinery and electronic communications, instrumentation and control systems, including the individual equipment and components used
- Prepare project budgets, timing estimates and reports
- Design specifications for electrical and electronic systems and equipment
- Design electrical and electronic circuits, components, systems and equipment, such as systems that transmit voice, video and data over copper wires, fibre optics or microwave networks
- Supervise and inspect the installation, modification, testing and operation of electrical and electronic systems and equipment
- Develop maintenance and operating standards for electrical and electronic systems and equipment
- Investigate electrical or electronic failures
- Prepare contracts and review tenders for construction or maintenance
People in this job may also supervise technicians, technologists, programmers, analysts and other engineers on a project or in a department or company.
In addition, electrical and electronics engineers may specialize in a number of areas including electrical design for residential, commercial or industrial installations, electrical power generation and transmission, and instrumentation and control systems.
People in this career may also be involved in the development of electronics and nanoelectronics, such as solar cells, thin film display, quantum computers, high-speed communications systems, optics and optoelectronics, and medical electronics.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
6,310% Employed Full Time
77%Electrical and electronics engineers usually work a standard 40-hour week; however, project deadlines may require them to work longer hours and in some cases at night or on the weekend.
People in this job can work in a variety of settings due to improvements in technology, including a company office or a home office. Some electrical and electronics engineers inspect, oversee and solve on-site problems in laboratories or industrial plants while others do outdoor field work as a part of operational, maintenance or construction activities.
Job hazards vary depending on the situation; however, during field activities there may be a risk of electrical shock from field wiring if safety procedures are not followed.
Career Pathways
Generally, recent graduates begin as a junior engineer or engineer-in-training. With experience, people in this job can advance to positions such as senior engineers, project managers, principal engineers or partners. Individuals in this career may earn master's degree to work in a more specialized field.
There are many different areas of specialization in this field. Some electrical and electronics engineers:
- Perform electrical design for residential, commercial or industrial installations, electrical power and communications systems, and instrumentation and control systems
- Apply engineering science to make products for homes, such as consumer electronics, to make electrical/electronic products for industry and commercial applications (consumer)
- Work on image processing or control systems for the industrial and commercial applications
- Design and build a variety of other items (for example, medical equipment, space technology, environmental monitoring systems, and technology used in underwater research)
Electrical and electronic engineers who go on to earn a doctoral degree can contribute to the field through research and teaching at the post-secondary level or they may find work in a larger firm in their specialty.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Electrical and electronics engineers must complete a bachelor's degree in electrical or electronics engineering or in an appropriate related engineering discipline. They must also be registered with Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.
For those working to earn their university degree for this career, it is helpful to participate in an undergraduate co-op/internship program or find a summer job that is related to the work of an electrical and electronics engineer.
Once education requirements are met, an electrical or electronic engineering graduate can apply for an Engineer-In-Training membership as they gain the four years of engineering experience needed to register as a Professional Engineer.
Continuing professional development (for example, participation in professional committees, self-directed studies, additional coursework and workshops) is encouraged and may soon be required for continued membership in Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, which offers these types of educational opportunities.
A master's or doctoral degree in a related engineering discipline may be required for some positions.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations and the environment will affect outcomes.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
6,310Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 65 | 1.0% |
| Kootenay | 80 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 5,045 | 79.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 0.2% |
| Northeast | 30 | 0.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 375 | 5.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 710 | 11.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
3,200Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 0.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,610 | 2.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 10 | 2.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 230 | 2.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 290 | 1.0% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 1,990 |
| Utilities | 330 |
| Manufacturing | 320 |
| Construction | 150 |
| Wholesale Trade | 110 |
Insights from Industry
Electric, gas, telephone and other utility companies are typical employers in the province of British Columbia that may have an increased need for electrical and electronics engineers in the future. More and more, companies are using consulting and service companies for their engineering needs which means that most employment growth will be in these non-manufacturing firms.
Since most companies looking to hire an engineering firm consider the reputation of the whole firm and not just the people who work there, self-employment may not be a good option for those in this career.
The aerospace, oil and high voltage power system industries may offer opportunities for larger electronic and electrical engineering companies to work on international contracts. People in this career who would like to work in international consulting must have a good reputation, be able to adapt to different cultures, and work with a multicultural team.
Continued changes in technology mean that people in this job must stay up to date in this area.
Alternative and renewable energy resource sectors may create a change for those in this career. New technologies such as wind, geothermal, solar, tidal, biomass and other non-traditional resources are being used more and more and will likely change how electrical and electronics engineers to do their jobs in the coming years. This could also result in an increase in jobs that are located outside of larger cities.
Resources
-
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Canadawww.acec.ca/
-
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of British Columbia (ACEC-BC)www.acec-bc.ca
-
British Columbia Electrical Association – Careerswww.bcea.bc.ca/jobs_search.asp
-
British Columbia Electrical Association (BCEA)www.bcea.bc.ca/
-
Canadian Technology Immigration Network (CTIN)www.ctin.ca
-
Engineering Careerswww.engineeringcareers.ca
-
Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC)www.eic-ici.ca
-
Engineers & Geoscientists BCwww.egbc.ca
-
Engineers Canadawww.engineerscanada.ca
-
Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA)www.icba.ca
-
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)www.ieee.org
-
Iranian Engineers of British Columbia Association (IEBCA)www.iebca.ca/
-
Society of Punjabi Engineers and Technologists of British Columbia (SPEATBC)www.speatbc.org
-
Technology Registrations Canada (TRC)www.technologyregistrationscanada.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for an electrical engineer.
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for an electrical engineer.
