Electronics Engineer
What the work is
Designs, develops, adapts, installs, tests and maintains electronic components, circuits and systems used for computer, communication, command and warfare systems, entertainment, transport and other industrial applications.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Analyses and prepares material costs, time estimates and design specifications for electronic systems and equipment, and ensures compliance with relevant regulations and standards in electronic engineering
- Develops operating standards for electronic systems and equipment
- Models and simulates processes for the development of new electronic devices
- Designs and integrates electronic circuits, components, systems and equipment for various applications
- Adapts and modifies existing electronic components and systems to meet specific requirements
- Installs, tests and maintains electronic components and systems to ensure proper functioning and optimal performance
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small company that designs and builds electronic devices for farms and boats. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A prototype that refused to work for a week suddenly runs, and the whole team cheers
- A customer sends a photo of your device in a paddock, doing exactly its job
- You shrink a design down so it fits in a smaller, cheaper box
Hard days
- A part you depend on is discontinued with no warning and you have to redesign
- A device works perfectly on the bench and fails in the field for unclear reasons
- Marketing has promised a launch date that your testing says is too early
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 243431, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.