What Do Electrical Engineers Do?

Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, upgrade, and maintain electrical systems and equipment. The science of electricity applies to small and large projects, from household appliances or car transmissions to satellite communications systems or renewable energy power grids.

Explore an electrical engineer job, including the daily tasks you might face in this career, as well as the average electrical engineer salary and the skills you’ll need to be successful in this role. 

What is an electrical engineer? 

An electrical engineer is responsible for planning electrical systems. Generally, you will work with electricians or technicians who install and help you maintain the electrical system. Some of the systems you might plan in this role include generators, transformers, remote sensing, and signal processing and implementation. In addition to planning systems, you will also help ensure that electrical systems are safe and operational, providing maintenance when needed. 

As an electrical engineer, you will develop skills that represent a steady and needed trade, but you can also position yourself on the cutting edge of trends like advanced robotics and automation, aeronautics and defence, and technology like biomedical engineering or autonomous cars. 

What do electrical engineers do? 

An electrical engineer solves problems using electricity and plans electrical systems. You could be working on projects as diverse as creating control systems for a residential home and working on large-scale industrial automation projects. 

In this industry, your day-to-day tasks might include:

• Designing electrical products and electrical systems 

• Creating technical drawings and topographical maps to ensure proper installation and operation 

• Identifying and correcting power system problems 

• Using computer-assisted design software 

• Communicating with customers, engineers, and other stakeholders on engineering projects 

• Preparing specifications for manufacturing, maintenance, testing, and purchase of electric equipment 

• Ensuring compliance with safety standards and codes

Electrical engineering jobs

Electrical engineering is a broad field covering a wide range of industries. A career in electrical engineering often means specialising in a specific area. Some common specialities include (but are not limited to):

• Energy and power systems: In this field, you’ll work on generating, distributing, and maintaining electric power systems. This might include traditional sources of power, like motors, generators, and transformers, or emerging technologies, like fusion or green energy.

• Computer engineering: While sometimes considered separate, computer engineering overlaps with electrical engineering in many ways. As a computer engineer, you’ll work to develop and improve computer hardware and software across a range of industries. 

• Telecommunications: Thanks to new technologies in telecommunications, we can communicate with people around the globe almost instantaneously. Telecommunications engineers address the basic challenge of delivering information from one place to another securely and efficiently. 

• Microelectronics: The field of microelectronics deals with small (often very small) electronic components. In this career, you’ll work towards further reducing the size of circuits and microchips for use in electronic devices and even nanotechnology.

• Systems and control: This discipline of electric engineering deals with designing control systems that behave a certain way in controlled environments. This could involve everything from home thermostats to biomedical prosthetics. 

• Robotics and artificial intelligence: Robotics engineers design and build robots and robotic systems from the circuits up. Some of these systems may also involve artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning.

What is the difference between electrical and electronics engineering?

While electrical and electronics engineering are similar in some ways, the two careers are different because of the type of system you’re working with. Electrical engineers work with electrical systems, while electronics engineers work with electronic systems. Both jobs draw on similar skills and knowledge because both jobs involve working with power supply and circuits. But, for example, an electronics engineer might design an electrical device and the electrical engineer would design a system to power that device. 

How to become an electrical engineer

To become an electrical engineer, you will need to earn an electrical engineering degree, develop your skills, and complete a licensing program. Explore these steps below: 

Electrical engineering degrees 

Becoming an electrical engineer requires at least a Bachelor's in Engineering (BE) or Technology (BTech). Earning a BTech or BE degree at an Indian college typically requires completing a three or four-year programme. For admission to a BTech or BE programme, you must pass entrance exams, the most important being JEE mains, JEE advanced, AIE CET, VITEEE, and BITSAT.

To pursue entry into a postgraduate programme in electrical engineering, you will likely need a BE or BTech degree in electrical engineering or a degree in a similar field, or you can gain entry with and MS or MSc in computer science, software engineering, computer applications, or a similar field. With a master's degree, you can choose to advance to a PhD in electrical engineering, which can open up opportunities to work in research and development, teaching at the university level, or management positions.

Is electrical engineering a good career?

Electrical engineer can be a good career in India. The scope of electrical engineering is growing in India, due in part to rapid growth of technology in the field, India’s strong contributions to renewable energy, and the demand for generating equipment. The electrical equipment market in India is projected to reach 8.3 billion USD in 2024 and to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 3.46 per cent year over year until at least 2029 [1].

Licensing 

While licensing is not required for all roles, you may need specific certifications to practise as an electrical engineer in parts of India's public or private sector. National and international governing bodies including the Engineering Council of India, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) offer resources and guidance on engineering best practices in the country. 

Electrical engineer skills

You'll also need a specific skill set to succeed as an electrical engineer, including knowledge of electrical design and circuits and problem-solving skills. The technical and workplace skills you'll need include the following:

Technical skills

• Mathematics

• Computer science fundamentals

• Electrical design

• Circuit knowledge

• Programming

• AutoCAD

• Systems integration knowledge

Workplace skills

• Analytical skills

• Concentration

• Interpersonal skills

• Communication skills

• Problem-solving

• Organisation

• Leadership

• Teamwork

• Adaptability

Electrical engineer salary

According to Glassdoor, the average annual base salary for an electrical engineer in India is ₹5,78,013 as of August 2024 [2]. This amount can vary based on your location, education, and experience. Those working in research and development tend to earn on the higher end of the pay scale, followed by semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing. 

Career paths for electrical engineers 

You can explore many opportunities to advance within the field of electrical engineering, depending on your interests, education, and experience. When entering the workforce, you will have an opportunity to follow a specialisation or sub-profession within the sector. Some sub-professions include product and development engineer, power system engineer, electrical maintenance engineer, and production engineer. 

Electrical engineers may find employment in consultant firms, engineering services agencies, technology companies, and commerce businesses involved in the energy industry. Your ability to develop your professional skills with effective communication, collaborative leadership, entrepreneurial initiative, and networking proficiency will greatly impact the success and growth of your career.

Get started in electrical engineering with Coursera

Electrical engineers plan electrical systems and help power machines from generators to home and commercial electrical systems. Explore whether an electrical engineering career might be right for you with Introduction to Electronics from Georgia Tech. In this course, you can explore op amps, diode circuits, and MOSFET circuits. 

If you’re ready to take your electrical engineering career to the next level, learn more about earning your Master of Science in Electrical Engineering online from the University of Colorado Boulder. You’ll have the option to choose from classes like Input Filter Design, Industrial IoT Markets and Security, Modeling and Debugging Embedded Systems, Introduction to Battery-Management Systems, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, and more.