To work as an electrical design engineer, you almost always need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. You must obtain the appropriate licensure to practice your services in the United States and many other geographical locations in addition to a degree. Two different exams must be taken and passed in order to obtain licensure. When it comes to becoming this type of engineer, you’ll need critical thinking and troubleshooting skills, as well as extensive knowledge of telecommunications. Many engineering firms offer on-the-job training, and some will even pay for your education if you want to become an electrical design engineer.
The required schooling to become an electrical design engineer will most likely take you four to five years to complete. The courses you take during your first two years of school will cover engineering fundamentals, as well as social sciences, mathematics, and other subjects. Because you’ve chosen to specialize in design engineering, the last few years of your education will be devoted to electrical design. There are a variety of educational programs available that will allow you to obtain an electrical engineering apprenticeship, which is often preferred employers, so be sure to figure out which ones you need to complete.
In order to become an electrical design engineer, you must master a variety of skills. You must be able to work with a variety of desktop applications, particularly the tools found in modeling software programs. Because technology is constantly changing, you must keep your technology design knowledge up to date in order to generate and/or adapt to new equipment that becomes available for you to use in your daily duties. Because this type of engineer is often in charge of a team of engineers, you should have excellent leadership skills.
You must obtain licensure for the state in which you will be performing services in the United States. To obtain your license, you must complete a bachelor’s degree in engineering and pass the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. After that, you’ll receive on-the-job training and must pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Depending on the state in which you work, you may be required to continue your education on a regular basis in order to keep your license, so check to see what your specific local requirements are.
Checking for open job positions in engineering or electrical corporations in your area is the best way to get on-the-job training. Because there is such a high demand for electrical design engineers, you will have no trouble finding work with a company that will reimburse your tuition after you complete an electrical engineering degree program. The majority of the time, all you have to do is agree to work for the company for a set number of years after graduation.