What is an Electronics Engineering Technician?
Are you tech-minded? Do you also enjoy working with your hands? If the answer to both questions is affirmative, you might have the right stuff for a career as an electronics engineering technologist.
What Do Electronics Engineering Technologists (EET) Do?
Electronics engineering technologists assist electronics engineers in a variety of ways, including the design and development of these:
- computer circuit boards
- medical monitoring devices
- communications equipment (wireless phones)
- navigational equipment
EETs work with electronic engineers in a multitude of settings, including manufacturing, automotive, engineering services, research and development labs, federal government, aerospace, security, education, and in utilities industries. Technologists might be needed in any of these settings to assist with product testing and evaluation, or to use diagnostic and measuring tools to test or repair equipment. An electronics engineering technologist might also help in the manufacture and deployment of automation equipment, in addition to drawing diagrams and writing specs to clarify design details.
Among the jobs you might apply for once you receive training in this field:
- Computer network installer or administrator
- Technical salesperson
- Industrial technician
- Computer engineering technician
- Electrical/electronic engineering technician
- Project coordinator
- Field service technician
Skill Set for an EET
So what kind of skills should you have as an electronic engineering technologist? Here are some that most EETs find useful.
Math. If you don't have an aptitude for math, this career may not be for you. You'll need math to analyze, design, and troubleshoot your work.
Mechanical ability. You will be using hand tools and soldering irons as you work on electronic parts and small circuitry. You're ahead of the game if you have experience with these kinds of tools.
Problem-solving ability. An EET helps to create engineering designs, as well as test the models to see if they work properly, afterward resolving problems as needed.
Logic. It may seem too obvious to state, but electronics engineering technologists need to be able to think logically. This ability comes into use when isolating and identifying design problems. The ability to follow a set of rules or to discern and follow a logical sequence of actions when analyzing and repairing equipment is key for quality control.
Observation ability. You may be called to visit a site where an engineer's designs are being used, and you will need the ability to discern if the design is being carried out as it should be. Good powers of evaluation are crucial.
Communication skills. Having all the abilities listed above is not much use if you don't have good writing and verbal skills to communicate your findings to your engineering team or staff. You can expect to write reports about test results, problems, onsite evaluations, and other aspects of your job. The ability to organize thoughts and speak and write clearly so that others understand you is as important as your mechanical and technical skills.
Don't let this list frighten you if you think you're deficient in some of these skills. The process of earning a degree in this field will be invaluable in helping you acquire them or in developing the skills you already have.
How Do I Become an Electronics Engineering Technologist?
The best way to enter this field is to earn a degree from a college or university. Going on to a bachelor's degree may further enhance your ability to be hired.
As you research college programs in this field, be sure to look for one that includes the following:
- Analog/digital electronics
- Computer hardware and software
- Data acquisition and control systems
- Computer programming and networks
Some of the classes you might look for in your program: networking, software logic and design, electric circuits, digital systems, electronic systems applications, and semiconductor devices. You will also want to enroll in classes in communications, algebra, English composition, and physics.
One possible career track could be to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.
Prospects for Employment
The pay level in this field is attractive, with the median salary for an individual at $61,130 a year, or $29.39 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Does this sound like an industry you could thrive in? If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology, consider ECPI University for the education you’ll need. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Electronics Engineering Technology - Bachelor’s
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