Electronic Engineering, Career and Education

Electronic engineering is a discipline where non-linear and active electrical units are employed to build electronic circuits, devices and systems, usually including passive electrical components and based on printed circuit boards as well. This is a broad discipline that comprises several subfields such as analog electronics, digital electronics, consumer electronics, embedded systems and power electronics. Electronic engineering has to do with the implementation of applications, principles and algorithms developed within many interconnected fields, for instance solid-state physics, telecommunications, radio engineering, control systems, signal processing, systems engineering, computer engineering, instrumentation engineering, electric power control, robotics, and many more.

Electronic engineers are usually in possession of an academic degree with an electronic engineering major, obtained after three or four years of studies. Such a degree may be fashioned as a Bachelor of Engineering, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, or Bachelor of Technology, depending on the particular learning institution. An education on electronic engineering will most likely cover physics, chemistry, mathematics, project management and specific topics in electrical engineering. Ultimately, students will choose to specialize in one or more subfields. They may also aim for a postgraduate degree such as a Master of Science (MSc), Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (PhD), or an Engineering Doctorate (EngD).

Professional electronic engineers are a fixture of projects from their very inception until they are finalized, and everywhere in between. Some of their duties include, but are not limited to, discussing proposals with clients; collaborating with colleagues to design new or develop existing technology; assessing theoretical designs; composing specifications; following established development processes; improving the detailed design of equipment; making sure that a product will work with devices developed by others; devising user-friendly interfaces; ensuring safety regulations are abided by; organizing projects and budgets; attending meetings with sub-contractors; overseeing technicians and other colleagues; writing technical reports; and staying updated with developments in technologies and regulations.