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What does a circuits engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
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Circuits engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real circuits engineer resumes:

  • Apply technical knowledge in electromagnetic theory and microwave technology to plan and manage projects concern with ground-base radar systems.
  • Perform end-to-end circuit provisioning for networks from DS3 level to OC12, OC48, and OC192 circuits that cover nationwide.
  • Review customer requirements of SONET, Ethernet [] and DS3/DS1 to engineer the most efficient transport for their information.
  • Experience with assigning facilities in DACS, DSLAM, and MUX.
  • Design PCB artwork, deflection circuit, and power supply of monitors.
  • Review LEC and CLEC DLR s and pre-engineer DS-3 s or resolve slot discrepancies.
  • Maintain TID management, IP addressing and IP allocation for equipment and network interfaces.
  • Perform provisioning functions for orders for DS0/DS1/DS3 and T1/T1.5/T45 facilities base CLEC services and all future dedicate products.
  • Design electronic circuits and utilize ORCAD for PCB layout and assembly drawings for fiber optic transport and interconnection equipment.
  • Solve the real world project problems and designs and demonstrate the solution on AutoCad floor plans and riser diagrams.
  • Migrate DDR I/O circuit blocks to later process node for improve performance, long-term reliability of designs and add functionality.
  • Devise ESD protection strategy, design ESD devices/cells, direct and review of ESD protection circuit implementation for the whole chip.
  • Design bipolar digital interface for high-voltage telecommunication IC's.
  • Check standard cell boundary DRC using relative placement methodology.
  • Support various aerospace projects with digital debugging and configuration management.

Circuits engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 25% of Circuits Engineers are proficient in PCB, Circuit Design, and Analog Circuits. They’re also known for soft skills such as Initiative, Speaking skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Circuits Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PCB, 25%

    Worked in the conversion of schematics to the components, PCB LAYOUTS and managing of the library.

  • Circuit Design, 20%

    Monitor Remedy Database for Tickets pertaining to updating Network Circuit Designs and/or equipment.

  • Analog Circuits, 16%

    Collaborated with layout artists and used Monte Carlo simulation to predict variation distribution and improve analog circuits matching.

  • RF, 8%

    Performed system diagnostics, including problem isolation within the RF and Network interfaces requiring spectrum and protocol analysis equipment.

  • Mentor Graphics, 5%

    Worked with Altera Quartus and Mentor Graphics, which plays a significant role in this company need.

  • CAD, 4%

    Gained proficiency in CAD, design control, Chemical compatibility, Geometric dimensions and tolerance, Statistical analysis.

Common skills that a circuits engineer uses to do their job include "pcb," "circuit design," and "analog circuits." You can find details on the most important circuits engineer responsibilities below.

Initiative. The most essential soft skill for a circuits engineer to carry out their responsibilities is initiative. This skill is important for the role because "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Additionally, a circuits engineer resume shows how their duties depend on initiative: "led initiative to standardize css, themes and javascript for cross browser and cross platform support. "

Speaking skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling circuits engineer duties is speaking skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." According to a circuits engineer resume, here's how circuits engineers can utilize speaking skills in their job responsibilities: "presented with 2008 it customer service award"

Writing skills. This is an important skill for circuits engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how circuits engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electrical and electronics engineers develop technical publications related to equipment they develop, including maintenance manuals, operation manuals, parts lists, product proposals, and design methods documents." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a circuits engineer: "performed software testing and code writing in c++ and assembly language and developed system applications. ".

Math skills. For certain circuits engineer responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a circuits engineer rely on this skill, as "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what circuits engineers do: "developed a visual c++ (mfc) based application to calculate real time statistics for gps sessions. "

Most common circuits engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most circuits engineers are:

Compare different circuits engineers

Circuits engineer vs. Senior pcb designer

An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.

The annual salary of senior pcb designers is $10,260 higher than the average salary of circuits engineers.Even though circuits engineers and senior pcb designers are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require rf, mentor graphics, and r in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between circuits engineers and senior pcb designer. For instance, circuits engineer responsibilities require skills such as "pcb," "circuit design," "analog circuits," and "cadence virtuoso." Whereas a senior pcb designer is skilled in "schematic capture," "pcb layout," "analog," and "cadence allegro." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Senior pcb designers tend to reach lower levels of education than circuits engineers. In fact, senior pcb designers are 12.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Circuits engineer vs. Engineering trainee

Controls designers both design and draft systems of hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical controls for equipment and machines. The designers make diagrams of the logic system for timing and sequence control. They illustrate and describe details for installation and maintenance, such as bearing lubrication and lubrication types. It is part of their job to review schematics with the representatives of customers to answer questions during robot system installation. Also, they may design energy conversion controls.

A career as a engineering trainee brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a circuits engineer. In fact, engineering trainees salary is $32,254 lower than the salary of circuits engineers per year.A few skills overlap for circuits engineers and engineering trainees. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "pcb," "rf," and "r."

Each career also uses different skills, according to real circuits engineer resumes. While circuits engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "circuit design," "analog circuits," "cadence virtuoso," and "virtuoso," engineering trainees use skills like "excellent interpersonal," "fire protection," "technical support," and "boilers."

Engineering trainees earn a lower average salary than circuits engineers. But engineering trainees earn the highest pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $63,253. Additionally, circuits engineers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $97,512 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Engineering trainees tend to reach similar levels of education than circuits engineers. In fact, they're 2.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about circuits engineers vs controls designers.

Circuits engineer vs. Controls designer

Staff design engineers are tasked to assess the efficiency of instruments, technologies, and equipment by collaborating with the engineering team to plan, design, and develop technologies efficiently. Their responsibilities include building and setting up, as wells as improving systems and procedures. They should possess strong attention to detail, good visual and spatial awareness, creativity, problem-solving, excellent verbal, written, and project management skills, and strong mathematical and IT skills to become efficient and effective staff design engineers.

On average scale, controls designers bring in lower salaries than circuits engineers. In fact, they earn a $545 lower salary per year.circuits engineers and controls designers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "r," "ethernet," and "bom," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a circuits engineer is likely to be skilled in "pcb," "circuit design," "analog circuits," and "cadence virtuoso," while a typical controls designer is skilled in "plc," "control panels," "ids," and "auto cad."

Controls designers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $88,405. On the other hand, circuits engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $97,512.When it comes to education, controls designers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to circuits engineers. In fact, they're 3.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.
Learn more about circuits engineers vs staff design engineers.

Circuits engineer vs. Staff design engineer

Staff design engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of circuits engineers. The difference is about $35,582 per year.While both circuits engineers and staff design engineers complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like pcb, circuit design, and cadence virtuoso, the two careers vary in some skills.While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "analog circuits," "dod," "bom," and "provisioning" are skills that commonly show up on circuits engineer resumes. On the other hand, staff design engineers use skills like architecture, synthesis, analog, and soc on their resumes.In general, staff design engineers earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $127,511. The highest-paying industry for a circuits engineer is the technology industry.staff design engineers reach higher levels of education compared to circuits engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 5.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of circuits engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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