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Become An Electrical Designer

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Working As An Electrical Designer

  • Interacting With Computers
  • Getting Information
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Analyzing Data or Information
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

  • Mostly Sitting

  • $74,697

    Average Salary

What Does An Electrical Designer Do

An Electrical Designer is responsible for designing and developing layouts for electrical circuits or systems for power distribution. They assist engineering teams, acting as a technical specialist, and they develop and evaluate plans and minimize costs on electrical designs.

How To Become An Electrical Designer

Electrical and electronics engineers must have a bachelor’s degree. Employers also value practical experience, so participation in cooperative engineering programs, in which students earn academic credit for structured work experience. Having a Professional Engineer (PE) license may improve an engineer’s chances of finding employment.

Education

High school students interested in studying electrical or electronics engineering benefit from taking courses in physics and mathematics, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Courses in drafting are also helpful, because electrical and electronics engineers often are required to prepare technical drawings.

In order to enter the occupation, prospective electrical and electronics engineers need a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electrical engineering technology. Programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies. Courses include digital systems design, differential equations, and electrical circuit theory. Programs in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or electrical engineering technology should be accredited by ABET.

Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in which students gain practical experience while completing their education. Cooperative programs combine classroom study with practical work. Internships provide similar experience and are growing in number.

At some universities, students can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. A graduate degree allows an engineer to work as an instructor at some universities, or in research and development.

Important Qualities

Concentration. Electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products. They must be able to keep track of multiple design elements and technical characteristics when performing these tasks.

Initiative. Electrical and electronics engineers must be able to apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake. In addition, they must engage in continuing education to keep up with changes in technology.

Interpersonal skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must be able to work with others during the manufacturing process to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly. This collaboration includes monitoring technicians and devising remedies to problems as they arise.

Math skills. Electrical and electronics engineers must be able to use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment.

Speaking skills. Electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians. They must be able to explain their designs and reasoning clearly and to relay instructions during product development and production. They also may need to explain complex issues to customers who have little or no technical expertise.

Writing skills. 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.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as electrical and electronics engineers. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires

  • A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program
  • A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
  • Relevant work experience
  • A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam can be taken right after graduation from a college or university. Engineers who pass this exam commonly are called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After getting work experience, EITs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.

Several states require engineers to take continuing education courses to keep their license. Most states recognize licensure from other states if the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements.

Advancement

Electrical and electronic engineers may advance to supervisory positions in which they lead a team of engineers and technicians. Some may move to management positions, working as engineering or program managers. Preparation for managerial positions usually requires working under the guidance of a more experienced engineer. For more information, see the profile on architectural and engineering managers.

For sales work, an engineering background enables engineers to discuss a product's technical aspects and assist in product planning and use. For more information, see the profile on sales engineers.

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Electrical Designer jobs

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Electrical Designer Career Paths

Electrical Designer
Systems Designer Project Manager Product Manager
Business Unit Manager
10 Yearsyrs
Controls Engineer Senior Engineer Construction Manager
Capital Project Manager
10 Yearsyrs
Design Engineer Electrical Engineer Engineer
Chief Engineer
10 Yearsyrs
Project Manager Program Manager General Manager
Chief Operating Officer
11 Yearsyrs
Controls Engineer Engineering Manager Construction Manager
Commissioning Manager
11 Yearsyrs
Lead Designer Design Engineer
Design Engineering Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Electrical Design Engineer Senior Electrical Engineer Engineering Manager
Engineering Director
13 Yearsyrs
Engineer Project Engineer Engineering Manager
Engineering Operations Manager
9 Yearsyrs
Project Engineer Assistant Project Manager Estimator
Estimator Project Manager
9 Yearsyrs
Piping Designer Field Engineer Senior Field Engineer
Field Engineering Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Engineer Construction Manager
Installation Manager
6 Yearsyrs
Project Engineer Production Manager Warehouse Manager
Logistics Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Senior Designer Project Manager Construction Manager
Operations Manager
7 Yearsyrs
Project Manager Senior Project Manager
Project Director
8 Yearsyrs
Electrical Engineer Systems Engineer Project Engineer
Project Engineering Manager
8 Yearsyrs
Lead Designer Art Director Freelance Designer
Senior Designer
6 Yearsyrs
Electrical Design Engineer Electrical Engineer
Senior Electrical Engineer
12 Yearsyrs
Design Engineer Mechanical Engineer Mechanical Design Engineer
Senior Mechanical Designer
11 Yearsyrs
Senior Designer Design Engineer Mechanical Engineer
Senior Mechanical Engineer
11 Yearsyrs
Electrical Engineer Project Engineer
Senior Project Engineer
6 Yearsyrs
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Electrical Designer Demographics

Gender

  • Male

    82.9%

  • Female

    15.1%

  • Unknown

    2.0%

Ethnicity

  • White

    77.0%

  • Hispanic or Latino

    11.8%

  • Asian

    8.4%

  • Unknown

    2.2%

  • Black or African American

    0.6%
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Languages Spoken

  • Spanish

    47.5%

  • French

    6.8%

  • German

    5.1%

  • Carrier

    5.1%

  • Russian

    3.4%

  • Italian

    3.4%

  • Japanese

    3.4%

  • Tagalog

    3.4%

  • Hindi

    3.4%

  • Portuguese

    1.7%

  • Swedish

    1.7%

  • Mandarin

    1.7%

  • Turkish

    1.7%

  • Cantonese

    1.7%

  • Gujarati

    1.7%

  • Bengali

    1.7%

  • Dakota

    1.7%

  • Urdu

    1.7%

  • Korean

    1.7%

  • Navajo

    1.7%
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Electrical Designer

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Electrical Designer Education

Electrical Designer

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Real Electrical Designer Salaries

Job Title Company Location Start Date Salary
Lead Electrical Designer Worleyparsons Group, Inc. Houston, TX Jul 15, 2013 $248,331
Electrical Designer Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals, Inc. Houston, TX Jun 28, 2016 $133,800
Principal Engineer-Electrical Design & Product TE SPX Transformer Solutions, Inc. Waukesha, WI Sep 18, 2013 $121,514
Staff Engineer, Electrical Design Renesas Electronics America Inc. Novi, MI Jun 03, 2015 $120,000
Electrical Designer (Engineer) Bechtel Oil, Gas &Amp; Chemicals, Inc. Houston, TX Nov 01, 2014 $116,459 -
$130,464
Electrical/Electronics Applications Design Enginee Lg Chem Power, Inc. Troy, MI Mar 17, 2014 $110,000
Principal Electrical Designer I CB&I Inc. Houston, TX May 17, 2012 $103,958 -
$143,147
Electrical Designer (Engineer) Bechtel Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Inc. Houston, TX Nov 01, 2011 $95,700 -
$113,256
Manager of Electrical Design Thermos, L.L.C. Schaumburg, IL Sep 01, 2015 $95,000
Electrical Designer International Plant Services, LLC Houston, TX Sep 26, 2015 $93,600
Electrical Designer Bechtel Oil, Gas &Amp; Chemicals, Inc. Houston, TX Aug 21, 2013 $91,146 -
$120,360
Electrical Designer Lam Research Corporation Fremont, CA Aug 22, 2016 $90,000
Electrical Designer Global Edge Solutions, LLC Bakersfield, CA Sep 18, 2014 $89,440
Electrical Designer Henningson, Durham &Amp; Richardson, PC New York, NY Sep 15, 2013 $75,837
Electrical Engineer Design Drafter Entegee, Inc. MA Mar 14, 2011 $75,132
Electrical Designer Glumac Los Angeles, CA Aug 31, 2016 $72,544
Electrical Designer Exp U.S. Services Inc. San Francisco, CA Aug 24, 2016 $72,322 -
$83,000
Electrical Engineering Design Drafter RCM Technologies (USA), Inc. Oakland, NJ Oct 27, 2016 $72,072
Electrical Designer Randall Lamb Associates San Francisco, CA Sep 01, 2015 $71,469
Electrical Designer Walter Dorwin Teague Associates (Washington), Inc. Seattle, WA Sep 16, 2011 $70,003
Electrical Designer EDG2, Inc. Bethesda, MD Sep 16, 2014 $63,731
Electrical Designer Pacific International Electric Company, Inc. Brea, CA Dec 02, 2011 $63,627 -
$65,426
Electrical Designer Berg Power Engineers, Inc. West Covina, CA Oct 01, 2012 $63,257
Electrical Designer/Drafter Storms & Lowe Associates Los Angeles, CA Mar 07, 2013 $63,257
Electrical Engineering Design Drafter Design Alaska, Inc. Fairbanks, AK Mar 01, 2011 $62,610
Electrical Designer United Power Technologies LLC Owings Mills, MD Sep 01, 2015 $62,483
Electrical Designer Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. Goldsboro, NC Mar 09, 2016 $62,067 -
$67,000

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Top Skills for An Electrical Designer

AutocadElectricalElectricalSchematicsElectricalDesignConduitTrayAutoCADDrawingPackagesPLCControlSystemsElectricalSystemsFacilityPOne-LineDiagramsFireAlarmSystemsElectricalEquipmentElectricalDrawingsNECSafetyMotorControlCentersControlPanelLayouts

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Top Electrical Designer Skills

  1. Autocad Electrical
  2. Electrical Schematics
  3. Electrical Design
You can check out examples of real life uses of top skills on resumes here:
  • Create electrical schematics with AutoCAD Electrical 2004
  • Design of electrical schematics and harnesses for naval transportation.
  • Provided electrical design/drafting support on multiple projects.
  • Created Riser diagrams, circuit drawings, wire/ conduit sizing.
  • Train Designers new to this process to be able to create cable tray drawings by 3D model extraction.

Top Electrical Designer Employers

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Electrical Designer Videos

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