What does a signal engineer do?
A signal engineer holds the responsibility of conducting feasibility studies, cost estimates, planning, budgeting, and administration relating to signal issues. They manage approved work programs for traffic signals, resolve issues with existing traffic signals, and oversee members of the traffic signal staff.
Signal engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real signal engineer resumes:
- Coordinate with senior electrical engineers and achieve hands-on experience on coal fire plant power generation and power transformers, circuit breakers.
- Develop and debug RTL for MIPI controller in RF front end applications.
- Carry out layout of CMOS mixed-signal circuits used in PCI-Express and SERDES products.
- Define and implement AutoCAD requirements to meet the client's design standards.
- Draft blueprints using AutoCAD for track wiring and other utilities in confine city areas.
- Calculate and check braking distance base on given speed limit and relate railway information.
- Participate actively in the layout of 90nm CMOS Tx and Tx-Rx for 2.5Gb/s PCI-Express product.
- Work in Taipei for several weeks to interface with the Taipei ASIC team and review layout of analog cells.
- Run through the asic flow to from RTL to GDSII and using transistor verification tools to evaluate the result.
- Design and review analog and mixed-signal circuits from the transistor to top level while ensuring each design meets MIPI standards.
- Automate analysis software using Matlab.
- Design second generation microprocessor-base data-input device (including schematic capture and PCB layout) for cloth inspection.
- Perform multiple augments installing and adding new devices/servers along with adding configurations for video streaming using Unix and checking router configurations.
- Develop various PIC I2C controller modules for remote distribute processing applications.
Signal engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Signal Engineers are proficient in Field Testing, Control Systems, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Concentration, Initiative, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Signal Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Field Testing, 9%
Performed factory acceptance and field testing of signal bungalows.
- Control Systems, 8%
Experience requesting track authority and dealing with Positive Train Control Systems (PTC).
- Project Management, 8%
Power Distribution Project Management Design Management
- Autocad, 7%
Draft blueprints using AutoCAD for track wiring and other utilities in confined city areas.
- MATLAB, 6%
Automated analysis software using Matlab.
- Signal Design, 6%
Reviewed the development of plans, specifications, estimates, budget and schedules for signal design projects.
"field testing," "control systems," and "project management" are among the most common skills that signal engineers use at work. You can find even more signal engineer responsibilities below, including:
Concentration. One of the key soft skills for a signal engineer to have is concentration. You can see how this relates to what signal engineers do because "electrical and electronics engineers design and develop complex electrical systems and electronic components and products." Additionally, a signal engineer resume shows how signal engineers use concentration: "designed system monitor systems using abb plc's and including data concentration and climatecontrols. "
Initiative. Another essential skill to perform signal engineer duties is initiative. Signal engineers responsibilities require that "electrical and electronics engineers must apply their knowledge to new tasks in every project they undertake." Signal engineers also use initiative in their role according to a real resume snippet: "led initiative to standardize css, themes and javascript for cross browser and cross platform support. "
Speaking skills. signal engineers are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to signal engineer responsibilities, because "electrical and electronics engineers work closely with other engineers and technicians." A signal engineer resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "presented etap findings to client suggest any changes or foreseen problems. "
Writing skills. signal engineer responsibilities often require "writing skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact 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 resume example shows what signal engineers do with writing skills on a typical day: "included rewriting test procedures, display software and editing manuals. "
Math skills. Another crucial skill for a signal engineer to carry out their responsibilities is "math skills." A big part of what signal engineers relies on this skill, since "electrical and electronics engineers must use the principles of calculus and other advanced math in order to analyze, design, and troubleshoot equipment." How this skill relates to signal engineer duties can be seen in an example from a signal engineer resume snippet: "developed a visual c++ (mfc) based application to calculate real time statistics for gps sessions. "
The three companies that hire the most signal engineers are:
- Hitachi U.S.A.9 signal engineers jobs
- MITRE8 signal engineers jobs
- PGH Wong Engineering8 signal engineers jobs
Compare different signal engineers
Signal engineer vs. Electrical & instrumentation designer
An electrical instrumentation designer's main job is to design instruments that can be used in various areas such as laboratories, power plants, or research institutes. They work together with a team or individually to design instruments, create a prototype, and test its functions. They can even install these instruments in different establishments and locations. They are tasked with repair and training engineers. At other times, they are assigned to record expenses and other documentation.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between signal engineers and electrical & instrumentation designer. For instance, signal engineer responsibilities require skills such as "field testing," "project management," "extraction," and "autocad." Whereas a electrical & instrumentation designer is skilled in "instrumentation design," "p id," "electrical design," and "panel layouts." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that electrical & instrumentation designers earn slightly differ from signal engineers. In particular, electrical & instrumentation designers are 7.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a signal engineer. Additionally, they're 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Signal engineer vs. Senior electrical designer
A Senior Electrical Designer is in charge of creating electrical schematics, layouts, and other grid plans for their organization, as well as providing the best solution for improvements. They supervise the material, construction, labor costs, and project timescales.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that signal engineer responsibilities requires skills like "field testing," "extraction," "autocad," and "matlab." But a senior electrical designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "electrical design," "revit," "electrical equipment," and "electrical systems."
On average, senior electrical designers earn a lower salary than signal engineers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, senior electrical designers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $90,234. Whereas signal engineers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $96,987.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Senior electrical designers tend to reach similar levels of education than signal engineers. In fact, they're 4.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for signal engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Edoardo Sarda Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Robotics Engineering, Lake Superior State University
Signal engineer vs. Electrical designer
An electrical designer designs and develops electrical circuit and system layouts for electric power distribution. The responsibilities of an electrical designer include assembling electrical panels and leading a team of document control personnel in-charged to identify and organize facility maintenance drawings. The position requires good initiative, writing, speaking, and mathematical skills to accomplish such responsibilities. The job's education requirements include possessing a college degree in electrical engineering, design, or a related field.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, signal engineers are more likely to have skills like "field testing," "project management," "extraction," and "matlab." But a electrical designer is more likely to have skills like "revit," "electrical design," "autocad electrical," and "ul."
Electrical designers make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $72,768. On the other hand, signal engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $96,987.Most electrical designers achieve a similar degree level compared to signal engineers. For example, they're 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Signal engineer vs. Instrumentation & control engineer
An instrumentation and control engineer is responsible for installing and designing technical components for engineering systems that would support production and manufacturing processes. Instrumentation and control engineers inspect control systems, modify features and infrastructure, configure controllers, and run multiple quality checks to ensure stability and optimal performance. They must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially in developing system codes and analyzing programming languages to serve control functions and development. An instrumentation and control engineer also resolves system issues and write resolution reports for reference.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between signal engineers and instrumentation & control engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a signal engineer might have more use for skills like "field testing," "control systems," "extraction," and "matlab." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of instrumentation & control engineers require skills like "hmi," "scada," "p id," and "process control. "
In general, instrumentation & control engineers earn the most working in the energy industry, with an average salary of $98,177. The highest-paying industry for a signal engineer is the technology industry.The average resume of instrumentation & control engineers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to signal engineers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of signal engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
