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Career Details

17-3023.00 - Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians


Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
139,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
136,600
Estimate
Change in Employment
-2,800
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
  • Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
  • Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
  • Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
  • Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
  • Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
  • Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
  • Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools.
  • Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material.
  • Maintain system logs or manuals to document testing or operation of equipment.
  • Select electronics equipment, components, or systems to meet functional specifications.
  • Calculate design specifications or cost, material, and resource estimates, and prepare project schedules and budgets.
  • Educate equipment operators on the proper use of equipment.
  • Supervise the installation or operation of electronic equipment or systems.
  • Compile and maintain records documenting engineering schematics, installed equipment, installation or operational problems, resources used, repairs, or corrective action performed.
  • Modify electrical prototypes, parts, assemblies, or systems to correct functional deviations.
  • Integrate software or hardware components, using computer, microprocessor, or control architecture.
  • Procure parts and maintain inventory and related documentation.
  • Participate in training or continuing education activities to stay abreast of engineering or industry advances.
  • Research equipment or component needs, sources, competitive prices, delivery times, or ongoing operational costs.
  • Provide user applications or engineering support or recommendations for new or existing equipment with regard to installation, upgrades, or enhancements.
  • Specify, coordinate, or conduct quality control or quality assurance programs or procedures.
  • Produce electronics drawings or other graphics representing industrial control, instrumentation, sensors, or analog or digital telecommunications networks, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Generic
  • Conduct statistical studies to analyze or compare production costs for sustainable or nonsustainable designs.
  • Construct and evaluate electrical components for consumer electronics applications such as fuel cells for consumer electronic devices, power saving devices for computers or televisions, or energy efficient power chargers.
  • Participate in the development or testing of electrical aspects of new green technologies, such as lighting, optical data storage devices, and energy efficient televisions.
  • Review, develop, or prepare maintenance standards.
Supplemental
  • Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers.
  • Design or modify engineering schematics for electrical transmission and distribution systems or for electrical installation in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 88%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 87%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 English Language
  • 75%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Design
  • 72%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Mathematics
  • 70%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 66%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Mechanical
  • 66%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Production and Processing
  • 64%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Telecommunications
  • 63%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Physics
  • 61%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 59%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Administration and Management
  • 55%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Clerical
  • 54%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Wire wrap guns
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Screwdrivers
 Power generators
  • Alternating current AC generators
  • Dual power supplies
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Ammeters
  • Analog current meters
  • Analog multimeters
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital voltmeters DVM
  • Direct current DC potentiometers
  • Impedance meters
  • Inductance capacitance resistance LCR meters
  • Multimeters
  • Ohmmeters
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Phase shift indicators
  • Potentiometers
  • Pulse generators
  • Q meters
  • Signal measuring equipment
  • Standing wave ratio SWR meters
  • Voltage testers
  • Wattmeters
 Anti static equipment and supplies
  • Anti-static heel grounders
  • Wrist anti-static straps
 Viewing and observing instruments and accessories
  • Binocular light compound microscopes
 Electric direct current DC motors
  • Brushless direct current DC motors
 Machinery for working wood and stone and ceramic and the like
  • Computerized numerical control CNC machining centers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Current probes
  • Nanosecond universal counters
  • Probe stations
  • Stroboscopes
  • Voltage probes
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Personal computers
 Soldering machines
  • Desoldering stations
  • Soldering equipment
  • Soldering stations
 Cameras
  • Digital cameras
 Electronic and communication measuring and testing instruments
  • Digital logic analyzers
  • Logic analyzers
  • Network analyzers
  • Power meters
  • Power quality analyzers
 Computer printers
  • Digital plotters
  • Laser printers
  • Plotters
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Frequency counters
  • Function generators
  • Harmonic analyzers
  • Lasers
  • Microwave frequency counters
  • Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR
  • Radio frequency RF signal generators
  • Radio frequency RF spectrum analyzers
  • Signal generators
  • Spectrum analyzers
 Resistors
  • Metal-oxide varistors MOV
 Integrated circuits
  • Microcomputers
  • Microprocessors
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
 Circuit assemblies and radio frequency RF components
  • Phase shifters
  • Radio frequency RF amplifiers
 Power tools
  • Power drills
  • Power screwdrivers
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content management software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • FlukeView Forms
 Development software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Analog Devices VisualDSP++
  • Assembler
  • C
  • C++HOT
  • Computer aided software engineering CASE tools
  • Debugging software
  • Eclipse IDEHOT
  • GE Fanuc Automation VersaPro
  • HP InfoTech CodeVisionAVR
  • IBM WebSphereHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • Microchip MPLAB Integrated Development Environment
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
  • Motorola Digital Signal Processing DSP Assembler
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • Rockwell RSLogix
  • Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio CCStudio
  • Vector Software VectorCast
  • Verilog
 Industry specific software
  • Agilent Advanced Design System ADSHOT
  • Altera MAX
  • Altera Quartus II
  • Altium DesignerHOT
  • Anadigm Designer2 EDA
  • Ansoft HFSS
  • ANSYS FLUENT
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Autodesk RevitHOT
  • Bentley MicroStationHOT
  • BSVC
  • Cadence OrCAD PSpice
  • Cadence PSpice
  • Circuit simulation software
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Computer-aided engineering CAE software
  • CST Microwave StudioHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • Data acquisition software
  • EMA TimingDesignerHOT
  • gEDAHOT
  • GNU Octave
  • Gnuplot
  • Human machine interface HMI software
  • Keysight Technologies Advanced Design SystemHOT
  • KicadHOT
  • LogisimHOT
  • MAGIC
  • Mentor Graphics ModelSim
  • Mentor Graphics PADSHOT
  • National Instruments MultisimHOT
  • ngspice
  • OctTools
  • OrCAD CaptureHOT
  • pMatlab
  • PowerWorld software
  • Programmable logic controller PLC software
  • Proportional integral derivative control PID software
  • PTC Creo ParametricHOT
  • PTC Mathcad
  • PUFFHOT
  • Rockwell RSView
  • Root cause analysis software
  • Signal synthesizers
  • Simulation software
  • Spectrum Software Micro-Cap
  • SPLAT!
  • Static Free Software Electric VLSI Design SystemHOT
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Tanner Research L-EditHOT
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • The MathWorks Simulink
  • Transmission line simulators
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
  • Wonderware InTouch HMI
  • XcircuitHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Bentley Systems ProjectWise
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Database software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • IBM Cognos ImpromptuHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
 Operating environment software
  • Emulators
  • LinuxHOT
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • UNIXHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Graphics software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
 Network applications software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Oracle HyperionHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • SAPHOT
 Networking software
  • Terminal emulation software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Unknown
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Blue Ridge Community College
Brightpoint Community College
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
New River Community College
Norfolk State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Patrick & Henry Community College
Paul D. Camp Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
The University of Virginia's College at Wise
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wytheville Community College