About This Career

Researches, designs, develops, tests, or supervises the manufacturing and installation of electrical equipment, components, or systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use.

This career is part of the Energy cluster Engineering pathway.

A person in this career:

• Designs, implements, maintains, or improves electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
• Oversees project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Directs or coordinates manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
• Performs detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
• Operates computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
• Confers with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
• Investigates or tests vendors' or competitors' products.
• Inspects completed installations and observes operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with operational, safety, or environmental standards.
• Investigates customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems.
• Prepares technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel