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What kinds of companies do electrical engineers work for?
I'm pursuing a career in electrical engineering and want to know the work environment they're in.
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4 answers
Updated
Lennox’s Answer
Electrical Engineering is a field that under-pins many others, so options for electrical engineers can vary a lot!
Some highlights include:
- Semiconductor/microchip design for software and hardware, e.g. NVIDIA, AMD
- Manufacturing for electronics, e.g. chip-making at companies like Intel, IBM, TSMC
- Academia/professorship
- Aerospace: Boeing, NASA
- Defense, like working for NSA/CIA/APL/Raytheon/other contractors in the DC area doing analysis or research
- Defense like working for the military doing research and development
- Big Tech, e.g. Apple, Facebook. Google
- Local engineering firms! Lots of small companies need electrical engineers
- Construction/contracting for a different kind of electrical engineering
- Power grid work, power companies, wind turbine development, solar technology development...
And more! Electrical engineering is a field of study that can span a HUGE array of kinds of work.
Some highlights include:
- Semiconductor/microchip design for software and hardware, e.g. NVIDIA, AMD
- Manufacturing for electronics, e.g. chip-making at companies like Intel, IBM, TSMC
- Academia/professorship
- Aerospace: Boeing, NASA
- Defense, like working for NSA/CIA/APL/Raytheon/other contractors in the DC area doing analysis or research
- Defense like working for the military doing research and development
- Big Tech, e.g. Apple, Facebook. Google
- Local engineering firms! Lots of small companies need electrical engineers
- Construction/contracting for a different kind of electrical engineering
- Power grid work, power companies, wind turbine development, solar technology development...
And more! Electrical engineering is a field of study that can span a HUGE array of kinds of work.
In addition to Lennox's answer, I started my career as an Electrical Engineer in the Telecoms industry back in the late 1980's. The skills that draw you to Engineering are very transferable and sort after. In my own career I have been a technology specialist in Telecoms technologies, built models to optimize network design, worked in project management across Telecoms and software companies, and currently working in data analytics.
A career in Electrical Engineering will create many opportunities.
Craig Olliver
Dan Wolf
Retired Electrical/Software Engineer and part-time College Professor (BSEET and MS Engineering Management)
129
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Dan’s Answer
This is a really hard question to answer in full detail! I will add to the answer from Lennox by saying that electrical engineers work with any product that includes electric. So manufacturers of automobiles, radios, fitbit watches, cell phones, cash registers, medical equipment, televisions, security systems, Alexa products, laptops and peripheral equipment, steel, food and beverage processing, mass transit vehicles, airplanes, etc. The list is long. The really neat thing about electrical engineering is that you can pursue a career in the industry that you are most interested in, and only limited by your willingness to relocate (assuming your desired industry does not have workforce in your local area).
The work environment may be as much as 100% desk/office or up to almost a majority of time in the field (where the field could be in the outdoors or on a factory floor). For sure, you will be working significantly with other engineers, staff, management, and customers.
It really is a lot of always changing fun!
The work environment may be as much as 100% desk/office or up to almost a majority of time in the field (where the field could be in the outdoors or on a factory floor). For sure, you will be working significantly with other engineers, staff, management, and customers.
It really is a lot of always changing fun!
Douglas Lemmo, P.E.
Consultant, Owner at Power Generation Consulting Services
132
Answers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Updated
Douglas’s Answer
Hi,
Dan's answer above, is spot on W/R to electrical engineering jobs. I am a mechanical engineer and had the folling types of jobs: field engineer, engineering training, sales, consulting, and project management. One of the advantages of working for a big company is that you can change jobs or loctaions without changing companies. I worked for GE for over 31 years and then went into consulting for the Power Generation Insdusry.
The people in this day and age have never had the task of "job searching" easier than it is right now. It is the best there has ever been. Specifically, the Internet search engine. All you have to do is start searching, "Indeed" is a great place to start:
https://www.indeed.com/q-New-Graduate-Electrical-Engineer-jobs.html?vjk=37f1c8e58eadec0f
To see which companies would like to hire new engineers and for what jobs: design, manufacturing, sales, product application, project management, etc. Once you decide what kind of electrical (or mechanical or civil, etc.) engineer you want to be you can start seaching any number of web sites including other "head hunter sites" as well as specific companies' job postings. If you have a specific location in mind, you can search on that for electrical engineering jobs. Also, do not overlook your school's placement office for help in finding a job that is right for you.
Good Luck,
Doug
Dan's answer above, is spot on W/R to electrical engineering jobs. I am a mechanical engineer and had the folling types of jobs: field engineer, engineering training, sales, consulting, and project management. One of the advantages of working for a big company is that you can change jobs or loctaions without changing companies. I worked for GE for over 31 years and then went into consulting for the Power Generation Insdusry.
The people in this day and age have never had the task of "job searching" easier than it is right now. It is the best there has ever been. Specifically, the Internet search engine. All you have to do is start searching, "Indeed" is a great place to start:
https://www.indeed.com/q-New-Graduate-Electrical-Engineer-jobs.html?vjk=37f1c8e58eadec0f
To see which companies would like to hire new engineers and for what jobs: design, manufacturing, sales, product application, project management, etc. Once you decide what kind of electrical (or mechanical or civil, etc.) engineer you want to be you can start seaching any number of web sites including other "head hunter sites" as well as specific companies' job postings. If you have a specific location in mind, you can search on that for electrical engineering jobs. Also, do not overlook your school's placement office for help in finding a job that is right for you.
Good Luck,
Doug
Updated
Dennis’s Answer
Select your three favorite electrical devices and see if the company that makes them have electrical engineer job openings...
For example electrical engineer job at Tesla https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?query=Electrical%20engineer&type=1&site=US
Now think of three fun companies or institution yo work at. See if they hire electrical engineers. You'd be surprised that some SW companies hire electrical engineers to support a variety of functions.
Finally, read up on recent employee reviews of their experience at the company.
For example electrical engineer job at Tesla https://www.tesla.com/careers/search/?query=Electrical%20engineer&type=1&site=US
Dennis recommends the following next steps: