Research Paper on "Electronics Engineer Occupation"

Research Paper 7 pages (2275 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Electronics Engineer Occupation -- Overview

The field for electronics engineering will only have a growth of 4% in the next decade, according to the U.S. Occupational Handbook's website This makes its increase less than average for all careers and specifically for engineers. Other engineering professions, such as environmental engineers, will be experiencing more growth. Despite the fact that demand for such electronics as communications equipment, defense-related technology, medical electronics, and electronic consumer products is growing, the increased pressure of the development of electronic products and engineering services by international firms is hindering increase. This is especially true with companies that provide engineering and design services.

The Electronics engineers (except computer, which are considered computer hardware engineers) handle a range of responsibilities from CD players to global positioning systems that show continuous location of a vehicle. These engineers design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacture of electronic equipment including broadcast and communications systems. As with other engineers, those who go into electronics often specialize in areas including control systems, aviation or communications. A Master's degree program is necessary for most advanced design, development and research programs. It generally takes from one to two years of additional full-time effort to obtain this additional education.

Upon graduating from college, electronics engineers normally are supervised by more experienced engineers and, in larger companies, receive more formal training or are part of an entry-level program specifically for their line of work. After a couple years of experience, they will receive increasingly more difficult projects and greater independence to design, develop and solve problems. They may remain as independent contributors or advance to technical specialists or management of a staff or team of other engineers and technicians. Over time, they may become senior managers or enter another area, such as marketing, sales, or managerial support. Those with higher degrees may pursue a career in research and design.

The income for electronics engineers varies considerably depending on the type of work and specialty and size of the company. The Occupational Handbook shows that the median income of electronics engineers range from $52,000 with the lowest

10% to over $115,000 for the highest paid 10%. In the federal government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $75,144 in agricultural engineering to $107,546 in ceramic engineering in 2007. According to a 2007 National Association of Colleges and Employers survey (see website), engineers as a group earn some of the highest average beginning salaries of BA graduates.

The o primary organizations for electronic engineers are: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which is the largest transnational engineering professional society with more than 300,000 members in over 130 countries and with an emphasis on education, occupations and engineering activities.

Entry-Level Electronics Engineer Position

Larger companies, such as GE, have entry-level programs that are designed specifically for electrical/electronics engineers. At GE this is called the Edison Engineering Program, a two-year program that includes three or four assignments at different GE businesses or units. Many Edison Engineer participants work with GE Global Research, John F. Welsh Technology Center. For example, one electronics graduate went to work at GE Ordnance systems in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as part of the Edison Engineering program. He had rotating assignments within the division, a fully paid Master's degree at RPI, and time off during the week to attend classes. His first assignment was supporting GE field electronics operations at Trident submarine bases; the second was in a Navy power electronics, machinery and controls group; the third was in a team that designed and analyzed advanced systems with filtering and optimal control methods for inertial guidance and non-linear systems.

After graduating from the Edison Program, this individual then took a job at BBN Technologies in Cambridge, a contract R&D company with the federal government as the main customer, especially the Department of Defense. BBN is most noted for being the company that built the routers for and managed the DARPA-Net, prior to the Internet. Here his jobs have ranged from brief one-person month consulting activities to large multi-year programs to develop and field prototype systems. Being in R&D, he says, has given him a broad technical range vs. technical specialization. He has been able to use his engineering background to build efforts, lead business development and move toward management.

With this broader range of work, he has been able to develop a number of different technical skills and expertise, such as control theory, structural acoustics, signal processing, array design, real-time and non-real time SW development, and underwater and in-air sound propagation. This has led to participating in sonar sea trials in California, Florida, and Scotland; riding on submarine acoustic trials; pursuing field work in the deserts with the marines; and conducting underwater sound surveys out of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Whereas this individual started in an entry-level program and then leveraged that experience at another company, some electronics engineers go directly into a company without being part of specific program. Some of the available positions for electronics engineer recent graduates are noted below.

Background on GE Corporation

According to the GE corporate website, the company consists of six businesses and their separate units: GE Commercial Finance, GE Healthcare, GE Industrial GE Infrastructure, GE Money, and NBC Universal. In addition, four global research centers hire more than 2,500 researchers. In 2006, GE generated $163 billion in revenues and $20.7 billion of earnings. Over the past five years, GE has grown its earnings an average of ten percent annually. GE also generated $24.7 billion in cash in 2006, which allowed more investment in the businesses, a return of over $18 billion to shareowners, and the acquisition of new growth businesses. Because of its wide base of research, products and services, GE's customers also range from the home consumer who purchases a GE appliance to an airline that purchases a GE engine. Their competitors also depend on the business, ranging in this case from Kenmore appliances to Pratt and Whitney engines.

GE Global Research, where many electronics engineeers work, is one of the world's largest and diversified industrial research organizations, which provides technology throughout the company. Research is focused on developing breakthrough innovations in areas such as molecular imaging and diagnostics, energy conversion, nanotechnology, advanced propulsion and security technologies. GE Global Research is headquartered in Niskayuna, New York, and has facilities in Bangalore, India, Shanghai, China, and Munich, Germany.

SAMPLES of ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS for ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS

Electronics Engineer, Baker Hughes Incorporated

Work with District Manager to schedule Preventative Maintenance and Elective Maintenance.

Functional skills, action-oriented, integrity/trust, planning, problem solving, time management

Technical skills, technical learning

Education, Education/Experience: four-year degree in Electronic Engineering or technology

2)Electronic Technician, ManTech,

Provide support at the Fort Hood Cable Shop, Fort Hood, Texas

Functional: ability to handle stress, use MS Office and PC, analytical and critical thinking skills, interpersonal and people skills, leadership skills, listening skills, multitasking ability, oral and written communication, organizational skills and public speaking skills, team building skills.

Technical: Switchboard or Computer Operating Skills

Education: Technical training equivalent to an Associates degree preferred.

Mfg Equipment Engineer-analog/digital/microprocessors, Abbott

Set direction for, lead, and take ownership of complex manufacturing engineering technical tasks -tasks that may have multiple inter-coordinating elements.

Functional/Technical: Ability to apply engineering methods, possess strong knowledge of manufacturing process, ability to independently recognize and overcome technical and operational hurdles; ability to communicate technical and operational information effectively, supporting efficient review, assessment and approval processes. Presentation and communication skills sufficient to be able to effectively lead a meeting with multiple individuals from multiple departments to achieve concrete conclusions in an efficient manner. Must have a high level of quality and pay attention to detail

Education: Bachelor Science or Bachelor Engineering, Electrical/Electronic or Mechanical Engineering

Electronic Component Technician or Entry Level Engineer, NESCO Resource

Functional: Proficient use of Microsoft Office, Excel and Word; proficient use of the Internet researching work-related information; ability to read/comprehend, write, perform calculations, communicate orally, and reason and analyze; good human relations skills and the ability to work well with others and be a team player; good judgment, initiative, and ability to deal with issues presented by others within the company.

Technical: Working knowledge of bill of materials and routers; experience in an engineering department a plus.

Education: Associates Degree and a minimum of three months related experience and/or training or high school diploma or GED and a minimum of two years related experience and/or training.

5)Electronics Technician, Aerotek

Be part of a project team that designs and develops new medical electronic systems according to product requirements.

Technical: AAS, Electronic troubleshooting, SMT experience.

Educational: Two-year degree with one-to-five years' experience.

6) Company unknown: Jr. Electronic Manufacturing Product Engineer

This position has the primary responsibility to be the technical interface for the customer to insure customer product specifications are met.

Educational: Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or a similar manufacturing engineering degree.

7) Electronic Engineering Technician, FirstEnergy

Assistant Distribution Specialist to work for the Central Electric Lab's Engineering & Operations group's Maintenance Imaging and E&O Section Support team.

Educational: Bachelor of Science… READ MORE

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