What is an Electrical Engineer?
An electrical engineer is someone who designs and develops new electrical equipment, solves problems and tests equipment. They work with all kinds of electronic devices, from the smallest pocket devices to large supercomputers.
Electrical engineering deals with electricity, electro-magnetism and electronics. It also covers power, control systems, telecommunications and signal processing. These engineers are usually concerned with large-scale electrical systems such as motor control and power transmission, as well as utilizing electricity to transmit energy. Electrical engineers may work on a diverse range of technologies, from the design of household appliances, lighting and wiring of buildings, telecommunication systems, electrical power stations and satellite communications. They may plan their designs using computer-aided software or they may also sketch ideas by hand.
There are many sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Some electrical engineers specialize exclusively in one sub-discipline, while others specialize in a combination of sub-disciplines. The most popular sub-disciplines are:
Electronic Engineer
- deals with electronic circuits such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors and diodes
Microelectronics Engineer
- deals with design and micro-fabrication of tiny electronic circuit components
Signal Processing Engineer
- deals with signals, such as analog or digital signals
Power Engineer
- deals with electricity and design of related electrical devices such as transformers, generators, motors and power electronics
Control Engineer
- deals with design of controllers that cause systems to behave in a certain way, using micro-controllers, programmable logic controllers, digital signal processors and electrical circuits
Telecommunications Engineer
- deals with transmission of information via a cable or optical fiber
Instrumentation Engineer
- deals with the design of measuring devices for pressure, flow and temperature. This involves a deep understanding of physics
Computer Engineer
- deals with the design of computers and computer hardware
An electrical engineer is someone who designs and develops new electrical equipment, solves problems and tests equipment. They work with all kinds of electronic devices, from the smallest pocket devices to large supercomputers.
Electrical engineering deals with electricity, electro-magnetism and electronics. It also covers power, control systems, telecommunications and signal processing. These engineers are usually concerned with large-scale electrical systems such as motor control and power transmission, as well as utilizing electricity to transmit energy. Electrical engineers may work on a diverse range of technologies, from the design of household appliances, lighting and wiring of buildings, telecommunication systems, electrical power stations and satellite communications. They may plan their designs using computer-aided software or they may also sketch ideas by hand.
There are many sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Some electrical engineers specialize exclusively in one sub-discipline, while others specialize in a combination of sub-disciplines. The most popular sub-disciplines are:
Electronic Engineer
- deals with electronic circuits such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors and diodes
Microelectronics Engineer
- deals with design and micro-fabrication of tiny electronic circuit components
Signal Processing Engineer
- deals with signals, such as analog or digital signals
Power Engineer
- deals with electricity and design of related electrical devices such as transformers, generators, motors and power electronics
Control Engineer
- deals with design of controllers that cause systems to behave in a certain way, using micro-controllers, programmable logic controllers, digital signal processors and electrical circuits
Telecommunications Engineer
- deals with transmission of information via a cable or optical fiber
Instrumentation Engineer
- deals with the design of measuring devices for pressure, flow and temperature. This involves a deep understanding of physics
Computer Engineer
- deals with the design of computers and computer hardware
Nature of work/Eligibiliy criteria/career options etc
Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems, research new and innovative designs and system, supervise and plan manufacturing process of high end electrical systems. This role provides a number of challenges ranging from problem identification and the selection of appropriate technical solutions, materials, test equipment and procedures, to the manufacture and production of safe, economical, high-performance products and services.
Electrical engineers work to combine technology with creativity, taking ideas and turning them into reality. In fact, electrical engineers are involved in the practical application of electrical energy.
Electricity has become the basic need for survival. From household to industrial plants, communication and satellite navigation system, electronic equipment, computers etc., all require electricity. Hence electrical engineering which deals with study and application of electrical systems is widely applicable in each and every aspect of our daily life. Virtually every industry utilizes electrical engineers, so employment opportunities are extensive.
Education & Eligibility
Educational : A bachelor's degree in Engineering is the minimum requirement to become a qualified electrical engineer. A post graduate degree is required for research or teaching posts and an additional degree in business administration is desirable for management positions.
Engineering courses are available at two levels. There are the (B.Sc./BE) degrees and postgraduate (M.Sc./ME) degree courses offered by the engineering universities and colleges and the diploma courses (DAE/ B.Tech) available at polytechnics.
The basic eligibility criteria for a B.Sc./ B.E in Electrical Engineering is F.Sc. or equivalent examination, with high percentage of marks in Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics). While for post graduate programs, one should have done B.Sc./B.E/ in electrical engineering. The program can either be studied alone or can be combined with electronic engineering. One can even opt for super specialty or Ph. D program in electrical engineering. For the purpose, the person should have done M.Sc./M.E in electrical engineering or electrical and electronics engineering.
Selection : Selection to the graduate courses (B.Sc./B.E) is based on merit i.e the marks secured in Metric and F.Sc. and through entrance test.
Duration: B.Sc./B.E courses are of 4 year's duration. The diploma and B.Tech courses are of 2-3 year's duration. Post Graduate course M.Sc./M.E is of 2 years duration.
Abilities Required: An electrical engineer need to have a sharp, analytical and practical mind and attention to details. They should be able to grasp and adapt to new and changing concepts. Good communication skills are also important to communicate their ideas to others in their field. He should be good at organizing and solving problems. He may need to work under pressure and have the ability to keep calm during crisis. Along with various other personal attributes one must also have dedication and commitment towards the profession.
A successful electrical engineer possesses not only an understanding of his area of concentration, but also a broad grasp of engineering in general. An electrical engineer is expected to have detailed knowledge of electrical networks, electrical energy converters and equipments that uses electromagnetic field theory, electrical energy distribution systems etc.
Job Prospects
Scope in electrical engineering lie in the areas of generating electricity, its distribution and transmission. As everything from house to industry requires electricity to function, there are tremendous career prospects in this field in Pakistan as well as in other developed countries across the world. Electrical engineering has a wide scope of applicability and it varies depending upon different needs.
Different types of employers offer jobs to electrical engineers. Employers range from computer-technology corporations and chemical companies to power and telephone companies. Both small and large companies in the private sector and the government sector offer placement for electrical engineers. Electrical engineers can find employment in Electrical equipment and systems manufacturing companies, Power generation and transmission, Telecommunication, Railways, IT industry, Health care equipment manufacturing industry, public sector industries like petroleum, steel and chemical industry, Research and design etc.
Career Options
Electrical graduates are employed in Electricity companies and large industries as engineers and managers, responsible for installation, maintenance, operation of power handling equipments and systems. Industries manufacturing large electrical machines and equipments employ engineers in design, production and testing. Electrical engineers also find employment in atomic power plants, hydroelectric power plants as well as thermal power plants. Many electrical engineering graduates opt for careers in the food, pulp and paper, chemical, aircraft and automobile industries.
Educational Institutions and Research establishments recruit electrical engineers as faculty and scientists. One can also do research work in this field by joining research labs and institutes. Teaching career is also rewarding. They can join an engineering college/university as a full time or part time lecturer/professor. They can also enter into self employment by starting own ventures.
As an Electrical Engineer, entry for junior posts in the Government departments is by direct recruitment through advertisements in newspapers. Selection to Gazetted posts is through competitive examinations (CSS).
Young engineers have chances in the Defence Services also. For selection into the Defence Services- Pak Armed Forces (Army, Air Force, Navy), applications are invited through National dailies.
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Jobs of Electrical Engineering in different Companese
Following are the companese in Pakistan which are offering jobs to electrical engineers in Pakistan