Essential Skills in Electrical Engineering Technology
With the right skills in electrical engineering technology, a multitude of exciting career prospects are available to you. You will need a blend of theoretical electrical knowledge and an understanding of electrical circuits, along with experience with practical applications, specifically in the design, testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance of systems.
It is a field experiencing faster-than-average growth in industries such as:
- Renewable energy, smart grid technologies, and power systems
- Automation and robotics, especially with AI-driven systems
- Telecommunications, networking, and IoT infrastructure
- Aerospace and defense
- Consumer electronics, smart devices, and wearables
- Electric vehicle technology
If you love solving problems and want a career at the forefront of innovation, gaining skills in electrical engineering technology with the goal of becoming an electrical engineering technologist is an excellent occupational fit.
What Do Electrical Engineering Technologists Do?
Electrical engineering technologists focus on the practical application of electronic and electrical technologies. They apply electrical engineering principles to the design, testing, implementation, and maintenance of systems, including troubleshooting and optimization. In addition to being able to work in a wide variety of industries, you have a choice of work environments, from offices to labs to factories to work in the field.
What Are Some Essential Skills for an Electrical Engineering Technologist?
Employers in the field are looking for particular skills in electrical engineering technology when writing job descriptions. Here are some areas of expertise many electrical engineering technologists need to have.
Electrical Circuit Analysis and Design
The ability to design electrical circuits, control systems, and networks for power distribution is in high demand. You will need to know the basics of electrical circuits and power, including voltage, current, resistance, and scientific laws and theorems, including Ohm’s law; Kirchoff’s law; the various laws of Faraday, Gauss, Lenz, and Curie; and more. You’ll also need to be up to date on the latest design software, CAD systems, and platforms for electrical circuit simulation.
PLCs and Automation
Mastery of PLCs, or programmable logic controllers, and robotic automation is a key skills area. Devices may be small enough to fit in your hand, while others are huge units on immovable heavy-duty racks. They also vary in capabilities and functions based on the specific industrial computing requirements. Using PLC and robotic automation technology also requires learning control languages like ladder logic, function block diagrams, sequential function charts, structured text, and instruction lists.
Electrical Testing and Troubleshooting
When something goes wrong or electrical circuits don’t work as designed, you’ll need to test for where the malfunction is happening and troubleshoot solutions to the problem. You’ll need to be proficient in using electrical testing equipment such as multimeters, ohmmeters, relay testers, and also high-potential (hipot) test and high-current test equipment, to name a few examples. Your skills in electrical engineering technology and the applied mastery of electrical principles are key to understanding and fixing issues.
Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems
Embedded systems and microcontrollers work together to cause a device to perform a task. An embedded system uses microcontrollers to perform a task, which can be an image processor on a camera, or it could be the driver of a gang of robots on an automotive assembly line. The kind of work you will do will vary by industry and application.
Start Your EET Career with Excelsior
Enter this dynamic, fast-growing field with the skills in electrical engineering technology you need to play key roles. Accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology program prepares you for tech-related roles applying electronics, electrical power, semiconductors, and computers in a variety of industries. Offered 100% online, Excelsior’s EET program makes it easier for you to balance work and life responsibilities with your education. And the curriculum prepares you not only for EET work but also to become a licensed professional engineer (PE) via the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
With Excelsior’s ABET-accredited education as your foundation, a challenging and rewarding career in electrical engineering technology can be yours.
