Electronic Technology

Alternative Job Titles for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• Communications Technologist
• Electrical Engineering Technician
• Electrical Technician
• Electronics Engineering Technician
• Electronics Technician
• Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech)
• Engineering Technologist
• System Technologist
• Technologist

Job Tasks and Activities for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• Advise customers on the use of products or services.
• Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
• Assemble equipment or components.
• Assemble, test, or maintain circuitry or electronic components, according to engineering instructions, technical manuals, or knowledge of electronics, using hand or power tools.
• Calculate design specifications or cost, material, and resource estimates, and prepare project schedules and budgets.
• Compile and maintain records documenting engineering schematics, installed equipment, installation or operational problems, resources used, repairs, or corrective action performed.
• Confer with other personnel to resolve design or operational problems.
• Create electrical schematics.
• Create schematic drawings for electronics.
• Design electrical equipment or systems.
• Design or modify engineering schematics for electrical transmission and distribution systems or for electrical installation in residential, commercial, or industrial buildings, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Direct industrial production activities.
• Direct installation activities.
• Direct quality control activities.
• Document technical design details.
• Educate equipment operators on the proper use of equipment.
• Estimate operational costs.
• Estimate technical or resource requirements for development or production projects.
• Evaluate designs or specifications to ensure quality.
• Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
• Install instrumentation or electronic equipment or systems.
• Install or maintain electrical control systems, industrial automation systems, or electrical equipment, including control circuits, variable speed drives, or programmable logic controllers.
• Integrate software or hardware components, using computer, microprocessor, or control architecture.
• Interpret design or operational test results.
• Interpret test information to resolve design-related problems.
• Maintain electronic equipment.
• Maintain operational records or records systems.
• Maintain system logs or manuals to document testing or operation of equipment.
• Modify electrical prototypes, parts, assemblies, or systems to correct functional deviations.
• Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
• Operate computer systems.
• Participate in training or continuing education activities to stay abreast of engineering or industry advances.
• Prepare project budgets.
• Procure parts and maintain inventory and related documentation.
• Produce electronics drawings or other graphics representing industrial control, instrumentation, sensors, or analog or digital telecommunications networks, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Provide user applications or engineering support or recommendations for new or existing equipment with regard to installation, upgrades, or enhancements.
• Purchase materials, equipment, or other resources.
• Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
• Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
• Research equipment or component needs, sources, competitive prices, delivery times, or ongoing operational costs.
• Resolve operational performance problems.
• Review electrical engineering plans to ensure adherence to design specifications and compliance with applicable electrical codes and standards.
• Review existing electrical engineering criteria to identify necessary revisions, deletions, or amendments to outdated material.
• Review technical documents to plan work.
• Select electronics equipment, components, or systems to meet functional specifications.
• Select tools, equipment, or technologies for use in operations or projects.
• Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
• Specify, coordinate, or conduct quality control or quality assurance programs or procedures.
• Supervise the installation or operation of electronic equipment or systems.
• Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
• Train personnel on proper operational procedures.
• Update technical knowledge.

Interests for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• Realistic
  Designing, building, or repairing equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors.
• Investigative
  Studying and researching scientific subjects and human behavior.
• Conventional
  Following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting.

Skills for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Reading Comprehension
  Reading work-related information.
  Importance: 72/100
• Critical Thinking
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
  Importance: 69/100
• Active Listening
  Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
  Importance: 66/100
• Repairing
  Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
  Importance: 63/100
• Troubleshooting
  Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
  Importance: 63/100
• Complex Problem Solving
  Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
  Importance: 60/100
• Speaking
  Talking to others.
  Importance: 56/100
• Writing
  Writing things for co-workers or customers.
  Importance: 56/100
• Active Learning
  Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
  Importance: 53/100
• Judgment and Decision Making
  Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
  Importance: 53/100
• Systems Analysis
  Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
  Importance: 53/100
• Monitoring
  Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
  Importance: 53/100
• Coordination
  Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
  Importance: 50/100
• Operations Monitoring
  Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
  Importance: 50/100
• Equipment Maintenance
  Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
  Importance: 50/100
• Quality Control Analysis
  Testing how well a product or service works.
  Importance: 47/100
• Systems Evaluation
  Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
  Importance: 47/100
• Time Management
  Managing your time and the time of other people.
  Importance: 47/100
• Social Perceptiveness
  Understanding people's reactions.
  Importance: 47/100
• Service Orientation
  Looking for ways to help people.
  Importance: 47/100
• Mathematics
  Using math to solve problems.
  Importance: 44/100
• Equipment Selection
  Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
  Importance: 41/100
• Instructing
  Teaching people how to do something.
  Importance: 41/100
• Management of Personnel Resources
  Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
  Importance: 41/100
• Learning Strategies
  Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
  Importance: 41/100
• Persuasion
  Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
  Importance: 38/100
• Operation and Control
  Using equipment or systems.
  Importance: 38/100
• Negotiation
  Bringing people together to solve differences.
  Importance: 31/100
• Management of Material Resources
  Managing equipment and materials.
  Importance: 28/100
• Management of Financial Resources
  Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
  Importance: 28/100
• Technology Design
  Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
  Importance: 25/100
• Operations Analysis
  Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
  Importance: 25/100
• Installation
  Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
  Importance: 25/100
• Programming
  Writing computer programs.
  Importance: 22/100
• Science
  Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
  Importance: 19/100

Knowledge for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Computers and Electronics
  Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  Importance: 85/100
• Engineering and Technology
  Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  Importance: 84/100
• English Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  Importance: 69/100
• Design
  Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  Importance: 66/100
• Mathematics
  Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  Importance: 63/100
• Customer and Personal Service
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  Importance: 58/100
• Mechanical
  Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  Importance: 57/100
• Production and Processing
  Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  Importance: 55/100
• Telecommunications
  Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
  Importance: 53/100
• Physics
  Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
  Importance: 52/100
• Public Safety and Security
  Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  Importance: 49/100
• Administration and Management
  Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  Importance: 44/100
• Administrative
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
  Importance: 43/100
• Education and Training
  Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  Importance: 42/100
• Law and Government
  Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  Importance: 34/100
• Chemistry
  Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  Importance: 32/100
• Communications and Media
  Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  Importance: 32/100
• Building and Construction
  Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  Importance: 31/100
• Sales and Marketing
  Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  Importance: 26/100
• Personnel and Human Resources
  Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  Importance: 25/100
• Transportation
  Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  Importance: 23/100
• Economics and Accounting
  Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  Importance: 22/100
• Geography
  Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
  Importance: 18/100
• Psychology
  Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  Importance: 18/100
• Foreign Language
  Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
  Importance: 12/100
• Sociology and Anthropology
  Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
  Importance: 9/100
• Biology
  Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  Importance: 7/100
• Therapy and Counseling
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
  Importance: 6/100
• Philosophy and Theology
  Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
  Importance: 6/100
• Food Production
  Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
  Importance: 5/100
• Medicine and Dentistry
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  Importance: 5/100
• History and Archeology
  Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
  Importance: 4/100
• Fine Arts
  Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
  Importance: 1/100

Physical Abilities for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

In order of importance

• Deductive Reasoning
  Using rules to solve problems.
  Importance: 72/100
• Inductive Reasoning
  Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
  Importance: 72/100
• Written Comprehension
  Reading and understanding what is written.
  Importance: 72/100
• Near Vision
  Seeing details up close.
  Importance: 69/100
• Oral Comprehension
  Listening and understanding what people say.
  Importance: 69/100
• Problem Sensitivity
  Noticing when problems happen.
  Importance: 66/100
• Information Ordering
  Ordering or arranging things.
  Importance: 63/100
• Oral Expression
  Communicating by speaking.
  Importance: 63/100
• Speech Clarity
  Speaking clearly.
  Importance: 60/100
• Visualization
  Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
  Importance: 60/100
• Written Expression
  Communicating by writing.
  Importance: 60/100
• Category Flexibility
  Grouping things in different ways.
  Importance: 56/100
• Visual Color Discrimination
  Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
  Importance: 56/100
• Speech Recognition
  Recognizing spoken words.
  Importance: 56/100
• Perceptual Speed
  Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
  Importance: 56/100
• Selective Attention
  Paying attention to something without being distracted.
  Importance: 53/100
• Flexibility of Closure
  Seeing hidden patterns.
  Importance: 50/100
• Originality
  Creating new and original ideas.
  Importance: 50/100
• Fluency of Ideas
  Coming up with lots of ideas.
  Importance: 50/100
• Mathematical Reasoning
  Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
  Importance: 44/100
• Finger Dexterity
  Putting together small parts with your fingers.
  Importance: 44/100
• Speed of Closure
  Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
  Importance: 44/100
• Manual Dexterity
  Holding or moving items with your hands.
  Importance: 44/100
• Control Precision
  Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
  Importance: 44/100
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  Keeping your arm or hand steady.
  Importance: 44/100
• Far Vision
  Seeing details that are far away.
  Importance: 44/100
• Number Facility
  Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
  Importance: 41/100
• Time Sharing
  Doing two or more things at the same time.
  Importance: 38/100
• Auditory Attention
  Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
  Importance: 38/100
• Depth Perception
  Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
  Importance: 38/100
• Memorization
  Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
  Importance: 38/100
• Extent Flexibility
  Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 38/100
• Hearing Sensitivity
  Telling the difference between sounds.
  Importance: 35/100
• Trunk Strength
  Using your lower back and stomach.
  Importance: 31/100
• Multilimb Coordination
  Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
  Importance: 28/100
• Reaction Time
  Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
  Importance: 25/100
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
  Importance: 25/100
• Dynamic Strength
  Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
  Importance: 22/100
• Gross Body Coordination
  Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
  Importance: 19/100
• Stamina
  Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
  Importance: 19/100
• Sound Localization
  Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
  Importance: 19/100
• Rate Control
  Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
  Importance: 19/100
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  Keeping your balance or staying upright.
  Importance: 19/100
• Static Strength
  Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
  Importance: 16/100
• Spatial Orientation
  Knowing where things are around you.
  Importance: 16/100
• Explosive Strength
  Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
  Importance: 16/100
• Peripheral Vision
  Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
  Importance: 10/100
• Dynamic Flexibility
  Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Importance: 6/100
• Response Orientation
  Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
  Importance: 6/100
• Glare Sensitivity
  Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
  Importance: 6/100

Tools and Technology used by Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• Voltage or current meters
• Multimeters
• Frequency analyzers
• Electronic measuring probes
• Signal generators
• Frequency counters or timer or dividers
• Integrated circuit testers
• Plotter printers
• Automatic soldering machine
• Stripping tools
• Power screwguns
• Antistatic wrist straps
• Laboratory mechanical convection ovens
• Diesel generators
• Auxiliary generator
• Speed sensors
• Wire wrapping tool
• Heel grounding straps
• Phasemeters
• Electronic counters
• Instrument transformers
• Notebook computers
• Variable resistors or varistors
• Soldering iron
• Welding masks
• Milling machines
• Potentiometers
• Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe
• Capacitance meters
• Goggles
• Amplifiers
• Portable data input terminals
• Spot welding machine
• Reflectometers
• Microprocessors
• Level generators
• Power meters
• Wire lug crimping tool
• Microcontrollers
• Magnetic tools
• Brushless motor DC
• Wattmeters
• Dynamometers
• Ammeters
• Screwdrivers
• Wire cutters
• Network analyzers
• Impedance meters
• Ohmmeters
• Tachometers
• Power drills
• Digital cameras
• Phase shifters
• Q Meters
• Laser printers
• Adjustable widemouth pliers
• Lasers
• Desktop computers
• Adjustable wrenches
• Personal computers
• Oscilloscopes
• Binocular light compound microscopes
• Analytical or scientific software
  • Altera MAX
  • Altera Quartus II
  • Anadigm Designer2 EDA
  • Ansoft HFSS
  • Ansys Fluent
  • BSVC
  • Cadence OrCAD PSpice
  • Cadence PSpice
  • Circuit simulation software
  • Computer-aided engineering CAE software
  • Data acquisition software
  • GNU Octave
  • Gnuplot
  • MAGIC software
  • MathWorks Simulink
  • OctTools
  • PTC Mathcad
  • PowerWorld software
  • Proportional integral derivative control PID software
  • Root cause analysis software
  • SPLAT!
  • Siemens ModelSim
  • Signal synthesizers
  • Simulation software
  • Spectrum Software Micro-Cap
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • Transmission line simulators
  • Wolfram Research Mathematica
  • ngspice
  • pMatlab
• Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Computer aided design CAD software
  • Agilent Advanced Design System ADS
  • Altium Designer
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • CST Microwave Studio
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
  • EMA TimingDesigner
  • Keysight Technologies Advanced Design System
  • KiCad
  • Logisim
  • Mentor Graphics PADS
  • National Instruments Multisim
  • OrCAD Capture
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • PUFF
  • Static Free Software Electric VLSI Design System
  • Tanner Research L-Edit
  • Xcircuit
  • gEDA
• Development environment software
  • Adobe ActionScript
  • Analog Devices VisualDSP++
  • C
  • Canu
  • Eclipse IDE
  • GE Fanuc Automation VersaPro
  • HP InfoTech CodeVisionAVR
  • Microchip MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Motorola Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Assembler
  • National Instruments LabVIEW
  • Texas Instruments Code Composer Studio CCStudio
  • Verilog
• Operating system software
  • Emulators
  • Linux
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Operating system software
  • UNIX
• Industrial control software
  • AVEVA InTouch HMI
  • Human machine interface HMI software
  • Programmable logic controller PLC software
  • Rockwell RSView
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Oracle Hyperion
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
  • SAP software
• Object or component oriented development software
  • C++
  • Computer aided software engineering CASE tools
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
  • Python
• Data base user interface and query software
  • Database software
  • FileMaker Pro
  • Microsoft Access
  • Oracle Database
• Program testing software
  • Debugging software
  • Rockwell RSLogix
  • Vector Software VectorCast
• Document management software
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • FlukeView Forms
• Project management software
  • Bentley Systems ProjectWise
  • Microsoft Project
• Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Spreadsheet software
• Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook
• Network connectivity terminal emulation software
  • Terminal emulation software
• Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Graphics software
• Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office software
• Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Word processing software
• Business intelligence and data analysis software
  • IBM Cognos Impromptu
• Internet browser software
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Cloud-based management software
  • IBM WebSphere
• Web platform development software
  • JavaScript

Employment Industries for Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

• Semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing
  13,000 employed
• Engineering services
  11,300 employed
• Federal government, excluding postal service
  8,100 employed
• Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing
  7,000 employed
• Postal service
  3,800 employed
• Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences
  3,600 employed
• Machinery manufacturing (3331,2,4,9)
  2,600 employed
• Computer systems design and related services
  2,500 employed
• Local government, excluding education and hospitals
  2,400 employed
• Other electrical equipment and component manufacturing
  2,300 employed