Also called: Power Engineer, Design Engineer
Designs and tests electrical systems such as motors, power systems, controls and navigation equipment.
You lay out the wiring and power supply for a new factory machine, picking breakers and wire sizes. In the afternoon you troubleshoot a motor that keeps tripping, using a meter and a laptop to read its drive data.
BLS May 2024 OEWS.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in electrical engineering; PE license for many power roles.
Ways in: 4-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). BLS 2024-34 projection for electrical and electronics engineers.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI drafts schematics, code checks and reports, thinning some junior work; grid, motor and control design with safety sign-off stays human.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Electronics or electrical CTE, Computer science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 17-2071.
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