Description:
Research, design, develop, and test electronic components and systems for commercial, industrial, military, or scientific use utilizing knowledge of electronic theory and materials properties. Design electronic circuits and components for use in fields such as telecommunications, aerospace guidance and propulsion control, acoustics, or instruments and controls.
Tasks
- Design electronic components, software, products or systems for commercial, industrial, medical, military, or scientific applications.
- Provide technical support and instruction to staff or customers regarding equipment standards, assisting with specific, difficult in-service engineering.
- Operate computer-assisted engineering and design software and equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- Analyze system requirements, capacity, cost, and customer needs to determine feasibility of project and develop system plan.
- Confer with engineers, customers, vendors or others to discuss existing and potential engineering projects or products.
- Review and evaluate work of others, inside and outside the organization, to ensure effectiveness, technical adequacy and compatibility in the resolution of complex engineering problems.
- Determine material and equipment needs and order supplies.
- Inspect electronic equipment, instruments, products, and systems to ensure conformance to specifications, safety standards, and applicable codes and regulations.
- Evaluate operational systems, prototypes and proposals and recommend repair or design modifications, based on factors such as environment, service, cost, and system capabilities.
- Prepare documentation containing information such as confidential descriptions and specifications of proprietary hardware and software, product development and introduction schedules, product costs, and information about product performance weaknesses.
Knowledge
- 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.
- Computers and Electronics
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- 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.
- Production and Processing
- Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
- English Language
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- 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.
- Mechanical
- Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- 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.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Equipment Selection
- Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Abilities
- Problem Sensitivity
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning
- The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning
- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Speech Recognition
- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Information Ordering
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Visualization
- The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Work Activities
- Interacting With Computers
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
- Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
- Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail
- How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
- Face-to-Face Discussions
- How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
- Telephone
- How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work
- To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- Spend Time Sitting
- How much does this job require sitting?
- Work With Work Group or Team
- How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
- Contact With Others
- How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Interests
- Investigative
- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Realistic
- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Artistic
- Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
- Conventional
- Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Enterprising
- Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Social
- Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Style
- Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Analytical Thinking
- Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Innovation
- Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Independence
- Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Persistence
- Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Work Value
- Working Conditions
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Recognition
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
- Achievement
- Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Independence
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Support
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Relationships
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Related Occupations
- Aerospace Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Electronic Drafters
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Avionics Technicians
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Common Lay Titles
- Advisory Engineer
- Antenna Engineer
- Application Engineer
- Automation Engineer
- Broadcast Engineer
- Cadence Engineer
- Central Office Equipment Engineer
- Central Office Facilities Planning Engineer
- Circuit Design Engineer
- Circuit Designer
- Commercial Engineer
- Communications Engineer
- Consulting Engineer
- Controls Engineer
- Customer Equipment Engineer
- Design Engineer
- Design Engineering Manager
- Dial Equipment Engineer
- Electrical Electronics Engineers
- Electrical Engineer
- Electronic Design Automation Engineer (EDA Engineer)
- Electronic Parts Designer
- Electronic System Engineer
- Electronics Design Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Electronics Research Engineer
- Electronics Test Engineer
- Electrophonic Engineer
- Engineer
- Engineer Specialist
- Engineering Manager
- Equipment Engineer
- Failure Analysis Technician
- Guidance and Control System Engineer
- Integrated Circuit Design Engineer (IC Design Engineer)
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Microwave Engineer
- Microwave Supervisor
- Nanotechnologist
- Outside Plant Cable Engineer
- Outside Plant Engineer
- Product Engineer
- Radar Engineer
- Radio Frequency Engineer (RF Engineer)
- Studio Operations Engineer-in-Charge
- Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)
- Telecommunications Engineer
- Telecommunications Specialist
- Test Engineer
- Test Engineering Manager
- Traffic Circuit Engineer
- Transmission and Protection Engineer
- Transmitter Engineer
- Validation Engineer
- Validation Specialist