Job description template
Electrical Engineer Job Description
Electrical engineer job description: roles and responsibilities in design, testing and compliance, plus skills, degree, FE and PE licence requirements.
The role in brief
An electrical engineer designs, develops, tests and supervises the manufacture or installation of electrical systems and equipment, from motors, controls and power distribution to communications and navigation systems. Day to day they turn requirements into designs and calculations, produce schematics and layouts in design software, specify components, test prototypes and installed systems for performance and safety, and work with technicians, other engineers and manufacturing or construction teams to get designs built correctly. Many specialise, for example in power generation and distribution, building electrical systems, control systems or electronics. Entry needs a bachelor's degree in electrical or electronics engineering; a Professional Engineer (PE) licence is not needed at entry level but is required to sign off on work offered to the public.
- Define electrical requirements with project stakeholders and turn them into design specifications, load calculations and system architectures
- Produce schematics, single-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, panel layouts or PCB-level designs using CAD and electrical design software
- Select and specify components such as motors, drives, switchgear, protection devices, cabling, sensors and controllers
- Design to the applicable codes and standards, such as NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code) for US installations, IEC or IEEE standards, and customer specifications
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Define electrical requirements with project stakeholders and turn them into design specifications, load calculations and system architectures
- Produce schematics, single-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, panel layouts or PCB-level designs using CAD and electrical design software
- Select and specify components such as motors, drives, switchgear, protection devices, cabling, sensors and controllers
- Design to the applicable codes and standards, such as NFPA 70 (the National Electrical Code) for US installations, IEC or IEEE standards, and customer specifications
- Run calculations and studies such as voltage drop, short circuit, protection coordination and arc flash, using the tools your team relies on
- Build, test and validate prototypes or installed systems, document results and recommend design changes or repairs
- Support manufacturing, installation and commissioning teams with drawings, technical queries and on-site troubleshooting
- Review vendor submittals, drawings and test reports for compliance with the design
- Follow electrical safety practices for energised work, such as those in NFPA 70E, and contribute to hazard analysis
- Prepare technical documentation, bills of materials, cost estimates and design reviews for project and engineering managers
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering or a closely related field (an EAC/ABET-accredited programme is the usual route to the FE exam in the US)
- 2Engineering experience in your specialism, through employment, co-op or internships (set the years to the level you are hiring for)
- 3PE licence required only if the role signs and seals drawings or offers engineering services directly to the public
- 4Valid driving licence if the role travels to project sites
- 5Master's degree preferred for some research, power systems or advanced design roles
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
Electrical engineers progress to senior and principal engineer, lead engineer or engineering manager, leading teams of engineers and technicians. Others specialise deeply (protection, power systems studies, controls), move into project management, or, after gaining the PE licence, take responsibility for signing off designs.
Common questions
What are the roles and responsibilities of an electrical engineer?
An electrical engineer defines requirements, designs electrical systems and equipment, produces drawings and calculations, specifies components, tests prototypes and installations, and supports manufacturing, installation and commissioning. They are also responsible for making designs safe and compliant with the codes and standards that apply, such as the National Electrical Code in the US, and for documenting the design so others can build and maintain it.
Does an electrical engineer need a PE licence?
Not at entry level. A Professional Engineer licence lets an engineer oversee other engineers, sign off on projects and provide services directly to the public, so it matters for consulting, building services and utility work. The usual route is an accredited degree, passing the computer-based FE exam, several years of relevant experience and then the PE exam. Each state issues its own licence.
What is the difference between an electrical engineer and an electronics engineer?
Electrical engineers usually work with power: generation, distribution, motors, controls and building systems. Electronics engineers focus on components, circuitry and devices at lower voltages, such as PCBs and embedded hardware. The roles overlap, so name the voltage levels, systems and tools in your job description to attract the right applicants.
What software should an electrical engineer know?
It depends on the specialism. Building and industrial roles use AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN for drawings and tools such as ETAP or SKM for power system studies. Electronics roles use PCB tools such as Altium, and simulation tools such as SPICE or MATLAB. List the tools your team actually uses rather than every tool in the field.
How do you screen electrical engineer applicants?
Ask for work that looks like the job. A short exercise such as reviewing a single-line diagram with planted errors, sizing a feeder and protection for a given load, or diagnosing a failed test from a data sheet and results shows how a candidate reasons and documents. Follow up in interview by walking through a design they owned and the trade-offs they made.
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