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Military Career: Electrical and Electronics Engineers

 

Overview

Equipment such as radar, missile guidance systems, and communication equipment depends on advanced electronics. Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, and test electrical and electronic equipment. They also direct equipment installation and repair.

What They Do

Electrical and electronics engineers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Direct research to improve and develop computer, navigation, and other electronic systems
  • Direct equipment installation and repair
  • Develop test standards and operating instructions for electrical and electronic systems
  • Design and develop test instruments
  • Test new or modified equipment to check its performance and reliability
  • Review test data, report results, and recommend actions

Branches of the Military

Army
Navy
Air Force
Marine Corps
Coast Guard

Helpful Attributes

Helpful attributes include:

  • Interest in engineering concepts and principles
  • Interest in planning and directing research projects
  • Interest in working with mathematical formulas

Training Provided

Initial training is usually provided on the job. Classroom training is provided for some specialties in this occupation. Course content typically includes:

  • Combat and tactical systems and networks
  • Weapon system electronics

Work Environment

Electrical and electronics engineers usually work in offices while planning research studies and designing electronic systems. They may work outdoors when overseeing the installation of new equipment.

Civilian Counterparts

Civilian electrical and electronics engineers work for manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment. Many work for government agencies, public utilities, and engineering firms. Civilian electrical and electronics engineers perform duties similar to those performed in the military. However, they usually specialize in product areas, such as computers, communications, or aerospace systems. They may also be called electronics design engineers and electronics test engineers.

Below is a list of similar civilian occupations:

Aerospace Engineers
Computer Engineers
Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Opportunities

The services have about 1,000 electrical and electronics engineers. Each year, they need new engineers due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, electrical and electronics engineers are usually assigned to engineering research and development units or to communications centers. Initially, they conduct studies and supervise research and development staff. With experience, they may advance to senior management positions, such as engineering staff officer, or research and development manager.


Source: U.S. Department of Defense, Washington D.C.