Electronics engineering technician

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Engineering
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Career outlook for electronics engineering technician

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£21,000

Experienced

£37,000


Currently employed in Scotland

3,700

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would design, make and fix the systems and components used in all sorts of equipment such as mobile phones, computers and medical instruments.

You could work on the electronic components used in:

  • Telecommunications - mobile phones, radio and TV
  • Medical scientific instruments – clinical and laboratory apparatus
  • Programmable control systems – manufacturing and industrial machinery
  • Data communications – computers, tablets, PDAs and ‘hole-in-the-wall’ cash machines (ATMs)
  • Control systems - used in all sorts of machines including aircraft and satellites to cars

Depending where you work you would:

  • Design printed circuit boards and wiring diagrams using computer-aided design (CAD) software
  • Research and develop new ideas and products
  • Test prototype products and analyse the results
  • Build and install electronic control systems used in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
  • Inspect and calibrate instruments for quality control purposes
  • Set up maintenance schedules for industrial and commercial equipment
  • Find and fix equipment faults

You’d use engineering drawings and need to understand engineering principles. You’d also need to be aware of electrical health and safety issues.

You would work closely with a team of engineers, as well as craftspeople from different engineering fields.

Working conditions

Hours

You would normally work a 40-hour week. You may work on a shift system, with overtime and on-call duties.

Environment

You could be based in a factory, workshop or research facility.

UK employment status

Full-time

91%

Part-time

6%

Self employed

4%

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Here are some of the skills needed for this job. Sign in to see how your skills match up.

  • Developing a plan
  • Attention to detail
  • Analysing
  • Working with technology
  • Verbal communication
  • Written communication
  • Cooperating
  • Researching
  • Working with numbers
  • Problem solving

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Foundation Apprenticeships

Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.

Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

Qualifications

You can enter through a Modern Apprenticeship and gain relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Electrical Installation (SVQ level 3).

Or you could start by taking a qualification in electrical or electronic engineering or a similar subject at National Certificate (SCQF level 5/6), Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) in Electrical Engineering.

Some employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5, in particular for entry to a Modern Apprenticeship.

You can enter Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) with National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications.  

Useful subjects

  • English (required by many courses and employers)
  • Maths (required by many courses and employers)
  • A science subject in particular physics (required by many courses and employers)
  • Technologies subjects
  • Engineering science

You will also need

Normal colour vision as you will be working with electrical wiring

Helpful to have

Qualifications that show understanding and experience of the industry and electronics such as Skills for Work Engineering Skills (SCQF level 5) could also be useful.