All about the profession of electrical engineer

Nowadays, the specialty of an electrical engineer is one of the most sought after in the labor market. Let us dwell in more detail on the description of some aspects of this profession, we will talk about the professional standard, key skills and competencies, as well as the requirements for education and work experience in the specialty.

The main task of the employee in the position of an electrical engineer is carrying out activities related to the design, commissioning and maintenance of electric networks on the balance of a commercial or industrial enterprise, as well as the operation of electrical equipment and wiring. This employee is responsible for the efficient use of incoming electricity, and also oversees the exact observance of safety requirements for all employees of the enterprise. To understand the features of the profession, first you need to figure out how the electrical engineer differs from the ordinary electrician and electrician. All of these specialists are associated with activities to maintain electric networks, but there are significant differences between them.

In particular, an electrician is a specialist who makes repairs, is engaged in the maintenance and commissioning of electrical equipment. In the narrowest sense, this is a professional who is engaged in the maintenance of home networks. An electrician, unlike an electrician, works in industry, and his activity is related to the maintenance of high and low voltage equipment. Both of them work with objects in which the voltage is 1000 volts or more.

An electrical engineer has experience in all of these areas. His responsibilities include designing, calculating energy-intensive devices and electrical systems, as well as maintaining technical documentation, supporting projects at all stages and monitoring the implementation of work related to the operation and configuration of electrical systems.

The profession of an electrical engineer requires special knowledge in areas such as electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, and computer science. Teaching professions is carried out by technical universities, in addition, for employees in this area it will be useful to regularly take relevant courses.

To every person who decides to connect his career with an electrician, should be prepared for the fact that, sooner or later, problems arise in the work. Therefore, in most cases, experienced professionals of the highest qualification who are well versed in all types of power plants and electrical equipment are hired for this position, they know from personal experience all the details of installation, operating rules and compliance with safety measures.

The position of an electrical engineer is a guideline, therefore, all orders of a person holding this position, one way or another, related to electric networks, are considered binding on all employees of the enterprise.

At the beginning of his career, electrical engineers are mainly engaged in debugging, repair, installation and regulation of electrical appliances, as well as electrical circuits. The professional standard of these specialists includes summing up and raising shields in industrial, warehouse and commercial facilities, conducting cables and other electrical communications, as well as other electrical installation works.

The position of a leading electrician or site manager requires a higher level of responsibility. A person who occupies such a position will have to work with energy companies, as well as monitor compliance with labor protection standards. This person is fully responsible for all equipment and devices included in the electrical network of the enterprise.

The highest step of the career ladder - the position of an electrical engineer - includes additional functionality. His job description includes:

• preparation of projects and schemes for connecting generating electrical units to a direct current network;
• connecting each user to the power grid;
• creation of internal and external electrical supply systems;
• Project supervision and comprehensive supervision.

Depending on the complexity of the job duties, as well as the features of the enterprise, the employer may have different requirements for applicants. However, in the most general terms the basic requirements in the part regarding the knowledge and skills of a successful candidate are the same.

The main requirement is to obtain higher specialized technical education. From ordinary electricians who do not have much work experience, they are usually expected to have basic knowledge of electrical engineering, the skills to read the circuit diagrams of their circuits and their preparation, work with relay automation.

In order to apply for a job as an electrical engineer, a candidate must demonstrate the following qualities to a potential employer:

• ability to draw up projects for electrification of facilities;
• practical skills in working with electrical equipment of various types;
• understanding of the basic mechanical processes underlying the functioning of electrical and electronic equipment and affecting their functionality;
• knowledge of the principles of construction and organization of power supply at industrial and commercial enterprises;
• understanding of the assembly mechanism of a set of installations.

To develop electrical circuits and projects, applicants will need:

• at least 5 years of experience in various design companies;
• excellent knowledge of existing building codes;
• skills in working with special computer programs such as AutoCAD and Ms Office.

Workers in this area should know basic fire safety rules and labor protection rules, as well as standards for the safe operation of electrical equipment and established requirements for working with the electrical industryapproved in the territory of your country.

Fulfillment of professional duties is often associated with long trips and servicing facilities at exits, therefore, an important advantage of any candidate will be the availability of their own car or driver’s license, as well as their readiness for frequent business trips.

The position of a simple electrician requires the presence of an additional education. Any self-education with the help of online courses and books in this specialization does not give any reason to be hired as a specialist in working with electrical equipment, especially for the position of electrical engineer. No need to blindly trust the advertising of online courses and distance learning programs that promise to make you a pro. The fact is that for a person who has received such an education, even with experience, work is allowed only inside his house during the installation and repair of household electrical wiring.

Much more practical experience can be gained when working in a brigade with qualified electricians. However, even in this case, you will not be accepted to the desired position and will not be allowed to industrial power networks. Accelerated courses allow you to become an electrician of the 1st category and provide the opportunity for further employment only with the lowest discharge at the beginning of your career. To qualify as a higher level electrical engineer, such courses are not enough.

An applicant for a job as an electrical engineer must have a college degree. Upon graduation, university graduates are assigned the qualification of an “engineer”, which provides the necessary basis for assuming responsibility at a manufacturing or commercial enterprise, although in practice employers require long-term professional experience.

A person in an engineering position needs to improve his skill level from time to time. The purpose of retraining is to increase the level of knowledge and competencies of the employee, taking into account new engineering and electric power solutions, the development of new technologies and changes in regulatory documents. Such courses teach not just the methodology of working with electric networks and equipment - special attention is paid to the ETKS safety rules, since in this profession it plays a crucial role.

It so happens that university graduates immediately after graduation are assigned to the position of engineer. As a rule, such an approach justifies itself only if the employer is absolutely confident in the competencies of the employee, his professional skills and abilities. In most cases after receiving a diploma, a young specialist must work for several years as an electrician - this is the only way he has the necessary education and experience that allows him to apply for an engineering vacancy.

Appointment to such a responsible position of a person without practical experience entails great risks, since no theoretical knowledge, especially in such a dangerous area as electricity, can replace practical skills.Those wishing to receive the specialty of an electrical engineer must clearly understand that graduation does not guarantee them a good level of payment - the salary of a specialist is directly proportional to his work experience and professional category.

The level of payment of an electrical engineer largely depends on the region of his residence. So, in the capital, this employee earns at least 35 thousand rubles, the average wage is 55 thousand rubles, and the maximum amount reaches 100-110 thousand rubles. In regions, an electrical engineer receives an order of magnitude less.

An electrical engineer can work in any public or private enterprise related to the construction, production and utilities. This person prepares the projects for launch, monitors the implementation, accepts the project, and if it does not meet the required standards, sends it for revision.

Vacancy of an electrical engineer relevant today in all regions of Russia, as, however, in any other country. A person with skills in working with electrical engineering will never be left without work, since in all developed countries of the world human activities are closely related to electricity.