An electrical engineer researches, designs, installs, and tests electrical and electronic equipment and supervises its manufacture. Their work involves the generation, distribution and management of all appliances and installations that generate or use electrical energy.
Electrical engineering is often associated with power generation and distribution of power. Power generation involves the generation of electrical power from a variety of sources: hydro-electrical, thermal coal power, nuclear, as well as renewable sources of power such as solar and wind power. Distribution involves transmission lines and sub-stations that are used to distribute electrical energy for power, heating, lighting and other uses.
The fact that there are so many varieties and sources of electrical power means that there are also numerous areas of specialisation in the field of electrical engineering. Specialisation may also include the design of electrical transmission systems, electric motors and generators, high voltage engineering and power electronics, to name but a few. The nature of the work may include research and design of new products, the writing of performance requirements and the development of maintenance schedules. Electrical engineers test equipment, solve operating problems and estimate the time and cost of engineering projects. Many electrical and electronics engineers also work in areas closely related to computers (see Computer Software Engineer and Computer Hardware Engineer).
There are various similarities, although also differences, between electrical and electronics engineering. Electronics engineering is often referred to as “light current” engineering and electrical engineering as “heavy current” engineering. The difference lies in terms of the storage, retrieval, transfer and processing of information associated with electronics engineering, versus the application of electrical energy associated with electrical engineering, which is now split into heavy and light current engineering. See Electronics Engineer for more details. However, there is some blurring between the two areas in today’s world and career handbooks today prefer to describe electronics engineering as a sub-division of electrical engineering.
Electrical engineers work in a variety of work environments depending on the nature of the work. These environments include offices, design centres or laboratories, as well as outdoors in the project management of large constructions and installations, for instance power stations.
Engineering graduates usually begin work under the supervision of experienced engineers and are gradually given more responsibilities as they gain experience. Some engineers with experience and additional education, move into administration or management. Many high-level executives in industry began their careers in engineering.