ADD ADVICE TO FAVElectronic designer
Electronic designers design circuits for digital systems and especially for radio frequency, microwave applications and optoelectronic systems.
What electronic designers do
- Design circuits for digital and analogue systems, and the interfaces between them, eg low-frequency audio to radio frequency
- liaise with software engineers to decide which functions will be implemented by hardware and which by software
- assemble and test the circuits in a range of electronic conditions, ensuring that there is minimum undesirable interference between them.
Key skills for electronic designers
- excellent knowledge of digital and analogue electronics at different speeds and frequencies
- an understanding of the interface between different signals, eg digital to analogue and the reverse, RF to optical, etc
- practical laboratory skills
- ability to work in teams and liaise with other engineers in related fields
- verbal and written communication skills.
Training to be an electronic designer
Training, which is usually conducted over a period of two years, would normally include periods working in different technical and non-technical departments, eg:
- design
- drawing office
- research and development
- testing
- assembly
- maintenance
- quality assurance
- purchasing
- contracts
plus and introduction to management functions.
Salaries for electronic designers
Starting salaries are in the range of £20,000 to £26,000, averaging at around £23,000.
