What Is an Electrical Design Engineer and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As an electrical design engineer, you design projects for power distribution and electrical systems. You use software, electrical products, and other equipment to make your designs a reality. Your job duties involve all aspects of the design process, such as modeling and drafting, creating layouts, and building electrical circuits. You need strong research skills and extensive knowledge of electrical design to perform your work. Your job involves travel to work sites to oversee the implementation of your design projects on jobs.

To pursue a career as an electrical design engineer, you need an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Alternatively, you can earn your qualifications as a journeyman electrician through an apprenticeship program to gain experience in the electrical engineering industry. As you advance in your career, you can get an optional state license in fundamentals of engineering (FE) or professional engineering (PE). You need an in-depth understanding of power and electrical systems, strong attention to detail, teamwork and communication skills to collaborate with other engineers, and proficiency with software programs like AutoCAD, Bentley Microstation, and Autodesk Revit.