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Electrical designers create electrical systems. Using their expertise on how electricity works, they come up with wiring and power distribution diagrams to fit the needs of individual projects. This might entail examining the electrical needs of a new building and figuring out how best to supply it. Or it might mean talking to the makers of a revamped appliance and determining how to get it to perform at capacity while still being electrically safe.
The services of electrical designers are of value to an array of people and industries. Homeowners, architects, and construction firms need their input for building projects. Manufacturers ask them to design circuits and switchboards for machinery and equipment. Power distribution, utility, and telecommunication companies seek electrical designers to work on public grids and route wires in the best ways.
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Electrical Designer Duties and Responsibilities
Electrical designers see ideas through from the brainstorming stage through installation. Our analysis of job postings revealed the following activities to be among the main ones employers expect them to perform:
Designing
Electrical designers are presented with a situation that needs to be figured out. After consulting with interested parties—such as managers, clients, and colleagues—they begin designing solutions. Using CAD software, electrical designers draft what the electrical system will look like. Their work includes electrical specifications and detailed drawings.
Planning
Electrical designers estimate the time, cost, labor, and materials that are needed to produce a real version of their ideas. They reformulate plans along the way based on unexpected circumstances or client changes.
Attending to Safety
Preventing electrical hazards is a top priority for electrical designers, thus, they need a thorough understanding of relevant standards, including the National Electric Code (NEC)—the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection in all 50 states.
Updating
Electrical designers may be responsible for one part of a larger project. They have to keep colleagues, managers, and clients in the loop as to progress and deviations from schedule or budget so as not to disturb the workflow of the whole.
Monitoring
Electrical designers may be on-site during some or all of the installation of their design to make sure things are going as planned, answer questions, and respond to any problems.
Electrical Designer Skills
Technical prowess isn’t the only thing on the minds of hiring managers when examining resumes for electrical designer positions. Qualifications found among successful electrical designers often include:
- Communicating effectively with fellow tech staff as well as with clients and other people who may need things explained in layman's terms
- Working well with others since projects are often done as a team
- Problem-solving to make adjustments when plans don't go as expected
- Attending to detail to ensure consistency and safety of final products
- Maintaining professionalism when dealing with colleagues and clients
Electrical Designer Tools of the trade
Electrical designers require an array of things to do their job. Some of the most common items include:
CAD software – design and drafting software, such as MicroStation and AutoCAD, that enables creation of precise 2D and 3D drawings
Currents – electric charges, expressed as AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current)
Wires – used as conductors (gives electricity a path on which to flow)
Switches – controllers to turn electrical systems on and off
Circuit breakers – safety devices that stop the flow of current
Volts – measurement of electric potential
Electrical Designer Education and Training
Electrical designers often hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Coursework centers on math, physics, and science, as well as specifics such as electrical circuits, digital electronics, electrical codes and computer-aided design (CAD). Electrical designers wishing to further their career prospects frequently opt to get a professional engineering license. Requirements vary by state but generally involve passing a test on fundamentals and completing several years of work experience. Some employers like candidates to possess a journeyman electrician certificate.
Electrical Designer Resources
As you consider a career as an electrical designer, the following books and organizations may be good places to turn to for further information:
Electrical Systems Design
With more than 40 years of teaching and consultancy experience to his name, M.K. Giridharan is well qualified to provide a comprehensive, easytounderstand overview of the principles of electrical system design and the challenges faced by those in the industry.
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory
Reviewers praise this book for using practical language, an array of photographs, and memorable examples to engage readers who are new to the concepts being discussed.
Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the Real World
One reviewer claims that this ebook "was like having my own personal mentor at the tip of my fingers." Electrical designers looking to hone their soft skills and advance their careers may want to take a look.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Billed as "the world's largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology for the benefit of humanity," its 423,000 members form a vibrant community that aspiring electrical designers may want to tap.
Circuits and Systems Society
Exchanging technical information, offering the latest in electrical research, and promoting networking for career advancement are some of the aims of this specialty organization.
Electrical Designer Resume Help
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