Skillful electrical and electronics engineers are keys to unlocking innovations that push your companies a step ahead in the competitive market. Cad Crowd provides a comprehensive range of staffing and recruiting solutions to help you find the brightest talents from across the nation.
It almost goes without saying that electrical and electronics engineering are tasked with the design, development, fabrication, and evaluation of electronic products and equipment. Design may include research into technical viability, budget analysis, consumer trends, and risk assessment. Fabrication and development will involve the iterative process of prototyping and testing to improve functionality, reliability, and features before the product goes to the actual production line. Depending on the type of product, evaluation may include continuous technical support such as installation and maintenance.
Electronics come in all shapes and sizes, from everyday devices like remote controls, digital watches, flashlights, FM/AM receivers, and home appliances to military equipment such as the onboard radar and navigation systems of fighter aircraft. Many electrical and electronics engineers work on industrial automation and scientific research, too.
In most aspects of their professional duties, electrical and electronics engineers have many things in common. Both work on electronic products, parts, assemblies, subassemblies, components, equipment, and systems for commercial industries, scientific research, and the military. But there are also differences.
A large number of electrical and electronics engineers work for the state and federal government, but they are not necessarily public servants because many are on private contractors’ payrolls. Much of their work revolves around electronic devices and systems run and maintained by the government, such as the power grid, communication systems, radar and sonar systems, flight systems, communication systems, and satellites.
A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or related engineering fields is mandatory unless you are looking for interns, in which case the job qualification is typically lower.
Especially for job roles to be assigned to interns or entry-level candidates, depending on the specific recruitment requirements, it might be necessary to include ABET-accredited programs in the qualification. Many colleges and schools offer courses in electrical and electronics engineering, but not every program meets the quality standards expected of the profession. ABET is a non-governmental, nonprofit agency that accredits university or college programs and courses in engineering, computing, technology, and applied science.
ABET only accredits the programs and courses, not the organizations providing them. More than 200,000 people graduate from such programs every year across the country. ABET is one of the most reputable in the field, so it makes sense that schools and colleges want to obtain the accreditation, although it is not mandatory in any way.
To companies and employers alike, the graduates from those programs are preferable candidates because of the professional-level education they’ve received during the courses. You can say that ABET helps prepare students to handle the actual workload in the real world. Once they graduate, their knowledge and experience make them ready to jump into professional roles. If your company is looking for fresh talents to fill entry-level positions, Cad Crowd is pleased to deliver exceptional graduates to you.
The answer is it depends on the job positions. Someone with a graduate degree from a related field is ideal for a technician or instructor role. But if you don’t want a fresh graduate, we can target a candidate with at least several years of experience in an entry-level position to fill the role.
A licensed engineer (PE) is ideal for a supervisory role, such as a team leader or a project manager. If a PE is what you need, there are two options available:
Most PEs are passive candidates and will only consider offers for reasonably high-level positions that come with high salaries, too.
Based on May 2022 data (BLS, latest available), the median wages for electrical and electronics engineers are $103,320 and $108,170 respectively. Keep in mind that the median wage sits right at the middle of the salary range, which means half of the workforce earns more and the other half makes lower income. The industries where they work play crucial factors in determining the typical salary for the professions.
Industries |
Engineers’ Annual Median Wage |
|
Electrical | Electronics | |
Navigational, medical, measuring, and control instruments manufacturing | $108,080 | $128,270 |
Research and development in life sciences and engineering | $128,520 | |
Electronic components (including semiconductor) manufacturing | $123,390 | $127,650 |
Federal government | $120,640 | |
Engineering services | $99,470 | $107,920 |
Electric power infrastructure and distribution | $104,990 | |
Telecommunications | $101,900 |
The median wage calculation for electronics engineers does not include those who work in the computer hardware industry and postal services.
Referring back to PEs as passive candidates, they are likely in the top ten percent of employees who earn much higher income than the median wage. In fact, BLS says that an electrical engineer in the highest range earns more than $166,000 per year; an electronics engineer in the same category fares better at $171,400 and change. In general, the higher you move up the experience level, the more difficult and expensive the hiring will be.
Technically speaking, electronics engineering is the branch that deals with “light current” applications, for instance, radios, PCBs, transistors, and radar systems. On the other hand, electrical engineering focuses on “heavy current” electricity such as power grids and lights. In the real-world practice, however, there is little difference between the branches.
Although the difference is not clearly defined, you still need to pay attention to candidates’ specializations. Some roles are best left to electrical engineers, for example, when the job involves large-scale electric system installations and power generation. But if you need someone to design PCBs or oversee electronic product assembly, an electronics engineer is the right person to do it. In complex projects that involve the design, development, testing, and manufacturing of a new product, you may need both professions to work together in the same team.
Our recruiters specialize in providing bespoke staffing services to meet specific recruitment requirements. Before the search even begins, it is of the utmost importance that we stand on the same page with the clients or their internal hiring managers.
During the initial discussions, we make an effort to analyze the available positions (job roles), the possibility for long-term placement, company culture, and special conditions, if any. Based on the evaluation, our recruitment specialists will source the most appropriate candidates to match the specificity. The typical recruitment solutions come in three options:
Our range of custom solutions goes beyond those three typical hiring options. Cad Crowd is determined to understand the challenges, complexity, and urgency of the recruitment process. We believe that every client is unique and has a particular set of requirements; staffing services can only work to their full potential if they are specifically designed to cater to each employer. And just because Cad Crowd delivers the candidates quickly, it does not mean the recruiters do everything in a hurry. Every talent that comes through our door has undergone thorough education degree verifications, reference checks, and criminal background screening procedures.
Discovering the perfect talents is no easy feat, and even more so in the engineering field. In addition to the typical issue of skill gaps and high turnover rates, many organizations, large and small, may find the process too taxing due to the workload and financial risk involved. In-house hiring triggers cost overruns and project delays. That’s why most companies turn to staffing and recruiting agencies to alleviate the burdens, minimize the risk, and maintain productivity levels.
However, not every staffing agency is created equal. Companies should work with recruiters who are experienced in project management and human resource development. Furthermore, companies need (rather than want) a staffing agency of which the recruiters have the same background as the candidates they expect to employ. This is where Cad Crowd comes in.
With nearly 15 years of experience in connecting employers of all industries with engineering talents nationwide, we have gathered much expertise in the trade and understood the landscape well enough to know exactly where to look for talents and how to bring them to you. Get in touch with Cad Crowd today and let us stand on your side to guide you through the complex engineering workforce market.
Electrical and electronics engineering is an extensive field where a myriad of product research and development takes place. Backed by our detailed insights into the industry and employment landscape, we can work with organizations, small and large, to discover competent talents eager to embark on a bright path to better career opportunities. Recruiters from Cad Crowd work closely with you or your hiring managers to understand the unique requirements so that we can devise tailored solutions and deploy the right resources in our earnest effort to deliver the talents to exceed your expectations.
In addition to our comprehensive staffing and recruiting services, Cad Crowd offers valuable insights and resources to optimize your hiring process. Request a free quote today and build your dream team with Cad Crowd!