Electrical engineers manage, design, develop, and test electrical equipment. Within this field, many engineers choose to specialize in a specific area. Sonora resident Roy Bartholomew provides engineering, design, and consulting for engineered ecosystems, including biodomes. He’s here to discuss electrical specializations.
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Control Systems Engineer
Control systems engineers have challenging careers, according to Roy Bartholomew. They design, develop, and implement control systems for dynamic systems, which are constantly changing.
They can work in many areas and industries, from pharmaceutical manufacturing to anti-lock brake design and production.
Signal Processing Engineer
A signal processing engineer specializes in information technology. They focus on improving the functionality and efficiency of digital systems. They may do this by managing, updating, or developing them.
Signal processing is one of the most in-demand electrical engineering specialties. Potential jobs with this specialization include research scientist, space scientist, defense engineer, or machine learning engineer.
Electromagnetic Engineer
Electromagnetic engineers work with electromagnetic systems. They may create electromagnetic systems, components, or technologies. Engineers in this field will learn about radio and computer networks, magnetic fields, and hardware development.
These engineers may create or manage MRI machines and electromagnetic locks, and magnetic components for items like loudspeakers. Electromagnetic engineering demand is expected to grow in the upcoming years.
They may work in fields including power plants and aviation. They may be required to create schematics and diagrams while working on a project.
Potential careers include electromagnetic compatibility test engineer, motor electromagnetic design engineer, and systems modeling.
Microelectronics Engineer
Microelectronics engineers create circuit chips, circuit boards, and semiconductors that make much of our current technology possible. The field requires a knowledge of mechanical engineering as well as electronic engineering.
These engineers can create prototypes based on new materials and ideas combined with their knowledge. They need to create semiconductor reports, which require technical writing, material science, and the ability to read, interpret, and compile semiconductor reports.
This field is only expected to grow in the future, according to Bartholomew. As our demand for devices, particularly reliable, inexpensive, and compact devices, grows, so will the field of microelectronics.
Potential careers for microelectronic engineers include device engineer, manufacturing yield engineer, product engineer, and research engineer.
Power Systems Engineer
Power systems engineers work with wind turbines. Their duties can include assessing transmission feasibility, system impact, facility analysis or studies, and testing electrical components for turbines.
Being a power systems engineer is considered less stressful and demanding than other engineering careers, which makes it an attractive option to some.
Potential careers as a power systems engineer include power system assessment, generator paralleling, and power system analytics.
About
Roy Bartholomew of Sonora, CA, was born in the San Francisco Bay Area. After high school, he went into the electrical field. He then built his own electronic security business, which he later sold. He went back to school to get a degree in engineering and graduated from ITT in 2004. He is currently the Head of Electrical Engineering for West Coast operations for On Guard Security Systems.
