Electrical engineer Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries: £20,000 - £25,000.
• Experienced or incorporated engineers can earn between £28,000 - £38,000.
• A chartered electrical engineer can earn £40,000 - £50,000 or more.
• Salaries vary considerably according to location, the size of the employing organisation and the nature of its business.
• Working hours vary and are job-specific. You may need to work extra and unsocial hours to meet deadlines or resolve design difficulties. Some jobs offer flexible working.
• You may be located in a production plant, workshop, office, laboratory, factory or on site, or possibly a mixture of several of these. Conditions may be hot, dusty or cramped, although most electrical engineers work in comfortable offices.
• Jobs are available throughout the UK, with jobs in the manufacturing sectors concentrated in industrial areas.
• Travel within the working day is common. Jobs in multinational organisations may involve overseas travel.
• Women are still underrepresented in all areas of engineering, although the number of women working in SET (science, engineering and technology) is increasing and is now around 12%. Some firms and organisations, such as WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) , The UKRC  and Women's Engineering Society (WES) , actively encourage and promote the entry of women into engineering education, training and practice.
• Self-employment and consultancy are possible after building up expertise and a reputation within the profession. It would be normal to hold chartered engineer status before entering consultancy work.
• There are good opportunities for working overseas, particularly in the oil, petrochemical and power sectors, large consulting firms and large building contractors. This could be either an overseas posting with a multinational employer or by applying for a job based overseas.

Electrical engineer Job description

Electrical engineers design, develop and maintain electrical control systems and/or components to required specifications, focusing on economy, safety, reliability, quality and sustainability.
They design and manufacture electrical equipment for use across many sectors, such as:

• the building industry and services, including lighting, heating, ventilation, etc.;
• transportation and transport networks;
• manufacturing and construction;
• production and distribution of power.

Electrical engineers are involved in projects from the concept and detail of the design through to implementation, testing and handover. They may also be involved in maintenance programmes.
As well as technical knowledge, electrical engineers need to project manage and multitask. They also need to have commercial awareness. Additional attributes, such as team leadership or management skills, are required as careers progress.

Typical work activities

Most electrical engineers work in a multi-disciplinary project team, which is likely to include engineers from other specialist areas as well as architects, marketing and sales staff, manufacturers, technicians and customer service personnel. They may also work with representatives from customer organisations.
Depending on the organisation, the electrical engineer may be involved at every stage of design and development or may just be involved at one particular stage. The nature of the role varies according to industry or sector, but the range of activities common to many posts is likely to include the following:

• identifying customer requirements;
• designing systems and products;
• reading design specifications and technical drawings;
• researching suitable solutions and estimating costs and timescales;
• making models and prototypes of products using three-dimensional design software;
• working to British (BS), European (EN) and other standards;
• liaising with others in the design team;
• liaising with clients and contractors;
• attending meetings on site;
• designing and conducting tests;
• recording, analysing and interpreting test data;
• proposing modifications and retesting products;
• qualifying the final product or system;
• servicing and maintaining equipment;
• preparing product documentation, writing reports and giving presentations;
• monitoring a product in use to improve on future design.

Mechanical engineer Career development

Throughout your career, you will be required to add to your expertise through in-service training or through further study. Most careers in engineering lead to a senior position with responsibility for other staff and/or larger projects and budgets.
To progress in the profession, it is becoming increasingly important to achieve professional status as a chartered engineer (CEng). The Engineering Council , in collaboration with the main engineering institutions, has introduced regulations known as UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) . These affect all graduates aspiring to achieve CEng status.
As companies operate in an increasingly international market, the European engineer (Eur Ing) status and additional language skills will become a distinct advantage if you wish to progress further in the profession. All chartered engineers are eligible to apply for Eur Ing status.
Many mechanical engineers decide to develop additional skills, such as business or management, so that they can get involved with larger projects and take on greater responsibility. Good commercial awareness is essential for career development, as well as developing people management skills, as many engineers will be required to lead teams or manage projects.
Some mechanical engineers move into business functions, such as procurement, sales and marketing or human resources (HR). Others will develop their technical skills and look to move into senior engineering posts, such as engineering director. Another career path could involve moving into engineering consultancy.

Mechanical engineer Training

If you want to become a chartered engineer (CEng), you should check that any post you accept offers training and experience accredited by an engineering institution. You will need to undertake a programme of initial professional development and will be assigned a mentor, who will monitor your progress in the early stages of your engineering career.
Most large firms offer structured training and encourage professional development. Usually, firms offer in-service training and short courses for specific needs. Your in-house training may include placements in different departments to broaden your experience. Some employers are unable to provide broad training experience themselves, and it is worth checking what arrangements they have in place.
To gain CEng status, you will need to submit a written report and satisfy an assessment panel that you have the skills, specialist knowledge and competence to practise as an engineer. It is possible to achieve CEng or incorporated (IEng) status within four to six years after graduation.

Mechanical engineer Entry requirements

This area of work is open to the following engineering disciplines:

• mechanical engineering;
• engineering science;
• aeronautical engineering;
• agricultural engineering;
• computer-aided engineering;
• manufacturing engineering;
• nuclear engineering.

A good honours degree is usually required, although some employers place as much emphasis on people skills and commercial awareness as on class of degree. For chartered status (CEng) however, an accredited MEng degree or an acceptable combination of other academic awards is essential. This could include a BEng (Hons) that is accredited for CEng, plus an appropriate Masters degree or approved further learning or relevant experience to Masters level.
Some employers recruit only graduates but may consider diplomates for technical-level posts. Technician training can lead to experience of development and design work at a lower level. An alternative for holders of accredited HNDs is to do a top-up course to convert to a degree, or to undertake a matching section. This may be done through a combination of work and part-time or distance-based learning. It is then possible to progress to incorporated engineer (IEng) level.
Entry without a degree or HND is possible for people over 35 who have a minimum of 15 years' experience in engineering, including responsibility for managing projects. For information on mature candidate schemes, contact the:

• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)  or the
• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)  

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed, although an MSc could be helpful.
Pre-entry experience is not needed, although a relevant sandwich or vacation placement can be advantageous and is highly recommended. You might be able to count some of the experience gained during a sandwich placement towards qualifying for CEng status. Vacation work, placements and sandwich courses all provide evidence of skill development and commercial awareness.
Potential candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• a high level of technical and scientific knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to practical problems;
• good oral communication skills and confidence in dealing with a wide range of people, including clients, contractors, designers, directors and plant operators;
• precise and concise written communication skills;
• the ability to work well within a team;
• IT skills, particularly computer-aided design;
• creative ability;
• the ability to work under pressure;
• organisational skills, such as time and resource planning.

Fluency in a second language may be advantageous depending on the type of industry.
Start finding out about employers before your final year and make contact with them at engineering recruitment fairs.
For full information and guidance on entry requirements and training routes, contact the relevant professional body (either the IMechE or the IET).

Mechanical engineer Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries: £20,000 - £28,000, with the average around £22,000.
• Mid-level salaries for lead/principle engineers with several years experience: £35,000 - £50,000.
• Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience, e.g. after 10 - 15 years in the role: £40,000 - £55,000 plus.
• Salaries vary from company to company and some sectors attract higher salaries, according to demand. Final salaries may be affected by hours of work.
• Working hours typically include regular extra hours, but not usually weekends or shifts.
• The work is mainly office-based with regular visits to plants, factories, workshop or building sites. Factory production areas can be noisy.
• Self-employment and freelance work are possible for qualified engineers with a good track record and experience. Short-term contract or consulting work is also possible, often arranged through agencies.
• Fewer women than men are becoming chartered engineers (CEng). The number has risen over the past few years but the percentage of women engineers in the UK continues to be lower than in other European countries. Some firms and organisations, such as WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) , actively encourage female entrants to the profession. Women's Engineering Society (WES)  runs student groups in some universities.
• Opportunities are usually available in towns and cities that have a strong manufacturing or research base, or in regions where there is a local facility that supports specialist engineering.
• Work is often to deadlines, particularly in consultancy work.
• Dress code can vary from a suit and tie for office-based work to a hard hat and overalls when working on site.
• Travel within a working day is frequent. Absence from home at night and overseas work or travel may be required, depending on the employer and nature of the business. There are many opportunities to work abroad, particularly throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. It is possible to gain professional recognition in other European countries and chartered engineers can apply for European engineer status (Eur Ing).