Electrical Engineer
Also advertised as: Controls Engineer, Electrical Design Engineer, electrical engineer, Electrical Engineer, electrical engineering expert, Electrical Project Engineer
Designs and tests electrical systems, circuits and power distribution.
What the job involves
Electrical engineers design the circuits, wiring systems and control panels that power equipment and buildings. You produce schematics, select components and verify designs meet safety standards before they reach site. Many roles also involve commissioning and fault-finding once systems are installed.
Typical responsibilities
- Design circuits and control panel layouts
- Select cabling, protection devices and components
- Verify designs against wiring regulations
- Support commissioning and testing on site
- Diagnose and resolve electrical faults
Common employers
- Power distribution companies
- Panel builders
- Building services consultancies
- Manufacturing plants
- Rail infrastructure firms
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£26,000 – £33,000 a year
With experience
£40,000 – £60,000 a year
Typical hours
37-40 hours, with occasional site work
Working environment
Office based with periodic site visits
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Circuit design software
- Wiring regulations knowledge
- Power systems understanding
- Fault diagnosis
- Technical documentation
Transferable skills you may already have
- Logical fault-finding
- Numeracy
- Working safely with equipment
Requirements employers ask for
- Circuit design software
- Wiring regulations knowledge
- Power systems understanding
- Fault diagnosis
- Technical documentation
- BEng in electrical or electronic engineering, or HNC/HND with relevant experience
- 18th Edition wiring regulations for site-facing roles
- maintain electrical mine machinery
- manage emergency procedures
- electrical engineering
- maintain records of mining operations
- supervise staff
- procure electrical machinery
- design circuits using CAD
- advise on mine equipment
- prepare technical reports
- ensure compliance with safety legislation
- use a computer
- develop improvements to the electrical systems
Useful but not essential
- Logical fault-finding
- Numeracy
- Working safely with equipment
- Incorporated Engineer status (IET)
- 18th Edition wiring regulations
- use technical drawing software
- mining engineering
- address problems critically
- monitor mine costs
- mathematics
- assess operating cost
- present reports
- monitor mine production
Helpful qualifications
- Incorporated Engineer status (IET)
- 18th Edition wiring regulations
Licences and checks
- 18th Edition wiring regulations for site-facing roles
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Electrical Power Engineer (Degree, Level 6)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Physics
- Related subject: Mathematics
- Related subject: Electronics
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Electrical Engineer
next
Principal Engineer
next
Engineering Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Strong demand across industries
- Clear chartership pathway
- Transferable to renewable energy work
What people find hard
- Site visits can mean early starts
- Safety compliance adds design overhead
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a electrical engineer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. required
- How much does a electrical engineer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £26,000 to £33,000 a year, rising towards £60,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Logical fault-finding, Numeracy, Working safely with equipment.
Related careers
Aerospace Engineer
Designs, tests and certifies components and systems for aircraft or spacecraft.
CAD Technician
Produces detailed technical drawings and models from engineers' designs.
Mechanical Engineer
Designs, tests and improves mechanical components, machines and systems.
Structural Engineer
Calculates and designs the structural frame that keeps buildings and bridges standing.
Building Services Engineer
Designs the heating, ventilation, lighting and power systems inside buildings.
Automotive Engineer
Designs and tests vehicle systems from engines to electric powertrains.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 16 September 2026.
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