Electronics engineering technician
Electronics maintenance technician
Electronics engineering technicians design, build and maintain electronic systems and components.
Salary range: £18,000 to £35,000
How to become an electronics engineering technician
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
University
You can do a foundation degree or higher national diploma in electrical and electronic engineering.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
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- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
College
You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:
- Level 3 Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Level 4 Higher National Certificate in Electronic Engineering
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
- 1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course
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Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through an engineering technician advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More information
More information
Further information
You can find out more about courses and careers in engineering from Tomorrow’s Engineers and The Institution of Engineering and Technology.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- complex problem-solving skills
- the ability to work well with others
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- designing printed circuit boards and wiring diagrams using CAD software
- researching and developing new products
- testing prototypes and analysing results
- building and installing electronic control systems used in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
- quality control (inspecting and calibrating instruments)
- setting up maintenance schedules for industrial and commercial equipment
- finding and fixing equipment faults
Working environment
You could work at a manufacturing plant, in a laboratory or in an office.
Your working environment may be noisy.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a project team leader or a maintenance or quality control manager.