‍I - What is an electrical engineer?

An electrical engineer is a professional in electrical engineering and electrical engineering who designs, sizes, integrates, operates and optimizes electrical systems and machines.

This profession is located at the crossroads of electricity, electronics, computing and industrial computing, with applications that affect energy (production, network, storage), the automobile (electric vehicle, embedded electronics), aeronautics (on-board network, distribution), telecommunications (on-board network, distribution), telecommunications (infrastructure supply) or even the manufacturing industry (robotics, machine automation, supervision).

Concretely, the electrical engineer transforms a functional need into a robust technical solution: architecture definition, choice of electronic components, simulation and performance analysis, programming of test tools, development, development, quality, safety and documentation. Depending on the field and the sector, the electrical engineer works on power electronics, signal processing, automation, industrial networks, production databases, or even computer integration (SCADA/MES).

What is the role of an electrical engineer?

Its role is to ensure the design and construction of safe, efficient and energy-efficient electrical systems. He/she:

• translates customer needs into specifications, arbitrates the choices of technology and type of architecture;
• designs the diagrams, sizes the power electronics, establishes the power and loss balances, chooses the components;
• carries out simulations (SPICE/MATLAB), signal processing for sensors and measurements, develops programming scripts for the automation of tests;
• plans and executes tests, manages commissioning, organizes preventive maintenance, monitors quality and safety;
• structures test data in a database, uses statistical analysis for continuous improvement;
• participates in project management and project management: contract, costs, costs, deadlines, risks, communication with the teams and the technical manager.

What are the missions of an electrical engineer?

Studies and design

The engineer first defines the system architecture according to the need: power, efficiency, cost and security constraints. He/she carries out the thermal and electrical dimensioning, then the wiring calculation to guarantee voltage drops and adapted protections. The selection of electronic components is based on usage curves, EMC and obsolescence. Signal processing and automatic control ensure the stability of the loops and the quality of the measurements.

Development and simulation

Before the design phase, he/she establishes loss models and the choices are verified by simulation (SPICE/Simulink) on critical cases. Python/C tools facilitate post-processing and report editing, which speeds up iterations. The analysis of the results allows a model/measurement correlation from the first attempts to avoid surprises on the bench.

Integration and commissioning

The system is then connected to industrial networks and configured in the SCADA/MES for supervision and alarms. A database ensures the traceability of tests and versions. Everything is done in compliance with quality and safety standards, with clear procedures for start-up and transfer to operation.

Validation

Validation is based on a test plan covering functional and environmental requirements. Laboratory and in situ tests verify EMC, thermal resistance and electrical safety. Compliance documentation finalizes the file: reports, statements, and proofs of performance.

Operation and maintenance

During the use phase, emphasis is placed on rapid diagnosis and preventive maintenance to protect availability. The data collected is used to monitor reliability and to pilot targeted improvement plans. The objective is to reduce repetitive breakdowns and optimize shutdowns.

Who are its main interlocutors?

• Internally, he/she is in constant interface with the project managers for the framework, the production and maintenance teams for the implementation and monitoring, as well as with the transversal services (methods, quality, purchasing, IT/OT) to guarantee the overall coherence of the project.
• Externally, he/she relies on suppliers and test laboratories to validate technical choices, collaborates with certification bodies to ensure compliance and remains attentive to end customers to integrate their use constraints.

II - What are the skills and qualities required to do this job?

This job requires a set of technical skills and soft skills:

Technical skills

Electrical/electrotechnical engineering: electrical fundamentals, energy conversion, energy conversion, protections, protections, selectivity, low and high voltage standards, sizing of conductors and protections, power electronics (rectifiers, inverters, choppers), electronic components (IGBT/Mosfet/SiC/GaN), electronic components (IGBT/Mosfet/SiC/GaN), EMC filters, signal processing for measurement, automatic loops.

Systems and networks: industrial network integration (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, Modbus), security of architectures, compatibility with production, database for logs and traceability, industrial computing (SCADA, MES).

Tools and methods: simulation (SPICE, Matlab/Simulink), thermal calculations, tolerance, schematic CAD, test benches, programming (Python/C) to automate measurements and analysis.

Quality and safety: product/process FMEA, validation plan, validation plan, electrical standards and safety, quality procedures, bilingual documentation (English/French), project management/project management culture.

Soft Skills

Electrical engineers demonstrate solid scientific rigor and genuine technical mastery. He analyzes situations, synthesizes information and argues his choices to propose relevant solutions. Listening to business needs, he communicates clearly with the teams and knows how to prioritize actions to meet deadlines and requirements. Autonomous without being isolated, he collaborates effectively across the board and shares best practices. Curious and attentive to technological developments, he is constantly learning and developing his methods.

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III - How to become an electrical engineer?

Recommended courses

There are various courses leading to the profession of electrical engineer:

• Bac + 5 engineering degree (engineering school) in electrical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics or industrial computing. This degree guarantees a high level of applied science, project management, and communication.
• University master's degree (science and technology) with a specialty in electrical engineering, electrical systems, automation, signal processing or industrial computing.
• Other courses are also possible: BUT GEII, electronics/energy license, preparatory classes then engineering school.

IV - What are the prospects for developments? What remuneration?

Development perspectives

After a few years of experience, the electrical engineer has several possibilities to develop his career. Depending on his skills, his ambitions and the sector in which he works, he can access various positions of responsibility. Among the most common developments, we find in particular:

• Technical manager/system architect: technology referent, architecture choice, component arbitration, roadmap management, transversal communication, support for internship/work-study students.
• Project manager/business management: cost/time/quality management, contract, team coordination, client company interface, multi-site project management, reporting in English.
• Power electronics expert, industrial network, automation, signal processing, industrial computing, database.
• Bridges to quality, safety, advanced maintenance or to production (industrialization, reliability).
• Possible evolution towards hierarchical management, business management or even technical management.

What is the salary of an electrical engineer?

Many factors come into play when it comes to remuneration (missions, sector, sector, scope, size of the company, location, atypical skills, etc.). To give an idea of remuneration, here are forks from Apec according to the following parameters: Electrical engineer F/H, Bac+5 (engineering school), consulting firm with 599 to 1,000 employees, Île-de-France in 2025.

• Junior (< 4 years of experience) : 37 to 46.6 million euros gross/year
• Confirmed (6—8 years old) : 38.5 to 49.3 million euros gross/year
• Senior (9—16 years) : 43.8 to 57.2 million euros gross/year

For a more accurate estimate, adapted to your profile and our missions, we invite you to consult our job offers.

Conclusion

If you want to focus on a concrete, useful and future-oriented profession, electrical engineering is an excellent choice: you transform real needs into reliable solutions, at the crossroads of electricity, electronics and IT, in various sectors!

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Together, let's take your career to new heights!

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