Electronic systems principal engineer
Occupation overview
This occupation is found in the Electronic Systems sector. Electronic Systems are found in all parts of the economy: consumer electronics, automotive, defence, healthcare/medicine, digital/media/communications, robotics, Artificial Intelligence and the manufacturing industries. . The broad purpose of the occupation is technical engineering leadership of complex Electronic Systems projects from conception through the whole design-implement-operation life cycle to obsolescence. They initiate and lead technical change, deliver innovative solutions, direct resources, manage teams and mentor junior colleagues in all areas related to Electronic System projects. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of both internal and external stakeholders. Internally these would include members of inter-disciplinary project teams, engineers from other disciplines, general managers and the senior leadership of their organisation. Externally they would include customers, suppliers, academia, certification organisations, professional bodies, trade associations and regulatory authorities. Typically, they work in an office environment but they could also work in a manufacturing or test facility and at customer sites. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for making important engineering decisions relating to Electronics Systems, mitigating technical risk and controlling engineering resources. The Electronic Systems Principal Engineer operates with considerable autonomy, as an acknowledged expert and will most likely have experience across all project lifecycle phases. They are fully accountable to senior executives, depending upon the size of the organisation, for schedule, budget and personnel management aspects of significant projects and for managing trade-offs between technical and other factors. They are responsible for ensuring complex technical solutions are robust, innovative and in line with customer expectations. They may hold formal delegated authority for engineering decisions within their organisation. They are concerned with the development of other engineering and technical staff involved with Electronic Systems.
Skills
- Evaluate complex technical information relating to Electronics to draw rational conclusions and to make informed engineering decisions.
- Apply systems thinking and methodology to problem-solving in Electronics.
- Assess the impact of external changes and technological developments in Electronics.
- Organise and plan engineering projects and tasks within agreed constraints and quality standards.
- Manage budgets and control technical resources.
- Communicate effectively and professionally with all levels;
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships and is able to interact and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead teams and manage staff.
- Apply effective time management techniques and be able to multi-task whilst meeting deadlines.
Knowledge
- Advanced concepts in specialist areas of Electronic Engineering such as Digital Signal Processing, Embedded Systems, Microelectronics, Real Time Computing, Analogue Electronics, Nano Technologies, Control Systems, Photonic Technologies, Radio Frequency and Wireless Communications.
- How to apply theoretic understanding to analyse complex problems in both existing and emerging Electronic technologies to deliver innovative engineering solutions.
- State of the art techniques, tools and methodologies used in the design, realisation, verification and testing of Electronic Systems.
- Regulatory and compliance frameworks, international standards, codes of practice and protocols relevant to Electronic Systems.
- Wider socio-economic factors, organisational context and wider business environment.
- Legal and commercial aspects relating to Electronic Systems, for instance Intellectual Property and patents.
Behaviours
- Self-motivated and is able to work independently.
- Able to take responsibility for their actions, demonstrates resilience and acts with integrity.
- Be a reflective engineering practitioner, who is committed to their own personal learning and professional development.
- Works collaboratively; an enabler who willingly shares knowledge and experience.
- Promotes diversity, inclusion and equality.
- Complies with relevant Codes of Conduct and exercises responsibilities in a safe, sustainable and ethical manner.
Entry Requirements
The Standard is designed for post-graduate engineers. Typically, the minimum academic entry qualification required will be a Bachelor's degree (BEng or BSc) at 2:2 Hons standard in Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent. Employers will set their own entry requirements in terms of experience.
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
Duration
36 months
Professional Qualifications/Recognition
Engineering Council and the IET - Chartered Engineer Level
Originally published on Gov.uk, this information has been re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence.
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