Top 10 Technologies

Career Profiles Regionally

Electrical & Electronic Engineering

Technicians and Technologists

Job Titles: Communications Technologist, Electrical Engineering Technician, Electrical Engineering Technologist, Electricity Distribution Network Technologist, Electronics Design Technologist

What’s It Like?

Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services in the design, development, testing, production and operation of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.

They are employed by electrical utilities, communications companies, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment, consulting firms, and in governments and a wide range of manufacturing, processing and transportation industries or work independently.

Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technologists may:

Design,develop and test power equipment and systems, industrial process control systems, telecommunication, broadcast, recording and audiovisual systems, micro-electronic systems and circuits, computers, computer systems and networks, and computer software
Supervise the building and testing of prototypes according to general instructions and established standards
Conduct or supervise the installation, commissioning, and operation of electrical and electronic equipment and systems other than aircraft electronics or instruments
Carry out applied research in fields of electrical and electronic engineering and physics under the direction of scientists or engineers
Set up and operate specialized and standard test equipment to diagnose, test and analyze the performance of electrical and electronic components, assemblies and systems
Write specifications, schedules and technical reports and control schedules and budgets.

Electrical & Electronics Engineering Technicians may:

Assist in the design, development and testing of electrical and electronic components, equipment, and systems
Assist in inspection, testing, adjusting and evaluation of incoming electrical, electro-mechanical and electronic components and assemblies to ensure conformance with product specifications and tolerances
Conduct life tests (burn-ins) on assemblies and record and analyze results
Assist in building and testing prototypes to specifications
Carry out a limited range of technical functions in support of research in electrical and electronic engineering and physics
Install, operate and maintain electrical and electronic equipment and systems
Calibrate electrical or electronic equipment and instruments according to technical manuals and written instructions
Collect and compile operational or experimental data and assist in the preparation of estimates, schedules, budgets, specifications and reports

Money & Benefits

Wages

BC Hydro - 5 step process - As of April 1, 2007

Designation		Hourly Rate
Group 11	Minimum	$31.30
	Step 1	$32.50
	Step 2	$33.75
	Step 3	$35.00
	Step 4	$36.25
	Maximum	$37.50

Benefits

Benefits are unique to each company. As an example of the possibilities, BC Hydro offers employees healthcare, gain sharing, “defined benefit” pension plans, bonuses, 3-6 weeks vacation time per year and reduced day work weeks.

Why We’re Betting on This

These two related occupations both support the industries that are growing in the central Vancouver Island region: small, specialty manufacturers, engineering companies, and utilities
Engineering and electronics technologists are needed in a broad range of industries; manufacturing, engineering, construction, health care, defense, and government
Wages and benefits in these occupations are excellent
Because these occupations are in demand in many industries, they will not be subject to the ups and downs in demand associated with any particular industry
A one or two year qualification in these occupations can lead to management, supervision, further training (such as linking in to an Engineering degree) or specializations such as robotics, instrumentation, telecommunications or technical sales

Interested? Where To Start

Educational Requirements

These occupations normally require training before you start or apply for a job. To become a technician, programs are generally one year, to become a technologist, they are two years.

Technicians and technologists become certified through the Applied Science Technicians and Technologists of BC. www.asttbc.com/index.php.

Educational Institutions

Camosun College

www.camosun.bc.ca/learn/programs/elex.html

Electronics Engineering Technology

Camosun College offers a two-year Diploma in Electronics Engineering Technology.

BCIT

www.bcit.ca/manufacturing/ecet/

Electrical Engineering Technology
BCIT offers a two-year Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. Students all take a common first year of a two-year program. Upon successful completion of the first year, students select one of the following four options to complete the diploma requirements:

Automation and Instrumentation Technology
Computer Control Technology
Electrical Power and Industrial Control Technology
Telecommunications and Networks Technology

Option selection is a competitive process, undertaken after successful completion of the first year.

Success Stories

Interviewed & Documented

PROOF of the abundance of Jobs in the Electrical & Electronic Engineering Industry