Career profile · live from the Careermash careers engine
Careermash
ExploreCareer profile
Other Electronics Engineers
Other electronics engineers play a pivotal role in driving innovation and sustainability across various sectors, from telecommunications to renewable energy. Their expertise not only enhances technology but also contributes significantly to addressing global challenges, making this a vital and rewarding career path in the UK.
No degree needed for many routesApprenticeship route
AI impact: low££££ payApprenticeship route
32
AI impact
how much AI is reshaping it
Robin · your guide
Curious about being a other electronics engineers? Here's the honest picture - what you'd really do, what you'd earn, and every way in. No need to decide anything yet.
What you'd actually do
As an Other Electronics Engineer, you will be at the forefront of technological advancement, working on diverse projects that span multiple industries. Your role is crucial in designing, developing, and implementing electronic systems that are not only efficient but also environmentally sustainable. This position is ideal for innovative thinkers who are passionate about using their technical skills to make a tangible impact on society.
Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. You will begin by brainstorming and sketching ideas for new electronic circuits, followed by detailed design work using advanced computer-aided design (CAD) software. Testing is a significant part of your role; you will create prototypes to evaluate their performance, ensuring they meet both safety and quality standards.
- Collaboration: Working closely with engineers from other disciplines is essential. You will engage with software developers, mechanical engineers, and project managers to ensure that your electronic systems integrate seamlessly into larger projects.
- Documentation: Keeping meticulous records is vital. You will prepare technical documents that outline your designs, methodologies, and testing results, which will serve as references for future projects and compliance audits.
- Continuous Learning: The field of electronics is rapidly evolving. You will need to dedicate time to research emerging technologies, such as IoT, AI applications in electronics, and renewable energy solutions, to stay ahead of the curve.
- Problem-Solving: Challenges are inevitable. You will be tasked with troubleshooting existing systems, identifying faults, and implementing effective solutions to enhance performance and reliability.
- Compliance and Standards: Understanding industry regulations is crucial. You will ensure that all designs comply with relevant standards, such as ISO and CE marking, to guarantee safety and quality.
The rewards of being an Other Electronics Engineer are significant. Not only will you experience the satisfaction of seeing your designs come to life, but you will also contribute to groundbreaking projects that can change lives and promote sustainability. With opportunities for career advancement, specialization, and even leadership roles, this career path offers a fulfilling journey for those committed to excellence in engineering.
1Design and develop electronic circuits and systems that meet specific project requirements.
2Conduct rigorous testing and analysis of prototypes to ensure functionality and safety.
3Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate electronic solutions into larger systems.
4Prepare detailed documentation, including specifications and technical reports, for project stakeholders.
5Stay updated on emerging technologies and industry trends to inform design improvements.
6Troubleshoot and resolve issues in existing electronic systems to enhance performance.
7Participate in project meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and innovative ideas.
8Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations throughout the engineering process.
Career progression & pay
01
Getting in
Junior Electronics Engineer
£30,000 - £38,000
Bachelor's degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
As a Junior Electronics Engineer, you will assist in the design and testing of electronic components, gaining hands-on experience while working under the guidance of senior engineers.
02
Building up
Mid-Level Electronics Engineer
£45,000 - £55,000
Bachelor's degree in Electronics or related field, plus relevant work experience.
In this role, you will take on more complex projects, leading design efforts and collaborating with various teams to ensure successful product development.
03
At the top
Senior Electronics Engineer
£70,000+
Bachelor's degree in Electronics or related field, with significant industry experience and possibly a Master's degree.
As a Senior Electronics Engineer, you will oversee projects from conception to completion, mentor junior engineers, and drive innovation within your team.
Degrees that lead here via Engineering and Technology
Acoustics
Skyborne Aviation Training Limited
Advanced Manufacturing and Operations
Coleg Sir Gar
Aero-Mechanical Engineering
University of Strathclyde
Aero-Mechanical Engineering
University of Strathclyde
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
The University of Leeds
Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
The University of Leeds
Apprenticeships that lead here
Electrical, electronic product service and installation engineer
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 3 · A-level3 yrs
Electrical and electronic engineer (degree)
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 6 · Degree3.5 yrs
Embedded electronic systems design and development engineer (degree)
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 6 · Degree3 yrs
Engineering operative
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 2 · GCSE level1 yrs
Powered pedestrian door installer and service engineer
Construction and the built environment
Level 2 · GCSE level2 yrs
Engineering and manufacturing foundation apprenticeship
Engineering and manufacturing
Level 2 · GCSE level0.7 yrs
Who hires - top UK employers
BAE Systems
A global defence, aerospace and security company, BAE Systems offers a range of opportunities for electronics engineers.
Thales Group
Thales is a global technology leader in aerospace, transport, defence and security markets, providing exciting roles for electronics engineers.
Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce is a world-leading industrial technology company that provides excellent career opportunities for electronics engineers.
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, offering dynamic roles for electronics engineers in vehicle technology.
Siemens
Siemens is a global technology company that focuses on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare, providing diverse opportunities for electronics engineers.
AI & the future of this job
Electronics engineers sit in a genuinely resilient position because their core work demands physical intuition, hands-on prototyping, and contextual judgement that AI cannot yet replicate reliably. AI tools are accelerating simulation, schematic generation, and documentation, but the job of validating that a circuit actually behaves safely in the real world remains deeply human. The profession is evolving rather than contracting, with demand sustained by defence, renewable energy, semiconductor, and telecoms sectors across the UK. Junior roles face some pressure as AI handles more routine design tasks, but graduate-level positions tied to real hardware remain largely secure.
Within 5 Years
Workflow acceleration, roles stable
Over the next five years, AI-assisted EDA tools, automated fault diagnosis, and LLM-generated documentation will meaningfully cut the time spent on repetitive design and reporting tasks. This makes individual engineers more productive rather than redundant, though teams may slim down slightly in larger organisations. The hands-on work of prototype testing, regulatory compliance, and system integration into physical products remains firmly in human hands. Graduate demand is likely to stay healthy, particularly in power electronics, embedded systems, and RF engineering.
Within 10 Years
Higher-level focus required
By the mid-2030s, AI will handle a large proportion of initial schematic drafting, simulation iteration, and routine fault analysis, pushing engineers toward higher-order responsibilities such as system architecture, stakeholder decisions, and novel problem definition. This is a skills shift rather than a jobs collapse, but engineers who coast on routine design tasks without developing systems-level expertise will feel the squeeze. The UK's expanding defence electronics and offshore energy sectors should sustain strong professional demand. Continuous upskilling in AI-assisted design environments will be the distinguishing factor between those who advance and those who stagnate.
Within 20 Years
Redefined but essential role
Over a 20-year horizon, the boundary between software, hardware, and AI-generated design will blur considerably, and the electronics engineer of 2045 will look quite different from today. Physical prototyping, safety validation, and regulatory accountability will still require human professionals, but the creative and analytical aspects of the job will be heavily AI-augmented. Engineers who build careers around uniquely human contributions such as novel system architecture, ethical safety oversight, and cross-disciplinary integration will thrive. The profession survives and remains well-compensated, but it rewards those who evolve continuously rather than those who expect the role to stay static.
How to stay ahead
Master AI-assisted EDA tools early
Platforms integrating generative AI into circuit design and simulation are already entering professional workflows. Getting fluent with tools like Cadence, Altium, and AI-augmented SPICE environments during your degree or early career will make you a more productive engineer and signal adaptability to employers. Being the person who knows how to extract value from these tools is far better than being the person who feels threatened by them.
Specialise in a sector with structural demand
Power electronics for EV and grid applications, RF engineering for 5G and 6G infrastructure, and embedded systems for defence and aerospace are all UK growth areas with genuine talent shortages. Picking a specialisation early gives you domain depth that generalist AI tools cannot replicate and commands stronger salary progression. Sector-specific knowledge, particularly around UK and EU safety standards, is extremely difficult to automate.
Build strong hardware validation skills
The one thing AI consistently cannot do is confirm that a physical device behaves safely and reliably in an unpredictable real-world environment. Developing serious competence in lab testing, EMC compliance, thermal analysis, and failure mode investigation makes you irreplaceable in the product development cycle. Engineers who can bridge simulation and physical reality are among the most valued in any hardware team.
Develop systems-level and cross-disciplinary thinking
As AI absorbs more component-level design work, the engineers who progress are those who can see how electronics fits into a broader mechanical, software, or infrastructure system. Pursuing projects or placements that require you to work across engineering disciplines, and learning enough adjacent knowledge to communicate fluently with software, mechanical, and civil engineers, will differentiate you significantly. This kind of integrative thinking is where the highest-value and best-protected engineering work increasingly lives.
How to get in - your routes
Careermash · your kind of work, the careers in it, and every route in - all in one place.