Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey: Focus on electrical engineering
We aim to shine light on different career paths every week, to educate and allow young people to discover new interests.
Selecting the correct career path is a crucial decision with far-reaching implications. It is a choice that will shape your future, underscoring the importance of making an informed decision.
Over the next few weeks, The African Reporter will engage with business people, professionals, and other role players, focusing on a specific career field every week.
Through this, we aim to provide valuable guidance to our younger readers navigating their career choices.
This week we give a platform to the electrical engineering career. Boksburg resident Neliswa Mabunda started working as a test technician in 2013, where she was responsible for testing transmission and distribution electrical substations.
She said she has always been interested in studying engineering, but was not sure which field of engineering.
“At one point I wanted to study civil engineering but when I completed matric I was more interested in electrical engineering. I was fascinated by the concept of how electricity was generated and I never looked back.
“Receiving a bursary from a company that was only sponsoring electrical engineering was my deciding factor,” she added.
What is electrical engineering?
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
What does an electrical engineer do?
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, or power generation equipment. Electrical engineers also design the electrical systems of automobiles and aircraft
Where can one study to become an electrical engineer?
Almost all universities in SA offer electrical engineering courses such as:
• University of Johannesburg
• University of Pretoria
• Tshwane University of Technology
• Ekurhuleni East Tvet College
What high school subjects are needed?
One must obtain a minimum APS score of 32 with the following compulsory subjects:
• Mathematics (pure maths) – 60%
• Physical science – 60%
• Mathematics – 60%
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How long does it take to become an electrical engineer?
It take a minimum of three years to complete a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) degree and four years for a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree. The difference between the two is that BEngTech emphasises hands-on application and implementation theories, while a BEng degree emphasises on theories and advanced concepts.
What are the roles and responsibilities of an electrical engineer?
Electrical engineers design electrical systems by developing and testing components. They evaluate electrical systems, products, components, and applications by designing and conducting research programmes and applying knowledge of electricity and materials. They also confirm systems’ and components’ capabilities by designing testing methods.
What qualities should one possess to become an electrical engineer?
An electrical engineer needs a certain set of skills to be distinguished at their job:
• They should be able to have the ability to scrutinise situations from a critical point of view.
• Have the essential technological knowledge required for this field.
• Have impeccable debugging, improvisation, and visionary thought processes.
• Mathematical and physical backgrounds are also vital to prove oneself a dynamic electrical engineer.
• Should also have strong organisational and managerial instincts.
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What do the day-to-day tasks of an electrical engineering include?
My day-to-day tasks include conducting static tests and dynamic tests for the train, fault finding, compiling test reports and maintaining a safe work environment.
What are the advantages and disadvantages that come with the job?
• Electrical engineers work in high-stake environments, they face intense job pressure.
• They also spend more hours at work meeting deadlines and completing their projects.
• The pros are that most electrical engineers receive good standard salaries. Also, there is always something new to learn about which makes the job fun.
Where do electrical engineers work?
Electrical engineers can work in various industries which specialise in engineering services, research and development and manufacturing. This includes all companies that deal with electronics, automotive, IT, telecoms, manufacturing, power, transport, utilities and construction industries.
What do you love about your job?
I work in a fast-paced environment where we manufacture and test trains. I work in the test and commissioning department and I am responsible for testing and ensuring that the trains are functioning as per the required spec.
Each day we are faced with new challenges/faults on the train and we need to resolve those as soon as we can in order to sell a fault free train to our customer. It is always a pleasure when we resolve those complex faults. Also, the company employs a lot of young people so the environment is very vibrant and has new and fresh minds.
