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How to Become an Electronics Engineer: Australian Careers in Engineering

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What is a Electronics Engineer?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Electronics Engineer?

An Electronics Engineer designs and builds electronic parts, circuits and systems. They work in computer systems, communications, defence, transport and industry.

Electronics Engineers apply science to real-world engineering problems. They use design software to model circuits before they are built. They run tests to make sure designs are safe and work as planned.

Most roles mix hands-on work with team planning. Engineers work alongside mechanical engineers, software developers and project managers. Common settings include factories, tech firms, government bodies and research labs.

About 6,300 Electronics Engineers are employed in Australia (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The career suits people who like solving complex problems and want to help build new technology. Find electronics engineering courses on CourseFinder to start your pathway.

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Career snapshots For Electronics Engineers

Electronics Engineers hold a stable and high-skilled role in Australian industry. About 6,300 are employed nationally (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025). The median age is 46. Most (87%) work full-time, clocking about 41 hours per week (ABS, 2021 Census).

Median full-time weekly pay is $2,762, or about $143,600 per year (ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025). The top industries are manufacturing, professional services, and information media and telecoms (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2025).

Women make up 11% of this workforce, and part-time roles are 13% of positions. Job growth is stable, with steady demand from defence, automation and comms sectors.

What will I do?

Electronics Engineers design and keep the systems that drive modern technology. They work on many projects, from circuit design to setting up comms networks. Their skills are needed in manufacturing, defence and telecoms.

  • Design circuits and systems: create plans for components used in computers, communications and control systems.
  • Develop embedded software: write and test code that runs inside electronic devices and systems.
  • Build and test prototypes: make working models to check how well a design performs.
  • Supervise installation: oversee the set-up of communications, computer and control systems on site.
  • Set performance standards: review safety and performance rules for electronic systems in use.
  • Analyse communications systems: assess traffic loads and choose the right transmission medium.
  • Design signal processing systems: develop algorithms and choose hardware and software to run them.
  • Write technical reports: record designs, test results and procedures for clients and regulators.

What skills do I need?

A career as an Electronics Engineer needs a mix of technical and people skills. Strong maths and physics form the base, as they support circuit analysis, signal processing and system design. Engineers need good logical thinking and problem-solving skills. Many projects involve finding faults or making a system work better.

Clear communication matters too. Electronics Engineers write technical reports and explain their work to people who are not engineers. Project skills grow in importance as a career develops, since senior engineers often lead teams and manage timelines. Keeping up with new tools and tech is part of the job. A love of learning is a real asset.

Skills/attributes

  • Applied mathematics and physics
  • Circuit design and analysis
  • Electronic design automation (EDA) software
  • Embedded systems and firmware development
  • Signal processing and algorithm design
  • Problem-solving and fault diagnosis
  • Technical report writing
  • Project management and planning
  • Communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Knowledge of safety and industry standards
  • Adaptability and continuous learning
  • Teamwork and collaboration

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About the author

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson

Laura Atkinson is an Account Management and SEM specialist at Course Finder Group with six years' experience in the Australian education sector. She works day to day with universities, TAFEs and independent training providers, which gives her a close view of how courses map to real career outcomes. She writes practical guidance on career pathways, choosing the right qualification and what to expect when moving into a new field.