Electronic Engineering Electronic Engineering

As one of the fast-rising disciplines in the field of engineering, graduates are highly sought-after across different sectors, especially those who aim at specialising their skill set further.

Whether it’s a manufacturer of high-volume consumer products like Samsung and Apple, or specialised medical equipment providers such as Accuray, electronics companies encompass many areas of expertise.

Key players like Seagate, Broadcom and STMicroelectronics, for instance, have selected Singapore as their Southeast Asian centre of operations, thanks to the citystate’s advanced infrastructure and facilities. In fact, the electronics sector is a major industry that underpins the small nation’s economic growth.

Moreover, the role of the electronics industry is rapidly changing, and there’s an increasing demand for devices, machines and systems to be more connected and “smarter”.

Career overview

Although graduates can expect an exciting career full of innovation and developments, roles in the industry are very broad, and job descriptions in different areas of choice can vary greatly.

With enough experience and expertise, electronics engineers may also opt to become specialised consultants later on in their career as there’s a huge market for independent contractors and consultants in the sector.

Trends and developments

Globally, miniaturisation is a constant pursuit, and manufacturers constantly strive to pack the best technology into the most compact size possible.

On the subject of growing trends, the present focus is on “wearable” technologies, and development has moved past Apple’s smart watch and Fitbit to brain training under healthcare, and even social adventure photography. 5G is expected to open new possibilities in this area, too.

Another new trend is the growing adoption of smart clothing, much like the Levi Communter x Jacquard jacket, that allows users to access Google services and control their phones through gestures.

Some of Singapore’s key strengths in electronics manufacturing lie in semiconductors and integrated devices, but the government is also looking to expand into other areas, such as microelectronics.

This translates to increased R&D investments in coming years along the production line, from component- level design and processes, to product designs, firmware development and even industrial design.

Career highlights Diversity

Many electronics engineers enjoy the diversity within the sector, where they get to explore a variety of fields, and also solve difficult technical problems in a creative way.

Working with cutting-edge technology

Another highlight is the opportunity to work with advanced technology, using it to manufacture other technologies.

Work satisfaction

Most engineers simply appreciate the satisfaction of seeing their finished products hit the market, and take motivation from bearing responsibility for their products capable of influencing daily life.