differences between a technician and an engineer
electronics engineering is an electrical engineering discipline involved with designing electronic circuits, devices, and systems. It is a broad engineering field that can be broken into analog electronics, digital electronics, consumer electronics, and power electronics. Electronics engineering is also involved with the implementation of applications and principles within the many related fields. The institute of electrical and electronics engineers (ieee) is an important and influential organization for electronics engineers. Advancement for electronics engineers will often be to management.
electronics technicians are expected to repair, maintain, assemble, and test electronics equipment. Titles for technicians are often expanded and may include the following:
● Bench electronics technician—works offsite to assemble, test, or repair work at a workbench.
● Computer electronics technician—works
at a job site to install, maintain, and repair equipment and provides computer and IT (information technology) support.
● Field electronics technician—works at a job site to install, maintain, and repair equipment in the field.
● Metrology electronics technician—works at a workbench to calibrate, repair, and maintain all types of electronic standards, test, and measuring equipment. Metrology is defined as “the science of measurement.”
● Senior or Master electronics technician—an in-house management position requiring extensive experience within an organization. A technician often has this position as a goal for advancement.
All electronics technician jobs include repair and maintenance of the employer’s electronics equipment. This requires the ability to read schematics and maintenance manuals, test and troubleshoot the equipment, solder and unsolder components, and research parts availability and costs.
Specialized licenses are required when working on equipment requiring Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing or working in physically hazardous environments such as nuclear power.
Most electronics technician positions require at least an associate degree, equivalent military training, or a diploma from a vocational or technical school. This could be followed by certification, depending on the employer.