Electrical controls engineer interview questions

Electrical systems/electrical controls engineers help develop, design, implement, and maintain electrical systems in many different industries. They may specialize in one particular discipline, such as electrical power distribution, telecommunications, or electronics component design.

Electrical systems/electrical controls engineers have opportunities to benefit the environment in different ways, depending on the projects they work on. They may work on energy-efficient home appliances or HVAC systems. They might work on wind farm projects, or update energy transmission systems so that they can move power from wind farms to areas of need, or help to implement a smarter grid system. In architecture and construction, they can design efficient wiring or lighting systems for new buildings that are seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. In fact, some electrical engineers seek LEED Accredited Professional (AP) status themselves, which demonstrates their expertise in sustainable building design practices.

Whether they're developing circuit boards or designing power substations, these professionals have similar work processes. First, they communicate with management or clients to determine the purpose, limitations, and goals of a project. Next, they do preliminary design of the product, often using computer aided design (CAD) software. They perform calculations and make technical drawings of the product or system. Once design is complete and finalized, they might oversee the production or construction of the product, including monitoring the production or installation of components, troubleshooting problems, and ensuring that safety and construction requirements are met. Some electrical engineers also maintain previously-installed electrical systems. A single person may participate in one or all of these steps in the product's life.

The title "Electrical systems/electrical controls engineers" are common job titles for electrical engineers doing green-related work. Electrical engineers can be green across a variety of industries, but the most prevalent green fields are in electrical systems and electrical controls. Most jobs for green electrical engineers in Minnesota are posted by employers as "electrical engineers."