Electronics Engineer
An electronics engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic circuits, components, and systems for applications ranging from consumer devices to industrial control systems. They work in design offices, laboratories, and manufacturing environments to create solutions that meet electrical performance, safety, and regulatory standards.
What this job is
An electronics engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic circuits, components, and systems for applications ranging from consumer devices to industrial control systems. They work in design offices, laboratories, and manufacturing environments to create solutions that meet electrical performance, safety, and regulatory standards. The role involves using computer-aided design (CAD) software, simulation tools, and prototyping equipment to translate specifications into functional electronic products.
Are employers advertising this role?
Fewer than 50 vacancies were advertised nationally in the latest month. The numbers are too small to draw a reliable trend.
Source: Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index.
Day-to-day
Design electronic circuits and component layouts using CAD software such as Altium Designer, KiCAD, or EAGLE, incorporating passive and active components. Conduct circuit simulation and analysis using tools like SPICE, MATLAB, or LTspice to verify performance against design specifications. Prepare schematic diagrams, PCB layouts, and technical drawings in accordance with Australian and international standards. Select and specify electronic components including semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, and connectors based on performance requirements and cost constraints. Develop firmware or embedded software interfaces for microcontroller and FPGA-based systems using C, C++, or Python. Build and test prototype circuits using breadboards, soldering equipment, and laboratory instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and logic analysers. Conduct electrical safety testing and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing to ensure compliance with Australian standards and regulations. Document design specifications, test results, and design review findings in technical reports and design control documentation.
Who does this now
About 4,600 people worked in this occupation across Australia at the 2021 Census.
What this role asks for
Bachelor degree or higher (ABS skill level 1)
Registration or licensing may be required.
Can employers fill these jobs
Employers hiring for this occupation were generally able to find suitable applicants in 2025. Ratings are not the same everywhere. QLD, SA and ACT were rated in shortage. This measures how hard employers found it to fill jobs. It is not a count of jobs, and it does not say whether the occupation is growing.
Requirements
The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.
The honest hard part
You'll need a bachelor's degree in electrical or electronics engineering, which is a big time and money investment. Once in the role, you're competing against AI-assisted design tools and overseas outsourcing of circuit design work. Manufacturing jobs in Australia are shrinking, so positions concentrate in defence, telecommunications, and medical devices: narrower sectors with tougher entry requirements and security clearances. The pay ceiling is real: most roles plateau unless you move into management or specialised defence contracting.
Where the jobs are
Practically speaking, regional Australia has very few permanent positions. Remote work exists but is uncommon for design roles requiring hands-on prototyping and lab access. You'll need to be willing to relocate to a major city or commit to specific industry hubs.
Pay
Published for ANZSCO unit group 2334, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.
This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.
Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
Skills
- Attention to Detailcore
- Problem Solvingcore
- Process Improvement Identificationcore
- Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
- Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
- Report Writingcore
- Research and Analysiscore
- Risk Identificationcore
- Stakeholder Communicationcore
- Team Collaborationcore
- Time Management and Prioritisationcore
- Verbal Communicationcore
- Written Communicationcore
- Active Listening
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Continuous Learning and Upskilling
- Digital Literacy
- Goal Setting and Planning
- Microsoft Excel Data Management
- Negotiation
- Power BI Reporting and Dashboards
- Process Documentation
Which of these do you have?
Tick the ones you haveCommon questions
Sources
- ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
- ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
- ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.
Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.
What Electronics Engineer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
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