Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering Careers

Electronics-Related Employers
Applications and Interviews for IT jobs
Vacation Work (separate page)
Destinations of Kent Graduates
Computer Science Careers page (includes skills required for IT jobs)
Case Study : Moving from IT into Marketing (separate page)

SKILLS YOU MAY ACQUIRE ON YOUR COURSE

One of the most valuable skills you should acquire on an electronics course is the ability to solve problems. This may be developed through project work or from an analysis of the technical knowledge inherent in the course. Your course will encourage you to think logically, to collect relevant data and make decisions. Also valued by employers are the high levels of numeracy and computer literacy. The ability to work successfully in a team is also important.

Electronics CV Example www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/electronicsCV.htm

Computing and IT Interviews www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivcomputing.htm

MAIN ELECTRONICS-RELATED JOBS

A large proportion of electronics graduates entering permanent jobs after graduation go into research, design and development. Although you can get a job as a trainee research engineer with a good first degree, for those wanting a long term career in research it may be advisable to study for a doctorate as promotion within research may be hindered without one. However, many junior research staff use research as a stepping stone to other functions within the company, such as marketing, patent work and production management, and for graduates with these ambitions a postgraduate degree would not be necessary. Many of these jobs are with electronics, telecommunications and defence companies. See the section on Research and Development.

COMMUNICATIONS.

Radio, optoelectronic and microwave communication are all important here, and there are jobs with both equipment manufacturers and suppliers of services.

BT www.btplc.com/Careercentre/Graduates/index.CFM have a huge research site near Ipswich
Thales www.thalesgroup.com
Ericsson www.ericsson.com
Vodafone www.vodafone.co.uk/graduates
Roke Manor Research www.roke.co.uk Research Laboratory of Siemens specialising in communications
Siemens www.siemens.co.uk
Nortel www.nortelnetworks.com/employment

DEFENCE

BAe Systems www.baesystems.com global aerospace and defence. A major recruiter of Kent graduates. Large site at Rochester in Kent.
QinetiQ www.qinetiq.com formerly the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (an agency of the Ministry of Defence) - big recruiter of physicists, especially at its Malvern Laboratory
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). Farnborough, Porton Down near Salisbury, Portsdown West near Portsmouth and Sevenoaks www.dstl.gov.uk/careers/index.php
DESG www.desg.mod.uk Defence Engineering and Science Group - big recruiters of Engineers and Scientist graduates. Part of the Ministry of Defence
Babcock www.babcock.co.uk/pages/careers/graduates defence engineering support.

COMPUTING

A popular area for electronics graduates. Although it has been badly hit by the downturn in the American economy, there are still substantial numbers of jobs here. Employers include:

Tessella www.tessella.co.uk developer of Scientific Software - recruits scientific programmers
LogicaCMG www.logicacmg.com recruits science graduates into computer consultancy.
IBM www-5.ibm.com/uk

See also our computing careers page www.kent.ac.uk/careers/computersci.htm and our computing and electronics links www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesit.htm

MEDICAL ELECTRONICS

The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine www.ipem.ac.uk has an on-line vacancy bulletin.
Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) www.abhi.org.uk the trade association for medical device technology in the UK
Google list of medical electronics manufacturers
Siemens Medical Systems www.medical.siemens.com
Micro Medical www.micromedical.co.uk
Omega Laser Systems www.omegalaser.co.uk laser equipment for medical, clinical and research use.
Afos www.afosgroup.com equipment for the medical and food industries.
Verity Medical www.veritymedical.co.uk EMG, ECS, NMS and TENS products.

IT Recruitment Agencies

Destinations of Kent Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering Graduates

Electronics Careers

Destinations of Kent Computer Systems Engineering Graduates

These statistics only cover the first six months after graduation. The latest destinations for all subjects (1998-2007) including postgraduates can be found at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/fdrbases/destinations.htm	06	07	08
POSTGRADUATE STUDY MSc MSc Biometrics & Secure Systems (2), MSc Broadband - University of Kent (18), MSc Distributed Systems - Kent (2), MSc Electronics - Kent (2), MSc Computer Systems and Networking - Kent, MSc Computer Science - Kent, MSc CSE - Kent, MSc Systems/Robotics - Essex, MSc Engineering Management - Brunel University, MSc - Business IT - UMIST, MSc Computing - Imperial PhD Electronics - Kent (5), Computer Science - Kent, Plymouth CSE - Kent, Teacher Training PGCE Secondary ICT - Christ Church (2) Other Study e.g. Postgrad. Dip. Broadband - Kent (5) Pg Dip. Electronics - Kent (2), Web Design Course	3	1	1
EMPLOYMENT IT-RELATED EMPLOYMENT e.g. Hardware Engineer: HM Gov't Communications Centre/Zarlink Semiconductor Systems Analyst: Deutsch Bank, American Express, Euroclear Bank, ReThink Group Software Engineers/Developers: Intandem Software Solutions, Logica, Marine Software Ltd, BAe Systems, IBM, Aurora, Telesoft Technologies, Cairn Research, Creata.com, ICL Website Designer/Editor: Interactive Investor, Eurodynamics, Nettec IT Consultant: Trouble Free IT, Force-tech, Apex Computers Design Engineer: R&D Design Services IT Support: Fujitsu Systems Engineer: Cisco Systems, AMS Software Tester: TTT Moneycorp Field Service Engineer: Computer Centre Research Engineer: Ipsotek (+PhD Image Processing), Qinetiq Research Assistant + PhD: University of Kent (2) Java Developer: Netcentric Systems Management Trainee: Nissan (plus study at Cranfield Univ.) Systems Administrator: University of Greenwich Network Support: IBM Helpdesk Officer: MLS Technician: Christ Church University, SBE/Grammar School OTHER EMPLOYMENT Contractual Supervisor - Henry Schein Graduate Trainee: ASDA Sales Consultant: Carphone Warehouse, Sales Agent - Necoda Military Service (2) Assistant Mechanic: Auto Repair Company Call Centre Operator, Sales Assistant - Game, Tesco, John Lewis	5	3	4
Starting Work Shortly	1	-	-
STILL LOOKING for work or study 6 months after graduation	-	-	-
UNKNOWN	2	3	-
TOTAL	11	7	5

Electronics/Electronics & Communications - summary of Kent destinations

These statistics only cover the first six months after graduation. The latest destinations for all subjects (1998-2007) including postgraduates can be found at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/fdrbases/destinations.htm	06	07	08
POSTGRADUATE STUDY MSc: MSc Broadband: Kent (11), MSc Information Security & Biometrics: Kent (2), MSc Computer Systems Engineering: Kent (several), MSc Electrical Engineering : Kent/Newcastle, MSc DSP and Machine Intelligence: Surrey, MSc Computer Science: Bristol PhD: Electronics: Kent (3) Other: Postgraduate Diploma Broadband: Kent (3)	3	6	1
Electronics-related employment. Systems Engineer: BAe Systems/Delphi Diesel Systems, Design Engineer: Global Communications, Marconi, Redifon, M.E.L., Hunting Engineering, Frer-Nash Research Ltd, Airflow Development Ltd, Graduate Engineer: DSTL, W.S. Atkins, MOD, T-Mobile, National Air Traffic Services, Harada Industries, Lucas Aerospace, Max Wright, Tube Lines (+ Open University - MSc Engineering) Graduate Firmware Engineer: Actaris, Controls Support Engineer: Actionair, Fault Finding Technician: Simrad, Service Bulletin Engineer: CGOL Sales Engineer - Trident Networks Research: BT Scientific Officer - MOD Locality Analyst - West Kent NHS (+ Open University Diploma in Statistics) Programme Installer - Kent Hospital Trust Research Assistant: University of Kent I.T. Technician - University of Kent OTHER Employment: Stores Work: Racal, Customer Services Ass't: William Hill, Department Manager: B&Q, Sales Assistant: Game, Steward: P&O Ferries, Officer: Greek Army	1	3	9
Self Employed: Director - Idium Technology Ltd	-	1	-
Unknown	1	5	1
Still looking 6 months after graduating	1	-	2
Total	6	15	13

Destinations of MSc Broadband and Mobile Communications Graduates in Recent Years

Electronic Engineer - DSTL
Network Operations Engineer - Prime Tel plc
Graduate Engineer: T-Mobile (2 graduates)
Software Engineer; Diagnos
Software Designer: Beacon Wireless
Software Developer: Aurora Kendrick James
VLSI designer: Intracom SA
SMS Design Engineer: Orange
Design Engineer: Energy Solutions
Network Engineer+PhD/M.Phil: Forthnet SA
Network Administration: Intra Com, Greece
Systems Engineer: BAe Systems
Systems Manager: NEC Technologies
Network Consultant

Operations Analyst; Accenture
Electronics Assistant
Cisco Certified Network Analyst - IT Recruitment Services
T-Mobile Graduate Engineer
Martek - Sales Support
Student Officer - RAF
Greek Army - Army Officer (several)
Research Assistant: University of Kent
PhD Electronics - University of Kent (13 graduates)
PhD - Munich University
PhD - Electronics University of Westminster
MBA - University of Kent

Once you have read this page, visit the Careers Centre (in Keynes Driveway). You can browse in the Careers Centre as you would a library. You can ask at reception if you need help. I am normally on duty there TUESDAY MORNINGS (10.30 am - 12.30 p.m.) and WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS (2.00 - 5.00 p.m.) for short discussions etc. You do not need to book an appointment to see me at these times.

Bruce Woodcock - Careers Adviser for Electronics

Last fully updated July 2009