Electrical Engineer

Academy Education Network Ltd; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Academy Education Network Ltd is seeking Electrical / Electronic Engineers in Manchester to design and operate systems that generate, transmit, and use electrical signals. You will engage in circuit design and embedded software development while collaborating with mechanical and software engineers.

Successful candidates will develop their careers through a structured pathway leading to Chartered Engineer status, with competitive salaries starting from £32,000.

Qualifications

• Graduate engineers typically start at £32,000–£42,000.
• Chartered Electrical Engineers earn between £52,000–£70,000.
• Senior engineers and engineering managers can earn £70,000–£110,000+.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyse electrical and electronic systems.
• Run circuit design, embedded systems, power electronics, and signal‑processing.
• Work for major employers like National Grid, BAE, and Rolls‑Royce.

Skills

Structured problem‑solving

Clear technical communication

Teamwork across multidisciplinary engineering teams

Attention to detail and safety culture

Pragmatic decision‑making under constraints

Continuous learning across rapidly evolving technologies

Education

BEng or MEng in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

KiCad

C

C++

MATLAB / Simulink

Job description

Overview

Electrical / Electronic Engineers design, analyse and operate systems that generate, transmit, use or process electrical signals — from large‑scale power systems and substations through to tiny embedded electronics on circuit boards. Day‑to‑day work mixes circuit design (Altium, KiCad), embedded software (C, C++, MATLAB / Simulink), power‑systems modelling, hardware testing, and cross‑team collaboration with mechanical and software engineers. Most UK electrical engineers work towards Chartered Engineer status (CEng MIET) through the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and analyse electrical and electronic systems
• Run circuit design, embedded systems, power electronics and signal‑processing work
• Specialise into power, electronics, telecoms, semiconductors or control systems
• Work for National Grid, BAE, Rolls‑Royce, ARM, Octopus Energy and tier‑one telecoms

Skills you’ll need

• Structured problem‑solving
• Clear technical communication
• Teamwork across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Attention to detail and safety culture
• Pragmatic decision‑making under constraints
• Continuous learning across rapidly evolving technologies

Employer Profiles

BAE Systems

UK’s largest defence employer – graduate electrical engineering across radar, electronic warfare, naval electronics and combat aircraft systems.

Rolls‑Royce

Aero engines, marine and nuclear power systems – substantial electrical engineering across engine controls and power electronics.

ARM / Microsoft / Apple

Cambridge‑based semiconductor and chip‑design employers – graduate electrical engineering and IC design at the cutting edge.

Renewable Energy

Offshore wind, solar farms and smart‑grid engineering. Strong growth under UK net‑zero targets.

Telecom Operators

Large electrical engineering teams across network infrastructure, 5G and fibre rollout.

Salary Ranges in the UK

Graduate engineers start at £32,000–£42,000. Chartered Electrical Engineers reach £52,000–£70,000. Senior engineers and engineering managers reach £70,000–£110,000+. Power systems and renewables sectors pay premium rates.

Years 2–4 – Engineer (working towards CEng)

Years 4–8 – Chartered Electrical Engineer (CEng MIET)

Typical Career Progression

Graduate Engineer (Years 0–2)

Join a graduate engineering scheme. Build circuit design, embedded systems and analysis skills. Start IET IPD.

Engineer (Years 2–4)

Run own design packages under senior supervision. Complete IET IPD competencies.

Chartered Electrical Engineer (Years 4–8)

Pass IET Chartered Professional Review (CPR). Lead engineering decisions on complex programmes.

Principal Engineer / Engineering Manager (Years 8+)

Set technical direction on major programmes. Technical track (Chief Engineer) or management track (Engineering Manager → Director).

Who You Are Matters

UK & Settled‑Status students investing in MEng or BEng payback, ROI and career trajectory. Apprenticeships are fully employer‑funded. Major employers include National Grid, BAE Systems, Rolls‑Royce, ARM, Sellafield, Network Rail. UCAS BEng/MEng applications go through January deadline. Top UK courses (Cambridge, Imperial, Oxford, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester) ask AAA–A*A*A at A‑level including Maths and Physics. Placements at National Grid, BAE Systems, ARM, Rolls‑Royce and major engineering consultancies are common routes into graduate programmes.

UK Degree Courses

AEN partners with UK universities and colleges offering courses on the electrical engineer pathway.