Electronics technicians and repairers install, maintain, and repair electronic equipment used in offices, factories, homes, hospitals, aircraft, and other places. Equipment includes televisions, radar, industrial equipment controls, computers, telephone systems, and medical diagnosing equipment. Repairers have numerous job titles, which often refer to the kind of equipment with which they work:

Avionics technicians test, install and maintain aviation electronics including instrumentation, communication, navigational, warning and control equipment. Some avionics technicians work on weaponry systems in military facilities.

Automation/robotics technicians troubleshoot, maintain and interface with automated or robotic equipment for manufacturers and other businesses. They may install or service equipment, wet processors, microprocessor workstations and computerized robots.

Broadcast technicians install, test, repair, set up, and operate the electronic equipment used to record and transmit radio and television programs. They work with television cameras, microphones, tape recorders, light and sound effects, transmitters, antennas, and other equipment. Some broadcast technicians develop movie sound tracks in motion picture production studios.

Computer and office machine repairers install equipment, do preventive maintenance, and correct problems. Computer repairers work on computers (mainframes, minis, and micros), peripheral equipment, and word processing systems, while office machine repairers work on photocopiers, cash registers, mail processing equipment, fax machines, and typewriters. Some repairers service both computer and office equipment. They also make cable and wiring connections when installing equipment, and work closely with electricians who install the wiring (see also Information Technology).

Commercial and industrial electronic equipment repairers, also called industrial electronics technicians, install and repair industrial controls, radar and missile control systems, medical diagnostic equipment, and communications equipment (see also Industrial Maintenance).

Data network communications specialists design, install and maintain network communications equipment to provide connectivity to communication and computer networks over long distances (see also Information Technology).

Direct broadcast satellite (DBS) technicians operate and maintain the electronic broadcast transmission equipment that provides direct satellite connections to homes and businesses, such as direct satellite television.

Electronic home entertainment equipment repairers, also called service technicians, repair audio systems, televisions, , disc players, recorders, public address systems, video cameras, video games, home security systems, microwave ovens, and electronic organs. Some repairers specialize in one kind of equipment; others repair many types.

Electronic inspectors, testers, and graders are involved at every stage of the production process. Some inspectors examine materials received from a supplier before sending them to the production line. Others inspect components, subassemblies, and assemblies or perform a final check on the finished product. Depending on the skill level of the inspectors, they may also set up and test equipment, calibrate precision instruments, or repair defective products.

Fiber optics technicians design, install and repair fiber optic cable systems and connections in homes and businesses for data and voice services.

Laser electro-optical technicians test, operate, repair and maintain lasers, fiber optics and systems that use or incorporate laser technology.

Microwave technicians specialize in the principles and applications of electronic microwave technology found in systems such as telecommunications and radar.

Semiconductor equipment operators work in "clean room" environments, operating equipment used to manufacture semiconductor wafers or their components.

Semiconductor equipment technicians monitor, maintain and repair wafer and semiconductor fabrication equipment to ensure uniterrupted production flow in a manufacturing environment.

Telecommunications specialists research, test, evaluate and recommend communications hardware and software, such as voice mail systems, modems, fiber optic cable systems and telephone switching units. They monitor systems performance and identify areas of operation which need upgrading (see also Information Technology).

Telecommunications technicians install, repair, and maintain complex and sophisticated telephone communications equipment. Most telecommunication technicians work either in telephone company central offices or on customers' premises installing and repairing telephone switching and transmission systems.

Vending machine repairers make sure machines operate correctly. When checking complicated electrical and electronic machines, such as beverage dispensers, they make sure that the machines mix drinks properly and that refrigeration and heating units work correctly. They also test coin and change-making mechanisms.

Videoserver technicians set up, maintain and service equipment used in teleconferencing, including synchronization of text, audio and video in applications such as distance learning and webcasting (see also Information Technology).

Wireless communications technicians install, maintain and repair cellular communications equipment, such as cellular phones and transmission equipment.

Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help design, develop, test, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment such as radios, radar, sonar, television, industrial and medical measuring or control devices, navigational equipment, and computers. They may work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment.

Electrical and electronics engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment. Electrical equipment includes power generating and transmission equipment used by electric utilities, and electric motors, machinery controls, and lighting and wiring in buildings, automobiles, and aircraft. Electronic equipment includes radar, computer hardware, and communications and video equipment.

 

Electronics technicians and engineers generally work in clean, well-lighted, air-conditioned offices and surroundings—an electronic repair shop or service center, hospital, military installation, or a telephone company's central office. However, some, such as commercial and industrial electronic equipment repairers, may be exposed to heat, grease, and noise on factory floors. Some may occasionally have to work in cramped spaces. Telephone installers and repairers may work on rooftops, ladders, and telephone poles.

 

Applicants for entry-level technician jobs may have to pass tests measuring mechanical aptitude, knowledge of electricity or electronics, manual dexterity, and general intelligence. Good eyesight and color vision are needed to inspect and work on small, delicate parts and good hearing to detect malfunctions revealed by sound. Because field repairers usually handle jobs alone, they must be able to work without close supervision.

For those who have frequent contact with customers, a pleasant personality, neat appearance, and good communications skills are important. Repairers must also be trustworthy, because they may be exposed to money and other valuables in places such as banks and securities offices, and some employers require that they be bonded. Some specialties may require licenses, such as FCC(Federal Communications Commision), FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Security clearance may be required for technicians who repair equipment or service machines in areas in which people are engaged in activities related to national security.

 

There will be an increasing need for electronics professionals to design, manufacture and service the sophisticated electronic devices, from televisions to electric toothbrushes, that appear almost everywhere in our lives. However, increased reliability of many of these products will dampen growth in the service area. Major areas of opportunity continue to exist in cutting-edge technologies, such as the design, manufacture and maintenance of computer and communications systems.

Employment in the cable industry should grow because of new products coming to market, such as cable modems, which deliver high speed Internet access to PCs, and digital set-top boxes, which transmit better sound and pictures, allowing cable operators to offer many more channels than in the past. These new products should cause traditional cable subscribers to sign up for additional services.

Many electronics careers are considered evolving and emerging, especially those careers in computers and telecommunications. Because these industries are tied to the ever-increasing demand for devices with higher capacities and faster transfer rates, there should be considerable growth and earnings potential for high-tech electronics professionals now and in the future.