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Electrical & Electronics Engineer

Stable

Engineering

Designs power, control and electronics systems for E&E manufacturing, utilities and construction, distinct from the trade electrician role. Malaysia's semiconductor export sector (Penang, Kulim) drives strong graduate demand.

Electrical EngineeringComputer ScienceGeneral

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
  2. 2Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
  3. 3Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
  4. 4Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
  5. 5Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
  6. 6Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
  7. 7Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
  8. 8Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.
  9. 9Inspect completed installations and observe operations to ensure conformance to design and equipment specifications and compliance with operational, safety, or environmental standards.
  10. 10Develop systems that produce electricity with renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, or biofuels.
  11. 11Investigate customer or public complaints to determine the nature and extent of problems.
  12. 12Prepare technical drawings, specifications of electrical systems, or topographical maps to ensure that installation and operations conform to standards and customer requirements.
  13. 13Develop software to control electrical systems.
  14. 14Prepare specifications for purchases of materials or equipment.
  15. 15Compile data and write reports regarding existing or potential electrical engineering studies or projects.
  16. 16Estimate labor, material, or construction costs for budget preparation purposes.
  17. 17Plan or implement research methodology or procedures to apply principles of electrical theory to engineering projects.
  18. 18Supervise or train project team members, as necessary.
  19. 19Assist in developing capital project programs for new equipment or major repairs.
  20. 20Integrate electrical systems with renewable energy systems to improve overall efficiency.
  21. 21Conduct field surveys or study maps, graphs, diagrams, or other data to identify and correct power system problems.
  22. 22Design electrical systems or components that minimize electric energy requirements, such as lighting systems designed to account for natural lighting.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Engineer
  • RF Engineer
  • Test Engineer
  • Cable Engineer
  • Field Engineer
  • Laser Engineer
  • Meter Engineer
  • Plant Engineer
  • SCADA Engineer
  • Design Engineer

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. Typical entry

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

PhysicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Additional MathematicsDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
InventionDraws directly on Engineering and Technology — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Engineering and Technology95%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

  • Computers and Electronics93%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Design82%

    Visual Art (PSV)Technical Comm. GraphicsEngineering Drawing

  • English Language75%

    English

  • Mathematics74%

    Additional MathematicsMathematics

  • Physics72%

    Physics

Skills to build

Analytical thinkingPrecisionTeamwork

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Leading or coordinating othersHigh
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingMost of the time
  • Time spent standingA little
  • Time walking or movingA little

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

16%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

On Malaysia's official shortage list

TalentCorp and ILMIA's Critical Occupations List — evidence of a real hiring shortage in Malaysia right now.

Electrical Engineers · Shortage indicators met: 6/12

Pay in the private market

Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.

Entry

Private
RM2,800 – RM3,900

Mid-career

Private
RM5,500 – RM9,000

Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.

Job demand outlook

Stable

Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.

Your readiness

How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.

Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.

Add my grades

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

TVET

Hands-on trades with strong employability: ILP, ADTEC, kolej vokasional, GiatMARA.

1–3 years

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Electrical Engineers

Source: JobStreet Salary Guide · as of Jan 2026

Check the salary figures yourself:JobStreet

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue