Graduating EE (BS) with two offers and a deadline this week. Looking for advice on which one best sets me up for the future.

**Offer 1: Defense company, Electrical Engineer I**
Located in a small military town in New England
On-site, no travel
Skills:
Work covers power conversion equipment (specifying and reviewing supplier inverters/converters), electric plant architecture, and power systems analysis (fault current, breaker coordination, stability, voltage drop), plus some instrumentation and controls
Mostly drawing reviews, specs, supplier interaction, and technical documentation
Plus would get clearance

Salary: $83k base (not a big or major metro)

**Offer 2: Construction company building utility-scale energy storage (BESS), Electrical Engineer I**
First project in WI, then travel between project sites with rotations home
Electrical QA/QC, one-line designs for collection systems/substations, utility interconnection, and commissioning support (likely testing and SCADA/controls checkout)

Salary: $92k base plus a substantial traveler package (per diem/subsistence, travel allowance, and project completion bonuses)

**About me:**
Single, in my 20s, no kids
Long-term goal in industry: controls, protection, distribution, power plant design, & power electronics
Plan to stay 2–4 years, then move to a stable, non-traveling role
Eventually want to return home to the Southeast (maybe if I like where I move, have home and settled down no but really have no idea at the moment)

**Questions:**
1) Which role builds the better technical foundation and resume fit for controls, protection, distribution, or power plant design?
2) Which would make me a stronger candidate for Southeast utilities or design firms in 2–4 years?
3) How valuable is a clearance if I may not stay in defense long-term?
4) For BESS or construction travelers: What do real weekly hours, rotation schedules, and project lengths look like?
5) Is the travel worth the money for a few years at my stage?

Thanks for any help with this can’t really decide at the moment

Graduating EE (BS) with two offers and a deadline this week. Looking for advice on which one best sets me up for the future.

**Offer 1: Defense company, Electrical Engineer I**
Located in a small military town in New England
On-site, no travel
Skills:
Work covers power conversion equipment (specifying and reviewing supplier inverters/converters), electric plant architecture, and power systems analysis (fault current, breaker coordination, stability, voltage drop), plus some instrumentation and controls
Mostly drawing reviews, specs, supplier interaction, and technical documentation
Plus would get clearance

Salary: $83k base (not a big or major metro)

**Offer 2: Construction company building utility-scale energy storage (BESS), Electrical Engineer I**
First project in WI, then travel between project sites with rotations home
Electrical QA/QC, one-line designs for collection systems/substations, utility interconnection, and commissioning support (likely testing and SCADA/controls checkout)

Salary: $92k base plus a substantial traveler package (per diem/subsistence, travel allowance, and project completion bonuses)

**About me:**
Single, in my 20s, no kids
Long-term goal in industry: controls, protection, distribution, power plant design, & power electronics
Plan to stay 2–4 years, then move to a stable, non-traveling role
Eventually want to return home to the Southeast (maybe if I like where I move, have home and settled down no but really have no idea at the moment)

**Questions:**
1) Which role builds the better technical foundation and resume fit for controls, protection, distribution, or power plant design?
2) Which would make me a stronger candidate for Southeast utilities or design firms in 2–4 years?
3) How valuable is a clearance if I may not stay in defense long-term?
4) For BESS or construction travelers: What do real weekly hours, rotation schedules, and project lengths look like?
5) Is the travel worth the money for a few years at my stage?

Thanks for any help with this can’t really decide at the moment

Hi everyone! I’m in the final year of my master’s program and could use some career advice.

For some context, my bachelor’s degree is in an engineering field outside of ECE, and my grad school research is mainly focused on power system modeling and control. I did an internship at a power utility last year, which helped me realize that I’m not particularly drawn to the day-to-day work in the utility industry. I think I’d prefer something more technically focused, where I can work more directly on developing or improving actual products.

I’ve taken some power electronics classes and found them pretty interesting, so I’m considering pursuing a career in that field. However, I don’t have a lot of experience in the electronics field, and I’ve been (kind of) offered a power systems related job after graduation, but it’s more focused on domain expertise than technical development and would require me to pursue a PhD.

Since I still have a semester left, would it be worth applying for power electronics or hardware-related internships for the spring semester? I’m worried my nontraditional background will put me at a disadvantage, but I also don’t want to regret not trying, especially if the other job falls through.

Would love to hear any advice, especially from people working in power electronics or who have made a similar transition!

I'm (22F) fresh EE grad student specializing in electrical machines with no job experience and I don't have anyone around me who works in the field, so I really appreciate advice from people who've been through this. Which sources actually worked for you? what do employees look for in fresh grads? if you're working outside your home country how did you approach that?

I am finishing my Bachelor in Applied Electronics and planning to do my Master in Germany.

At first, I wanted to work with EVs, especially hardware, diagnostics and high-voltage systems, and eventually open my own garage. But I also want to choose a Master that gives me other career options if I change my mind later.

Right now, I am deciding between Power Engineering and Embedded Systems. After working in the digital IC lab, I also became very interested in FPGA.

I would like to ask people working in these fields:

How are the job opportunities and career growth in Europe for these two fields?

How realistic is it to work remotely or hybrid, especially after getting some experience? Which field offers more opportunities for this?

If I decide later that EV repair is not for me, which Master would give me more options to work in different industries?

I would like to hear opinions from people who studied or work in these fields. Thanks.

I’m an undergraduate student, and have internship offers for an analog test engineer and HBM PHY validation engineer. They’re at the same company, and I’ve been told in the recruiting process that the analog test position deals with multiple IPs and is more lab work orientated. My long term goal is to transition into analog design, but there aren’t many undergraduate internships where I’m from, and my university doesn’t teach much at the undergrad level. What do the career trajectories look like for these two roles, and which would provide a better path toward eventually transitioning into analog design?

Hi,
For little context I'm a freshly graduated EE in Eu, I was an intern during my bsc and also did FSAE ending up as Chief Engineer. Since automotive industry is cooked and I also find industrial automation interesting I accepted and offer as a Project Lead at a nice company. I thought it would be more engineering related but it's really high level and I'm not doing anything engineering related even. I don't enjoy this, I'm scared I will forget my engineering skills.
I got offers for Maintenance Engineering and I talked with them it seems nicer but I heard that's also not that 'engineering' related.
Do you guys have any advice what should I do?
I worked so hard during my diploma to be in a good position after graduation but now I feel stuck.

Recently got laid off from the company so looking for an opportunity in embedded systems field i have an experience of 2 years in embedded validation. If any advice always welcome

Recently got laid off from the company so looking for an opportunity in embedded systems field i have an experience of 2 years in embedded validation. If any advice always welcome

Torn open a headlight driver module from a Tesla Model 3. Uploaded a short video clip showing the teardown process and close-ups of the board layout.

Unlike the headlight boards I looked at from Xiaomi or Aito, this one has zero screws. The whole unit is glued shut with heavy sealant, so getting it open took a pretty brutal prying process.

Inside, the thermal and spatial engineering is impressive. The thermal grease feeds heat directly from the power silicon straight into the aluminum fin enclosure. But the strangest detail is on the PCB itself: they actually printed custom artwork of a lobster and a cat right on the silkscreen next to the traces.

Hardware-wise, Tesla is clearly deeply in love with Texas Instruments. Outside of a few Onsemi MOSFETs and an NXP MCU, the board is basically a TI showcase:

Power and LED driving use three TI TPS92520-Q1 dual-channel buck LED drivers. Voltage regulation is handled by TI TPS7B8150 LDOs, along with a TI SN74LV4051A multiplexer.

On the communication side, they run both CAN (TI TCAN1042) and LIN (TI LIN1029) transceivers. Most other EV headlight modules I have pulled apart skip the LIN transceiver entirely.

They also packed in two TI DRV8889-Q1 stepper motor drivers. That points straight to an active adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) for driving lens stepper motors on cornering, which explains the tighter layout.

Main control is handled by an old-school NXP/Freescale S9KEAZN64 (Cortex-M0+) MCU, and Onsemi takes care of the rest with NVTFS6H880N and NTTFS6H860 N-channel FETs plus an NCV78702 LED driver.

There are still a couple of unconfirmed components. Two chips on the board are marked 100V L08E (looks like discrete components based on the package and layout) and an ST chip silkscreened VN114T, which is likely a high or low-side driver.

The layout density here is textbook tier. Putting Easter egg silkscreens on a tight automotive safety board shows just how confident their hardware team was with space management.

I’m an international student currently studying Electronics and Communications Engineering, and I’m considering pursuing a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in Canada.

My main goal is to find a job in Canada after graduating. I’d like to hear from people who have gone through this process or work in the Canadian engineering industry.

A few questions I have:
How difficult is it to find an Electrical Engineering job after completing a Master’s degree in Canada as an international student?

Do Canadian employers generally hire international graduates?

How long does it typically take to find your first engineering job after graduation?

I’d appreciate any honest advice!
Thanks in advance!

I'm a 5th year electrical engineering student ( control stream) I'm based in Ethiopia and I'm a girl . tbh idk why I'm learning it and idk how to apply it in the real world so I was thinking you guys could give me a very good project ideas that I can develop and sell to get money I don't want my 5 year of life to go to waste

I will take my bachelor's in computer science within the next year. I am thinking about taking a master's degree in Electrical Engineering especially in areas like communication systems and electronics.

Is it possible to apply for such programs ? I do not have any targeted countries or universities right now.

I took math courses (calculus 1-3, linear algebra, probabilityand statistic, discrete math and differential equations) with physics focused on electrostatics and basic electromagnetic force and a course in DC circuits analysis and logic design

Those are the courses I took I think related to electrical engineering.

What are the possible programs for that?

I have a 1-hr interview soon with Arm for the CPU/Systems Hardware Intern position. Has anyone interviewed at Arm for hardware design type roles? What kind of questions can I expect in the technical interview? BTW I am an undergrad.

Hello Fam,

I started my masters in Germany in Electrical engineering this winter semester. One of the core modules I'm taking is RF Design. Right now, I don't know if it's the model of teaching by the prof, or the way the course is structured that is making me nuts.

From the very first class, we started using Cadense AWR which is cool, but the world speed and pace is not manageable for me.

What's your advice and suggestions to get to speed. Also, what resources will help.

The main resource we're using is microwave and RF Design: Michael Steer and RF engineering course by Dr Francesco Fornetti.

📢 Call for Papers | Special Issue on Innovations in Photovoltaic Power Systems

I am pleased to invite researchers, academics, engineers, and industry professionals to contribute their original research to our upcoming Special Issue, “Innovations in Photovoltaic Power Systems: Control, Power Electronics, and Smart Deployment,” published in Electronics (MDPI).

As a Guest Editor, I look forward to bringing together innovative research that advances photovoltaic (PV) technologies and accelerates the transition towards smarter, more efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy systems. ☀️⚡

🔬 Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Advanced control strategies for photovoltaic power systems
- Power electronics, converters, and inverter technologies
- AI and machine learning applications in PV systems
- Advanced digital twins, modeling, simulation, machine learning, and performance optimization
- Generative AI and agentic AI for photovoltaic applications
- Smart grid integration and PV-based microgrids
- Intelligent deployment and operation of solar energy systems
- Intelligent energy storage systems and PV storage integration
- Digital twins and emerging technologies for PV performance enhancement

We welcome original research articles presenting novel methodologies, theoretical advances, experimental validation, and practical solutions that contribute to the next generation of photovoltaic power systems.

📅 Submission Deadline: 15 May 2027

🔗 Learn more about the Special Issue and submit your manuscript:
https://lnkd.in/dSHzZsCu

I warmly encourage researchers and practitioners working in photovoltaic systems, renewable energy, power electronics, intelligent control, and AI-driven energy technologies to share their latest findings with the scientific community.

Please feel free to share this call with colleagues and research networks who may be interested. I look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and fostering meaningful scientific collaboration.

Let's advance the future of photovoltaic innovation together! 🌍☀️

#CallForPapers #Photovoltaics #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #PowerElectronics #ArtificialIntelligence #SmartGrids #EnergyTransition #Research #MDPI #Electronics #SustainableEnergy

Hey all, I’m a first-year CS student working on a small ESP32-S3 project and I’ve hit a wall trying to find the right display. Hoping someone here has run into something similar.

I need a 128x64 graphic LCD, and the look matters a lot. I want the old-school kind of screen, FSTN, positive (dark pixels on a light background), reflective or transflective, and no backlight. Basically the look of a 90s calculator, not a modern display.

The hard part is the size. It has to be under 2.8mm thick, with an active area around 60-65mm wide. The module itself can’t be wider than 74mm, and the enclosure has a curved inside, so I only get about 63-64mm of flat space. It also needs SPI or I2C over an FPC ribbon, not rigid pins. I’m fine with ST7567, UC1701 or similar controllers.

What I’ve already tried or ruled out:

The Sharp Memory LCDs (like the LS027B7DH01). I really liked them, but they’re TFT and 400x240, so no luck.

Standard 12864 modules. Parallel interface, rigid pins, and way too thick.

Anything backlit or white-on-blue.

I can order from DigiKey, Mouser, AliExpress or LCSC, and I’m in India so shipping matters. I’d also be open to a bare glass panel if I have to build the driver board myself.

I’ve been going through Newhaven, Winstar, Orient and Midas catalogs for days, so I’m probably missing something obvious. Does anyone know a part number that fits, or know a good way to filter for this on a supplier site? Datasheet links are very welcome.

Thanks a lot!

As a CS grad, I’ve been in my CAD role for a year-ish. I’m not satisfied tbh… I don’t see myself here long term. I’m wondering if there’s any way I can make it into hardware modeling from CAD? Will it be an uphill battle?

(I have hardware modeling projects)

So Have a few questions. I'm really confused about the scope of it . I've heard mix narrative. Are There jobs and companies actively hiring electronic engineers. As far as ik many have tranisitioned into IT or electrical. What is the salary range for freshers and what does the career ladder of EL eng looks like. can i expect high paying jobs after working for a couple of years?  any advice regarding electronic engieering undergraduate degree

Hi everyone, I’m currently working as a Design Verification Engineer and considering an MEng in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Ottawa. How is the university for VLSI and semiconductor-related careers?

Am looking for take some courses for PE power. Could you please recommend me? PPI2pass . Zach stone or wasim ?

​

Hi! I'm an ECE student graduating in 2027, placed at Anora Instrumentation (₹6 LPA, 3-year bond).it's a semiconductor testing company

Yes, I choose this because previously I couldn't clear the vlsi companies visited, and no other companies lined up

My internship starts in January, and my department (DFT/ATE/Embedded) isn't confirmed.

My goal is to build a career in VLSI.

How is Anora for freshers?

Which department offers the best VLSI career opportunities?

How can I prepare for a future switch to big VLSI firms?

Is the bond reasonable?

Can I perform well in life joining this company

What are the things I should do while working here

Would appreciate honest feedback

For context, I am a second year electrical engineering student and I don’t really know what career path I want to get into, everything just seems so interesting and it’s making focusing on having a good project for my resume. I am also part of the power and energy team for my schools rover team (TASC for those interested) as a general member. I’m really just looking for some future career advice and how to “sell” myself as an EE for the best chance at an internship/CO-OP

Hi everyone,

I'm currently pursuing my BSc in Electrical Engineering at Khalifa University (KU) in the UAE, and I'm planning to pursue a PhD abroad or potentially here, ideally at a strong research university. I'm particularly looking for recommendations for specific universities, PhD programs, research groups, or professors that might be a good fit for my background and research interests.

By the time I graduate, I'm hoping to have a profile roughly along these lines:

• GPA: Around 3.8/4.0
• Research: Hopefully 1–2 Q1 journal publications and potentially some patents
• Leadership: Electrical Team Lead of my university's Formula Student team
• Degree: BSc in Electrical Engineering from Khalifa University, UAE

I'm interested in chip design. I'm still exploring these areas, so I don't have a narrowly defined research topic yet. Ideally, I'd like to join a program where I can take advanced courses, explore different research directions, and eventually specialize under a professor working on something genuinely novel. My main questions are:

1. University/program recommendations: Given my expected profile and research interests, which universities or specific EE/ECE PhD programs would you recommend looking into? I'm interested in ambitious options, but also realistic ones where my background could make me a competitive applicant.
2. Specific professors/research groups: Does anyone know professors or labs working on chip design that would be worth researching?
3. Direct PhD vs. Master's: Would applying directly to a PhD make sense for my situation, or would a research-based Master's at a strong university significantly improve my opportunities?
4. Flexibility before choosing an advisor: I've heard that one advantage of doing a Master's first is being able to take graduate courses and explore different research areas before committing to a professor. Are there direct PhD programs that offer similar flexibility through coursework, lab rotations, or delayed advisor selection?
5. International applicants: Are there particular universities or programs that are more open to admitting strong international students directly from a BSc, without requiring a Master's?

I'm aware that PhD admissions depend heavily on research fit, recommendation letters, and previous research experience, rather than GPA or publication counts alone. I'm not necessarily looking for the highest-ranked university. If anyone has suggestions for specific universities, programs, labs, or professors, or has taken a similar path from a BSc directly into a PhD, I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks!