Electronic systems principal engineer

This apprenticeship has been retired

This apprenticeship has been retired. Although this apprenticeship has been retired, the occupation remains on the Occupational Map for potential use as the basis of another technical education product.

Overview of the role

Leading on complex Electronic Systems projects from conception through the whole design-implement-operation life cycle to obsolescence.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the Electronic Systems sector. Electronic Systems are found in all parts of the economy: consumer electronics, automotive, defence, healthcare/medicine, digital/media/communications, robotics, Artificial Intelligence and the manufacturing industries.

The broad purpose of the occupation is technical engineering leadership of complex Electronic Systems projects from conception through the whole design-implement-operation life cycle to obsolescence. They initiate and lead technical change, deliver innovative solutions, direct resources, manage teams and mentor junior colleagues in all areas related to Electronic System projects.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of both internal and external stakeholders. Internally these would include members of inter-disciplinary project teams, engineers from other disciplines, general managers and the senior leadership of their organisation. Externally they would include customers, suppliers, academia, certification organisations, professional bodies, trade associations and regulatory authorities. Typically, they work in an office environment but they could also work in a manufacturing or test facility and at customer sites.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for making important engineering decisions relating to Electronics Systems, mitigating technical risk and controlling engineering resources. The Electronic Systems Principal Engineer operates with considerable autonomy, as an acknowledged expert and will most likely have experience across all project lifecycle phases. They are fully accountable to senior executives, depending upon the size of the organisation, for schedule, budget and personnel management aspects of significant projects and for managing trade-offs between technical and other factors. They are responsible for ensuring complex technical solutions are robust, innovative and in line with customer expectations. They may hold formal delegated authority for engineering decisions within their organisation. They are concerned with the development of other engineering and technical staff involved with Electronic Systems.

Entry requirements

The Standard is designed for post-graduate engineers. Typically, the minimum academic entry qualification required will be a Bachelor's degree (BEng or BSc) at 2:2 Hons standard in Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent. Employers will set their own entry requirements in terms of experience.

Occupation duties

Duty	Criteria for measuring performance	KSBs
Duty 1 Use scientific methodology to apply understanding and knowledge in order to deliver Electronic Systems projects that meet customer requirements	Quality of projects to time and cost constraints	K1 K2 K3 S1 S2 S3 B2 B3
Duty 2 Keep abreast of advances in technology, developments in the Electronics sector and new regulatory and compliance requirements	Solutions reflect technological advances and are compliant with regulations	K1 K3 K4 K5 S1 S3 B1 B3
Duty 3 Translate customer aims and objectives into requirements, clear specifications and Electronic Systems design solutions	Technical solutions meet specifications and are to customer satisfaction	K2 K5 K6 S1 S2 S3 S5 B2
Duty 4 Undertake critical evaluation and creatively produce innovative engineering solutions for Electronic Systems	Quality of technical solutions to time and cost constraints Solutions reflect technological advances and are compliant with regulations	K1 K2 K3 S1 S2 S3 S5 B1 B3 B6
Duty 5 Participate in technical “what if” scenario discussions and use systems thinking to make engineering decisions within own sphere of responsibility for Electronic Systems and delegated authority	Outcome of technical discussions produce effective solutions	K1 K2 K4 S1 S2 S5 B2 B4
Duty 6 Chair technical meetings including design reviews for Electronic Systems	Meetings and design reviews achieve objectives	K1 K2 K4 S1 S2 S5 B2 B4
Duty 7 Identify, analyse and understand technical risks in order to mitigate them and to ensure positive risk outcomes for all stakeholders	Risks are managed appropriately and in line with company policy	K4 K5 K6 S1 S3 B2 B6
Duty 8 Provide technical leadership and manage their team to ensure Electronic Systems work is undertaken safely, sustainably and ethically	Successful delivery of team objectives	K5 K6 S4 S5 S6 S7 S8 B2 B4 B5 B6
Duty 9 Plan tasks and manage resources effectively to ensure that engineering activities and Electronic Systems projects are completed efficiently and, as far as possible, within budget and schedule	Activities delivered in line with agreed time/cost/performance parameters	K3 K5 S4 S5 S7 B1 B4 B6
Duty 10 Actively contribute to a culture of best practice knowledge sharing and exploitation in order to develop longer-term capability and expertise within the Electronic Systems function and across the wider engineering discipline	Quality of and quantity of ideas and proposals for improvements	K1 K3 K5 S3 S6 B3 B4 B6
Duty 11 Act as a role model and undertake continuing professional development	Evidence of self-development though CPD and other learning activities	K4 K6 S6 S7 S9 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6
Duty 12 Provide technical and behavioural guidance to mentor and develop less experienced engineering colleagues	Successful development of individual and team capability and performance	K1 K4 K5 S7 S8 B4 B5

KSBs

Knowledge

K1: Advanced concepts in specialist areas of Electronic Engineering such as Digital Signal Processing, Embedded Systems, Microelectronics, Real Time Computing, Analogue Electronics, Nano Technologies, Control Systems, Photonic Technologies, Radio Frequency and Wireless Communications Back to Duty

K2: How to apply theoretic understanding to analyse complex problems in both existing and emerging Electronic technologies to deliver innovative engineering solutions Back to Duty

K3: State of the art techniques, tools and methodologies used in the design, realisation, verification and testing of Electronic Systems Back to Duty

K4: Regulatory and compliance frameworks, international standards, codes of practice and protocols relevant to Electronic Systems Back to Duty

K5: Wider socio-economic factors, organisational context and wider business environment. Back to Duty

K6: Legal and commercial aspects relating to Electronic Systems, for instance Intellectual Property and patents Back to Duty

Skills

S1: Evaluate complex technical information relating to Electronics to draw rational conclusions and to make informed engineering decisions Back to Duty

S2: Apply systems thinking and methodology to problem solving in Electronics Back to Duty

S3: Assess impact of external changes and technological developments in Electronics Back to Duty

S4: Organise and plan engineering projects and tasks within agreed constraints and quality standards Back to Duty

S5: Manage budgets and control technical resources Back to Duty

S6: Communicate effectively and professionally with all levels Back to Duty

S7: Develop and maintain effective working relationships and is able to interact and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders Back to Duty

S8: Lead teams and manage staff Back to Duty

S9: Apply effective time management techniques and be able to multi-task whilst meeting deadlines Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: Self-motivated and is able to work independently Back to Duty

B2: Able to take responsibility for their actions, demonstrates resilience and acts with integrity Back to Duty

B3: Be a reflective engineering practitioner, who is committed to their own personal learning and professional development Back to Duty

B4: Works collaboratively; an enabler who willingly shares knowledge and experience Back to Duty

B5: Promotes diversity, inclusion and equality Back to Duty

B6: Complies with relevant Codes of Conduct and exercises responsibilities in a safe, sustainable and ethical manner Back to Duty

Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Professional recognition

This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:

Engineering Council and the IET for Chartered Engineer level

Additional details

Occupational Level:

Duration (months):

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

End-point assessment (EPA plan)

Rigorous robust and independent assessment undertaken by an apprentice at the end of training to test that the apprentice can perform in the occupation they have been trained in and can demonstrate the duties, and knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) set out in the occupational standard

End-point assessment organisation (EPAO)

An organisation approved to deliver end-point assessment for a particular apprenticeship standard. EPAOs must be on the register of end-point assessment organisations

Holistic or synoptic

Assessment of an apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours in an integrated way i.e. assessing several KSBs at the same time

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB)

What is needed to competently undertake the duties required for an occupational standard

Valid

Referred to in relation to assessment methods; fit for purpose

Change request policy

Most changes to an apprenticeship are made as a result of a holistic review of it. We prioritise the need for such reviews based on a range of factors. These include:

the time since the apprenticeship was developed or last reviewed (taking account of its typical duration)
the existence of any known problems with it (e.g. lower than expected starts, low achievement rate, high withdrawal rate, any issues with the availability of training or end-point assessment provision)
whether the apprenticeship is currently subject to a dispensation
the relative significance of the apprenticeship based on how many users it has

The availability of an employer group to support a review and its potential impact on any related technical education product also inform the timing of a review.

Details of apprenticeships that are currently being revised or adjusted are available in our revisions and adjustments status report.

Status: Retired

Level: 7

Degree: non-degree qualification

Reference: ST0681

Version: 1.0

Date updated: 13/12/2023

Route: Engineering and manufacturing

Typical duration to gateway: 36 months (this does not include EPA period)

Maximum funding: £14000

LARS Code: 475

EQA Provider: Ofqual is the intended EQA provider

Electronic systems principal engineer assessment plan (v1.0 retired)

File size: 610.7 KB

Employers involved in creating the standard: GE Aviation (Chair), ARM, Cadence, Dialog Semiconductors, EDA Solutions (SME), Embecosm (SME), IXYS, Leonardo, Renishaw, Rolls-Royce, Qualcomm.

Print the occupational standard (including PDF)

Version log

Version	Change detail	Earliest start date	Latest start date
1.0	Retired	03/07/2019	13/12/2023

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