Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Electronics Engineer
Electronic circuits and devices
What this life looks like
You design the circuits and devices that make modern electronics work. Electronics Engineers create the hardware that powers smartphones, medical devices, communication systems, satellite equipment, and industrial automation. In a world where everything from farming to healthcare is becoming electronic, this expertise is in constant demand.
What she actually does
You design electronic circuits using computer-aided design (CAD) tools, select and specify electronic components, build and test prototypes, troubleshoot circuit faults, develop embedded software for electronic devices, design printed circuit boards (PCBs), and work on the integration of electronics into systems ranging from consumer products to industrial machinery.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Telecoms Companies | MTN, Airtel, Safaricom, Huawei Africa — network equipment installation and maintenance |
| Electronics Manufacturing | Foxconn Ethiopia, DEL Computers Nigeria, Samsung South Africa — assembly and QA |
| Medical & Solar Tech | Off-grid solar companies (Fenix, Azuri), medical device companies — electronics design |
| Research & Defence | Denel (South Africa), CSIR electronics research, national research foundations |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa's growing electronics manufacturing sector — particularly in Ethiopia, Morocco, and South Africa — needs electronics engineers. Telecoms expansion requires electronics expertise for network equipment. Medical electronics, solar energy systems, and smart agriculture technologies are all creating demand for engineers who design and maintain electronic systems.
Your pathway in
- Study Mathematics, Physics, and any computing subjects at school
- Study Electrical Engineering with electronics specialisation, or Electronic Engineering, at university
- Learn circuit design tools such as KiCad (free) or Altium Designer
- Develop embedded systems programming skills (Arduino and Raspberry Pi are excellent starting points)
- Build electronics projects — starting with simple circuits and progressing to more complex designs
Skills you will need
- Circuit design and analysis
- PCB design
- Embedded systems programming
- Electronic test equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter)
- Signal processing basics
- Technical problem-solving
A woman in this field
Tyseer Aboulnasr
Egypt
Tyseer is an Egyptian electrical engineer who received her bachelor's degree from Cairo University and her PhD from Queen's University in Canada. She served as Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of British Columbia and later Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Ottawa — one of the most senior engineering leadership positions held by an African-born woman globally. Her career demonstrates the global impact of African electrical engineering talent.
Take your first step
- Study Physics and Mathematics at school with special attention to electricity, circuits, and magnetism
- Buy or borrow an Arduino starter kit and build your first electronic circuit
- Research electronics engineering programmes at universities in your country
- Follow African electronics maker communities online to see what African electronics engineers are building