EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Skills required of a med. electronics enginee

Looking at it now KM thanks!

Check out some of the larger companies as well. I know GE Healthcare have taken on some post graduates, I have met some of them.

Also some of the BioMed companies that have been mentioned. In our company (not one of those mentioned) I have had 4 post graduates that wouldn't know a screwdriver if it jumped up and bit them, I have trained them and two are still with us, one is now a senior engineer and another is now a team leader, the other two left to join the NHS, from memory both on a band 6.

We had one post graduate who was a motor mechanic so he knew how to use tools, so it didn't take much to train him in the Bio Med side of things, he also is working in the NHS now.

So good luck, you have the advantage that decent Bio-Med engineers are as rare as hens teeth.

As I may have remarked before, almost all of the best biomeds I have ever come across were "ex" something else.

In my opinion (and experience) a tech is bound to be more "rounded", knowledgeable and indeed useful if he comes into the "trade" after a number of years doing something else.

Back in my day (that is, Ye Olde Days) even the army recognised this; you couldn't even be considered for the biomed course (and, hopefully, subsequent "career path") unless and until you had proved yourself capable (not to mention suitable) whilst working in another field (literally, in most cases)!

Fotios - To be honest I agree with most of which has already been said but I would like to strongly add that even the best of 'Engineers' needs to be IT literate.

Those that tend to have more to offer than just engineering in my humble opinion are those that innovate through the use of either:

'process re-engineering' i.e thinking on how to do something differently to be more efficient and being able to document/share it with others

'IT innovations' Can you save time or increase productivity by CREATING software, macros, or templates. Can you use excel fluently to export data.

My ideal engineer is someone who has a strong electronics background coupled with experience, IT literacy, innovation and a drive for change.

In every department you need a good mix of people:
- Specialist technical (generally good with the complex stuff)
- General technical (great for productivity)
- IT savvy & technical (great for development)

Without all those parts you wont have a rounded department.

But what about if your department contained techs who each combined all those attributes, Joe?

Then you would have the A-Team!

Anyway, you forgot to mention my Old Chestnuts:-

1) General enthusiasm
2) Thirst for knowledge
3) Willingness to share (knowledge and skills)
4) Willingness to (actually do the) work!

I agree Geoff, combine them all! I cant always hope for that but am pleasantly surprised when it is the case.