In the coming months, we’ll be spotlighting each of the programs housed within the brand-new Center for Integrated Manufacturing. Check out our June blog on Automation & Engineering Technology.
If you’ve been paying attention to the Colorado job market, you know already that the manufacturing industry is booming in Colorado. In fact, more than 5,000 new jobs are expected in manufacturing by 2026. The average wage is $68,000 here in Colorado.
FRCC has a finger on the pulse of the job market, rolling out several new programs in the last few years and boasting an impressive 80 percent job placement rate among graduates of our manufacturing programs.
Let’s take a closer look at one such program: FRCC’s brand-new Electronics Engineering Technology program.
Degree or Certificate?
FRCC offers two programs in this field of study:
- A two-year Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Engineering Technology
- Three progressive shorter-term certificates:
Whether you want a deep dive into electronic devices and equipment, and how to troubleshoot and interact with such systems in high-tech industries—or you want an overview of fundamentals like industrial wiring, motors and control, and digital systems—FRCC has a program for you.
What Are the Jobs Like?
“Technician” is the common job title you’ll hear, or possibly…
- Electronics technician
- Engineering technician
- Installation technician
- Test Technician
In this hands-on role, you’ll assemble, fabricate, and test hardware for whatever industry you’re in. In aerospace, for example, that might include tactical platforms like missiles and aircraft. In aviation, you might work with avionics systems including navigation, autopilot, flight director and pulse equipment.
Whatever your company’s focus, some of your duties might include reading complex schematics and assembly layout drawings, and fabricating and assembling electronics-mechanical devices and components. You might be asked to pass in-house certifications later on and might work with the company’s engineering and other teams.
Getting a certificate would give you relevant skills to solidify your knowledge base. So, if you’re someone who has worked in the field a little—and you want to give your résumé a boost—one of our three certificates could make you more marketable in roles that require you to assemble and program electronic devices. Certificates are a great way to “dabble” in the field too. The three certificates are “stackable,” so you could earn one, or all three in succession.
Applicable to Any High-Tech Manufacturing Environment
In Colorado, many industries need electronics engineering technicians—such as:
- Aerospace
- Medical equipment
- Defense
- Energy
- Quality instruments
- Food and brewing
- Commercial products
FRCC’s degree and certificate programs aim to prepare graduates for all industries.
Where Could my Electronics Engineering Technology Education Lead Me?
Earning an A.A.S. degree and gaining experience could set you up to move into an engineering role down the road.
In fact, many companies consider technicians who go back to college for bachelor’s degrees excellent manufacturing engineers because of their deep understanding of the hands-on principles of fabricating and testing equipment. In other words, a degree or certificate at FRCC could be just the beginning. There are many opportunities around Colorado for qualified technicians who are knowledgeable about modern manufacturing technology.
Learn More
There’s no question: Demand is high for manufacturing technicians. Manufacturers employ 5.5 percent of our state’s workforce and account for 93 percent of our exports. Industrial maintenance, electronics technology, and engineering technology positions are predicted to grow faster than any other manufacturing-related occupational categories in Colorado.
Learn more about FRCC’s programs in Electronics Engineering Technology and start planning your future in this growing field.
