Electronics Engineer: Salary and Responsibilities in 2026

The electronics engineer designs, develops, tests, and improves the electronic systems and components at the heart of many products: connected devices, medical devices, automotive, aerospace, and industrial systems.
It's a job at the intersection of hardware, embedded software, and applied physics.

Job profile last updated on 09/06/2026.

What is the role of the electronics engineer?

The electronics engineer turns a functional need into a concrete technical solution.
They are involved at every stage of design: from electrical schematic to product industrialization.
Their goal: guarantee the reliability, performance, and compliance of the electronic system.

Their main missions include:

• Designing printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic schematics.
• Selecting the appropriate hardware components (sensors, microcontrollers, converters, etc.).
• Building prototypes and ensuring technical validation.
• Collaborating with mechanical, software, and industrialization teams.
• Managing testing, certification, and ramp-up to production.

Why do companies need this role?

In an increasingly connected world, products embed electronics everywhere - from drones to smart meters.
The electronics engineer is therefore a key player in industrial innovation, ensuring product quality and safety.

They are essential for:

• Innovation (R&D, prototyping, integrating new technologies).
• Cost reduction and product reliability.
• Compliance with standards (CE, ISO, electrical safety, EMC, etc.).

What skills are needed for an electronics engineer?

Technical skills:

• Designing electronic circuits (analog and digital).
• Electronic CAD tools (Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence, Mentor Graphics, etc.).
• Low-level programming (C, C++, VHDL, Verilog).
• Knowledge of electromagnetism, signals, data processing.
• Hardware/software integration, testing, and validation.

Soft skills:

• Rigor and precision.
• Analytical mindset and technical curiosity.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (mechanical, software, quality).
• Problem-solving mindset.

What training is needed to become an electronics engineer?

• Engineering schools specialized in electronics, embedded systems, telecommunications, or electrical engineering (e.g., INSA, Polytech, Centrale, ENSIM, ENSEA, etc.).
• University Master's in electronics, applied physics, or systems engineering.

What is the salary of an electronics engineer?

• Junior (0–3 years): 38–45K€
• Mid-level (3–6 years): 45–55K€
• Senior / Expert (7+ years): 55–70K€ (and beyond, depending on the sector - space, defense, medtech, etc.)

What career paths are possible?

The electronics engineer can grow into roles such as:

• Lead Hardware Engineer
• R&D / Industrialization Manager
• Electronics Project Manager
• Embedded Systems Engineer
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

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FAQ about the Electronics Engineer role

What does an electronics engineer design and build?

An electronics engineer designs the circuits and electronic systems at the heart of everyday products: circuit boards (PCBs), microcontrollers, sensors, power converters, medical devices, automotive and aerospace equipment, connected objects, and communication systems. They work on both analogue electronics (signal processing, power supply) and digital electronics (programmable logic, interfaces), in close collaboration with embedded software, mechanical, and industrialisation teams.

What is the salary of an electronics engineer in France in 2026?

A junior electronics engineer (0–3 years) earns between €38,000 and €45,000 gross per year. A mid-level profile (3–6 years) reaches €45,000 to €55,000. A senior or expert (7+ years) exceeds €55,000 to €70,000, with higher packages in aerospace, defence, or medtech sectors (sometimes €80,000+). Skills in high-frequency analogue design, RF, or critical embedded systems (DO-254, IEC 62443) are particularly well compensated.

What CAD tools does an electronics engineer use?

Essential software: Altium Designer (industry reference for PCB design), KiCad (open-source, widely used in startups and SMEs), Cadence Allegro (large groups, complex high-frequency designs), Mentor Graphics / Xpedition (automotive, aerospace). For simulation: LTspice or PSpice (analogue SPICE simulations), MATLAB/Simulink (embedded systems, modelling). For FPGAs: Vivado (Xilinx/AMD) or Quartus (Intel). VHDL or Verilog proficiency is a significant plus.

What is the difference between an electronics engineer and an embedded systems engineer?

An electronics engineer focuses on the hardware side: circuit design (schematic + PCB layout), component selection, electrical testing, prototyping, and board bring-up. An embedded systems engineer works more on the low-level software layer: firmware, drivers, RTOS, communication protocols. In practice, many projects require a hybrid skill set — especially for hardware/software integration (board bring-up, combined electronics + firmware debugging).

What standards and certifications must an electronics engineer know?

Key standards by sector: CE / EMC Directive and LVD (low voltage) for any product placed on the European market, IEC 60601 (medical devices), DO-254 (critical aerospace hardware), ISO 26262 (automotive functional safety, ASIL), IEC 61508 (industrial systems functional safety, SIL), IEC 62443 (cybersecurity for industrial systems). Component qualification (MIL-SPEC, qualified COTS) is also a key domain for defence and space applications.

Which sectors hire the most electronics engineers in 2026?

The most active sectors: aerospace and defence (Airbus, Thales, Safran, Dassault, ArianeGroup), medtech (implantable medical devices, diagnostics), automotive (embedded electronics, ADAS, electric vehicles), energy (power electronics, smart grid, converters), telecommunications (5G, antennas, RF), and deeptech startups (drones, robots, industrial IoT). Demand is sustained by the energy transition, technological sovereignty, and the rise of electric vehicles.

What training is needed to become an electronics engineer?

Most common paths: engineering school specialising in electronics, electrical engineering, embedded systems, or telecommunications (INSA, Polytech, Centrale, ENSEA, ENSIM, ESISAR, ENSEIRB-MATMECA). A university Master's in electronics, applied physics, or systems engineering is also recognised. Practical projects and internships (PCB design, participation in robotics/drone competitions) are highly valued during recruitment. Additional certifications in RF, FPGA, or EMC can differentiate a senior profile.

What career paths can an electronics engineer evolve toward?

Most common evolutions: Lead Hardware Engineer (technical lead of an electronics team), R&D Manager or Chief Technology Officer in an SME or startup, Electronics Project Manager (project management with a strong technical dimension), Hardware Architect (defining system architectures at hardware level). Some specialise in power electronics, RF/microwave, or critical embedded systems to access highly sought-after expert roles in aerospace or defence.