telecommunications engineer
Key facts
Shape the future of communication! As a telecommunications engineer, you'll be at the forefront of designing, building, and maintaining the networks that connect the world.
Telecommunications engineers are vital in ensuring seamless communication across various platforms. Your work involves a blend of technical expertise and problem-solving, from understanding client needs to ensuring equipment adheres to regulations. You'll be involved in every stage of a project, from initial design and installation to ongoing maintenance and staff training. This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy a combination of analytical work and practical implementation.
- • Analyzing customer requirements and translating them into effective telecommunication solutions.
- • Designing and overseeing the installation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and networks, including radio and broadcasting equipment.
- • Ensuring equipment complies with relevant regulations and industry standards.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Science and engineering professionals — 274 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg and 4 more.
Longest-running shortage: Bulgaria, 2 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Could telecommunications engineer fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
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Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Future Outlook for telecommunications engineer
The outlook for telecommunications engineer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could telecommunications engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could telecommunications engineer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- provide ICT system training
- support ICT system users
- define technical requirements
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- implement a virtual private network
- adjust ICT system capacity
- analyse network bandwidth requirements
Tasks most exposed to automation
- log transmitter readings
- estimate costs of installing telecommunication devices
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a telecommunications engineer
09 09:00 · Morning design computer network
10 10:30 · Mid-morning adjust ICT system capacity
12 12:00 · Midday analyse network bandwidth requirements
14 14:00 · Afternoon estimate costs of installing telecommunication devices
15 15:30 · Late afternoon implement a virtual private network
17 17:00 · Wrap-up interact with users to gather requirements
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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electronics principles
The study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.
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ICT communications protocols
The system of rules which allow the exchange of information between computers or other devices via computer networks.
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ICT network routing
The processes and techniques for choosing the best paths within an ICT network through which a packet can travel.
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ICT network security risks
The security risk factors, such as hardware and software components, devices, interfaces and policies in ICT networks, risk assessment techniques that can be applied to assess the severity and the consequences of security threats and contingency plans for each security risk factor.
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ICT system user requirements
The process intended to match user and organisation's needs with system components and services, by taking into consideration the available technologies and the techniques required to elicit and specify requirements, interrogating users to establish symptoms of problem and analysing symptoms.
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microwave principles
The technologies used in transmission of information or energy via electromagnetic waves between 1000 and 100,000 MHz.
- quality assurance methodologies
- systems development life-cycle
- telecommunication industry
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provide ICT system training
Plan and conduct training of staff on system and network issues. Utilise training material, evaluate and report on the learning progress of trainees.
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support ICT system users
Communicate with end users, instruct them on how to progress with tasks, use ICT support tools and methods to solve problems and identify possible side effects and provide solutions.
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implement a virtual private network
Create an encrypted connection between private networks, such as different local networks of a company, over the internet to ensure that only authorized users can access it and that the data cannot be intercepted.
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use session border controller
Manage calls during a given voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) session and ensure security and quality of service by operating a session border controller (SBC).
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adjust ICT system capacity
Change the scope of an ICT system by adding or reallocating additional ICT system components, such as network components, servers or storage to meet capacity or volume demands.
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analyse network bandwidth requirements
Study the requirements on the transmission capacity of an ICT network or other telecommunication system.
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use a complex communication system
Install and operate complex communication systems.
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design computer network
Develop and plan ICT networks, such as wide area network and local area network, that connect computers using cable or wireless connections and allow them to exchange data and assess their capacity requirements.
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design process
Identify the workflow and resource requirements for a particular process, using a variety of tools such as process simulation software, flowcharting and scale models.
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log transmitter readings
Log transmitter observations such as calibrations of remote control equipment, equipment performance measurements, antenna field strength measurements, and other readings.
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estimate costs of installing telecommunication devices
Estimate the total installation costs of telecommunication devices such as modems, routers, analogue switches, optical fibre, and landline phones.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does telecommunications engineer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of projects might a telecommunications engineer work on?
- Projects can vary widely, from designing a new mobile network for a city to optimizing the performance of an existing satellite communication system, or even implementing new broadcasting equipment for a media company.
- What skills are particularly important for success in this role?
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are crucial, alongside a solid understanding of telecommunications technologies. The ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences is also essential. Attention to detail and a commitment to ensuring regulatory compliance are key.
- What is the typical career path for a telecommunications engineer?
- Starting as an associate professional (Career Band 3), you'll likely gain experience across different aspects of telecommunications. Progression may involve specializing in a particular area like network security or wireless communications, or moving into project management or engineering leadership roles.
- Telecommunications Engineer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 8 of the 12 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Italy, Luxembourg and 4 more. Bulgaria has reported one for 2 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Telecommunications Engineer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $130,390 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $78,200 to $168,070. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Telecommunications Engineer — is it a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 6 European countries: Portugal, Italy, Spain, Poland and 2 more. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 6. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.