Electronics technicians specializing in machinery and drive technology ensure that everything runs smoothly. This primarily includes generators, transformers, and, of course, electric motors. Everything related to electronic machinery used for the generation and conversion of electricity falls within the scope of work for electronics technicians specializing in machinery and drive technology. This also includes installing and configuring switchgear, control cabinets, and control devices to ensure that the various devices they control are ready for operation.
What are the requirements and training topics for electricians?
The training takes 3.5 years . To be eligible, you must have a Hauptschule diploma, a Realschule diploma, an Abitur, or a Fachabitur. During the apprenticeship, you will be prepared for the demands of professional life.
This includes, above all:
- The organization of the training company, vocational training, and applicable labor and collective bargaining laws
- Communication in the workplace, so you can truly contribute to a company
- Planning and organizing your work so that you can properly plan your tasks—whether working on your own or as part of a team—and work in harmony with your team
- Evaluating your work so you can determine whether you've achieved the goal you set for yourself or whether you might need to make some adjustments
- The assembly and connection of electrical equipment so that you can install electrical systems
- Measuring and analyzing electrical functions and systems so that you can inspect existing equipment, identify malfunctions, and troubleshoot them
- Inspecting the safety of electrical systems so that you can ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations
- Advising and supporting customers, which helps you communicate with them, identify their project requirements, and work with them to implement the project
- Providing services so that you are prepared for the various needs of customers and know how to handle each situation
- Developing solutions and analyzing projects with regard to the technical requirements that need to be addressed
- Installing and configuring IT systems so that you can work with control software and are able to set it up for customers
- The installation and removal of various electrical systems and components
- The Manufacture of Windings and Connections
- The installation and subsequent commissioning of systems, including drive systems
- Maintenance of Various Drive Systems
- Quality Management
The apprenticeship usually begins either on August 1 or September 1. However, there are exceptions to this, which depend primarily on the specific training company. The first part of the final exam is taken before the end of the second year of the apprenticeship. The second part is then taken at the end of the entire apprenticeship.
| Phase | Contents | Completion / Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–2nd year of apprenticeship | Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Assembly, Measurement Technology, Operations Management | Part 1 of the final exam |
| 3rd–3.5th year of apprenticeship | Drive Systems, Commissioning, Maintenance, Quality Management, IT Systems | Part 2 of the final exam (journeyman's certificate) |
What are the duties of an electronics technician specializing in machinery and drive technology?
After completing your training, you’ll be responsible for installing parts for electrical and electronic machines, commissioning them, and inspecting them. This also means that you’ll manufacture components and use them, for example, to replace a burned-out motor winding or a defective bearing. In other words, the inner workings of machines that run on electricity—that’s your area of expertise.
You will also install and connect electrical machines. You will check to ensure they are functioning properly and that the control systems are operating correctly. To do this, you will apply your technical expertise and, above all, exercise great care. You will also be responsible for installing and commissioning electrical drive systems.
It helps if you have certain key qualities that will enable you to handle the various tasks. These include working carefully and being able to speak English well. The latter is important because many documents are prepared in English and because you’ll often have to travel, including for installation work abroad.
Typical tasks in everyday work life
- Installation, Commissioning, and Inspection of Electrical and Electronic Machine Components
- Manufacturing of components (e.g., motor windings, bearings) and replacement of defective parts
- Installation and connection of electrical machines, as well as inspection of control systems
- Installation and Commissioning of Electric Drive Systems
- Fault Diagnosis and Troubleshooting for Existing Systems
- Maintenance and Servicing of Drive Systems
- On-site Customer Consultation and Support
- Documentation of Work and Quality Assurance
Typical Applications
An electronics technician specializing in machine and drive technology works wherever electrical machines and drive systems are built, maintained, or repaired. Typical workplaces include:
- Industrial Machinery Manufacturers
- Drivetrain Technology Companies
- Service and Repair Shops
- Energy utilities
- Hydroelectric power plants, wind turbines, or Industrial facilities
- Shipbuilding and railway technology
- Installation and Service Provider
How much does an electronics technician specializing in machinery and drive technology earn?
Salary depends on professional experience, region, industry, and company size. The following guidelines apply to Germany:
| Career Level | Qualification | Typical Gross Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Apprentice | 750–1,050 € |
| Entry-level workers (journeymen) | Journeyman's Certificate | 2,400–3,000 € |
| Experienced Professional | several years of professional experience | 3,000–3,800 € |
| Master Craftsman / Technician | Master Craftsman Certificate / Certified Technician | 3,800 – 5,200 € |
In industries facing a severe shortage of skilled workers—such as energy supply, wind power, or shipbuilding—salaries are often significantly higher than those set by collective bargaining agreements. Assignments abroad come with additional allowances.
What career and continuing education opportunities are available?
After completing your training, there are several career and continuing education opportunities available to you. It starts with deciding whether to pursue specialized continuing education in your field or business administration courses.
1. Master Craftsman's Certificate and Self-Employment
If you want more personal responsibility and are perhaps considering becoming self-employed, then the master craftsman’s certificate is the path for you. With it, you can open your own business, manage an existing business, or train apprentices. The master craftsman’s certificate also opens the door to college without a high school diploma—subject to the relevant admission requirements.
2. Building Energy Consultant
If, on the other hand, you’d like to work more closely with clients and, above all, be active in environmental protection, then consider pursuing further training to become a building energy consultant. This will enable you to advise homeowners on how to make their buildings as climate-friendly as possible—a field of the future with growing demand.
3. Master of Event Technology
You can also earn a master's degree in event technology. With this degree, you'll be responsible for the technical implementation of event concepts—including stage lighting, sound engineering, rigging, and safety aspects of large events.
4. Business Administration and Management
If, on the other hand, you want to move into management, pursue a degree in business administration and become part of the company’s leadership team. With a technical background and business management expertise, you’ll be well-positioned for many leadership roles in mechanical engineering and drive technology.
5. College
If you have a master craftsman's certificate or a (specialized) high school diploma, the following degree programs are also available:
- Electrical Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Automation Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Energy Technology and Renewable Energy
Why does this profession have a bright future?
The role of electronics technician for machine and drive technology is a profession that benefits from several megatrends at once. The energy transition is driving the expansion of renewable energy—wind power, photovoltaics, and hydropower all require experienced specialists for installation and maintenance. Electric mobility is creating massive new demand for drive systems, charging infrastructure, and maintenance personnel. Industrial automation requires increasingly powerful electric drives and control systems—and thus specialists who are proficient in them.
At the same time, demographic change is exacerbating the shortage of skilled workers in this field. Well-trained electronics technicians specializing in machine and drive technology therefore have excellent job prospects and can often choose their own employers—both domestically and internationally.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Electronics Technician for Machine and Drive Technology
He installs, inspects, and maintains electrical machines and drive systems—including generators, transformers, electric motors, control panels, and control devices. He manufactures components, replaces defective parts (e.g., motor windings, bearings), commissions systems, and troubleshoots malfunctions. He advises customers and documents his work. Installations abroad are often part of his daily work routine.
Formally, a Hauptschule diploma, Realschule diploma, Abitur, or Fachabitur is required. In practice, most trainees have a Realschule diploma or Abitur, since the training curriculum—particularly in electrical engineering, mathematics, and IT—requires a solid academic foundation. More important than the type of school attended are an interest in technology, attention to detail, and a willingness to continue learning.
The training program lasts 3.5 years and is conducted on a dual-track basis—the practical component takes place at the training company, and the theoretical component at the vocational school. Part 1 of the final exam is taken before the end of the second year of training. Part 2 (journeyman’s exam) takes place at the end of the entire training program. If performance is excellent, the training program can be shortened to 3 years.
The main areas of application are: mechanical engineering companies, drive technology firms, energy utilities (wind power, hydroelectric power), industrial plants, shipbuilding and rail technology, as well as service and repair shops. The energy transition and electromobility are creating additional areas of growth—such as charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
The main paths are: Master Craftsman Certificate (self-employment, business management, qualification to train apprentices), Building Energy Consultant (climate-friendly building technology, energy consulting), Master Craftsman in Event Technology, Business Administration (Management), or a degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Technology, Mechanical Engineering, or Energy Engineering—the Master Craftsman’s Certificate can be obtained even without a high school diploma.
Much technical documentation, circuit diagrams, and user manuals are written in English. In addition, working on installation projects abroad—for international mechanical engineering companies, in shipbuilding, or on global plant projects—is often part of everyday professional life. Those who speak English well open up significantly more career opportunities and are much more attractive to employers.