What Jobs Can IITM BS Electronic Systems Lead To?
By Editorial TeamLast reviewed
5 min readElectronic SystemsOn this page
IIT Madras names four roles that the Electronic Systems (ES) programme may lead to: Electronic System Designer, Embedded System Developer, Electronic Hardware Specialist and System Testing Engineer. It mentions industries such as automotive, semiconductors and defence. These are possible directions, not results. IIT Madras has not published any placement or salary data for ES students, so treat any ES salary figure you see online with care.
Roles and industries IIT Madras lists
The ES FAQ gives the four roles above as "some of the major career options". The ES website adds that the skills apply in automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, mobile, medical and defence industries.
The table below is our own reading of which ES courses match each role by name. IIT Madras does not publish this mapping.
| Role named by IIT Madras | ES courses that relate to it |
|---|---|
| Embedded System Developer | Introduction to C Programming, Embedded C Programming, Embedded Linux and FPGAs |
| Electronic System Designer | Digital System Design, Analog Electronic Systems, Electronic Product Design |
| Electronic Hardware Specialist | Electrical and Electronic Circuits, Sensors and Applications, the lab courses |
| System Testing Engineer | Electronic Testing and Measurement, Sensors Laboratory |
Why there is no placement data yet
The handbook says ES was launched in March 2023. A BS certificate needs at least 12 terms from your first term. So the first ES batch cannot finish the full BS before 2027. Until graduates exist in numbers, nobody can report real ES outcomes. Placement reports you may have seen for IITM BS are about the Data Science programme.
On support, the FAQ makes three points. IIT Madras will try to make internship and job openings available. It will tell learners when they arise. It will reach out to recruiters for BS graduates. The FAQ gives no numbers or promises. Note one rule from the handbook: if you do not submit the required medical certificate, you are not eligible for placement support.
Minors that point you in a direction
ES students can earn minors inside the 142 credits. A minor is given only with the BS degree, as a separate document.
| Minor | Courses |
|---|---|
| VLSI Design and Testing | Digital IC Design, Electronic Testing and Measurement, Semiconductor Devices and VLSI Technology |
| IoT | IoT, Communication Systems, Computer Networks |
| Application Development | Database Management Systems, Modern Application Development I and II |
| Machine Learning | Machine Learning Foundations, Machine Learning Techniques, Machine Learning Practice |
By their names, the first two fit chip design, testing and connected devices. The last two come from the Data Science programme and suit software roles. Read ES minors, the VLSI minor and the IoT minor.
The apprenticeship
At the BS level you can work as an apprentice with a company or on a research project and earn credits. It is optional.
- A company pre-approved by IIT Madras is approved directly. For others, a committee decides.
- The stipend is agreed between you and the company. Remote or on-site depends on the company.
- After you finish, the company may offer you a pre-placement offer.
- You pay Rs 5,000 per credit to transfer the credits.
The handbook says up to 12 credits in one place. Its credit table gives 4 credits for 4 to 8 months and 8 credits for 8 months. See the apprenticeship.
Higher studies and GATE
- MTech: the FAQ says you can do an MTech after the BS, subject to each institute's eligibility rules.
- On-campus MS at IIT Madras: after 102 credits with a CGPA of 8, you can apply to finish the BS on campus and then be considered for the MS. See the MS upgrade.
- GATE ranks as credit: three 2-credit Degree level electives can be earned by being in the top 1 percent of GATE EC, GATE EI or GATE EE. The handbook says the GATE score is valid for 2 years for this.
- MBA: the FAQ says any graduate can generally apply, subject to each institute's rules.
How to build towards these roles
- Choose a minor early and plan its courses into your BS level.
- Treat every lab as portfolio work. Keep notes and photos of what you built.
- Look for an apprenticeship at a company whose work matches your target role.
- Keep your mandatory submissions, like the medical certificate, up to date so you stay eligible for placement support.
- If you want core design or research roles, prepare for GATE alongside the degree.
For how ES compares with a campus degree, see ES vs a BTech in ECE.
Common questions
What salary do ES graduates get?
There is no official figure. IIT Madras has not published ES placement or salary data. Be careful with numbers from videos or forums. They may mix in Data Science results or be guesses.
Can I get a semiconductor job with this degree?
The FAQ names the semiconductor industry as one place ES skills apply, and the VLSI minor covers related courses. Whether you get such a job depends on your skills, projects and the market. No official data shows how often it happens.
Does IIT Madras place ES students?
The FAQ says the institute will try to make internship and job openings available and will reach out to recruiters. It does not guarantee placement.
Official sources
Read next
- IITM BS Electronic Systems Degree Level Courses and Electives
- IITM BS Digital IC Design (EE5102): Syllabus and Tips
- IITM BS Electronic Testing and Measurement (EE4108): Syllabus and Tips
- IITM BS Semiconductor Devices and VLSI Technology (EE3106): Syllabus and Tips
- IITM BS Electronic Systems Minors: App Development, ML, VLSI, IoT
- IITM BS Electronic Systems for Working Engineers and Diploma Holders