Mechatronics Graduate Building Successful Career in Electrical Installation

Sept. 17, 2025 - Ricky McRae started working for his family’s business, R.H. McRae Electrical Contractors in Rockingham, part-time in 2017 after he graduated from Richmond Community College’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology program. He is now working  full-time and has three different titles at the company that specializes in electrical installation.

“My position at McRae Electrical is a Controls Engineer, Panel Shop Coordinator and Manufactures Technical Representative, or MTR,” McRae said.

As a Controls Engineer, he helps customers design control systems for their applications. This includes taking older outdated systems and helping to automate them and improve efficiency by introducing programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and operator interfaces.

“We also design new systems for customers. In this design process, I will write PLC programs, HMI programs, design and draw electrical and layout schematics using AutoCAD and help select proper control devices like sensors, buttons, controllers and HMIs (Human-Machine Interface),” McRae explained.

As a Panel Shop Coordinator, McRae checks out new jobs for customers, provides quotes and ensures that their control panels are being built correctly. As the MTR, he inspects and oversees all manufacturing of control panels to make sure they are built to the proper safety standard.

R.H. McRae Electrical was started by McRae’s father in 1989 for the purpose of electrical installation. Over the years, the business grew to focus solely on the demands at the industrial level.

In 2022 when the younger McRae was 27 years old and had been working for the company for five years, he was selected as a Top 30 Under 30 All-Star Electrical Contractor in the U.S.

“Our business receives an EC&M magazine in the mail, and there was an article about the award. They felt I would be a good candidate, so they all came together to write an article about me and why I should be nominated,” McRae said. “Words could not describe what it meant to me to know that my staff recognized my hard work and dedication to making McRae Electrical a better business and that they would consider me for the award.”

McRae graduated from Richmond Senior High School in 2016 and enrolled at RichmondCC.

“I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go, but I knew I wanted to study something technical. RichmondCC was the best option for me considering the school offered multiple courses in that field,” he said.

He entered the Mechatronics Engineering Technology program because it offered courses that interested him such as motors and controls, PLCs, digital electronics, programming and mechanical systems.

“I liked these courses mainly because they were most in-line with things I was familiar with from our family business. But once I got into the class and started learning how to wire a motor and be able to control it with buttons, switches, etc., it was rewarding to have those components in front of me and be able to put my hands on it and see the results of what I was learning,” he said. “For me personally, I learn best when I can be hands-on with things. That was why I loved these classes.”

While Mechatronics was a great program for McRae, he would recommend it to anyone who may be interested in electrical or mechanical systems.

“I feel like Mechatronics could be a great steppingstone for anyone who wants to become an electrical or mechanical engineer,” McRae said.

For more information about the Mechatronics program at RichmondCC or to enroll this fall semester, call (910) 410-1700 or visit the Hamlet or Scotland County Campus. Applications are free and can be completed online.