Automation Engineering is centred around the design, creation, development, management and optimisation of automated systems. These systems are usually found in manufacturing and industrial sectors, whereby machinery and equipment are relied upon to create end products. Automation engineers work to automate and streamline processes to help ensure the manufacturing systems function as efficiently and effectively as possible.
From food processing, to car manufacturing, to everything in between, automation engineering offers a wide range of opportunities for engineers. This makes it a fantastic job to pursue as it opens the door to lots of potential employers, including some of the biggest organisations in the world. Automation for smaller businesses is also likely to be just around the corner. This means automation engineers could apply their skills to completely different settings, perhaps helping small businesses enjoy the benefits of automated systems and processes too. This means the demand for Automation Engineers is likely to only increase over the coming years, as technology filters down to smaller businesses.
Automation Engineers will usually require a degree in engineering. Mechanical and electrical engineering degrees are probably the most common routes into the professional. From here, most can gain technical experience on the job. It is likely any engineer would need to learn specific requirements for a specific employer, depending on the systems, equipment and products they use.
There may be more related graduate and master’s degrees that can help boost a candidate’s relevancy for certain job applications.
Skills and experiences required for an automation engineering job will vary from job to job. There may be entry level positions, or jobs may require a certain level of engineering experience.
Some likely skills and experiences required for automation engineering include:
- Problem Solving.
- Analytics.
- Knowledge of Specific Equipment/Processes.
- Communication.
- Creativity.
- Management.
- Tech-Savvy.
