High School
In high school, take classes in physics, chemistry, mathematics (especially calculus), shop, and computer science (especially programming and computer-aided design). If your school offers courses in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), be sure to take those, too. Other recommended classes include English, speech, social studies, and foreign language.
Postsecondary Education
You will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in automation, process control, computer science, or electrical, mechanical, chemical, or computer engineering to become an automation engineer. Some employers seek candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in one of the aforementioned fields, as well as experience with manual and automated testing procedures. Typical class topics include robotics, electromechanics, fluid dynamics, process control, mechatronics, digital control systems, electromechanics, control electronics, computer-aided design, and artificial intelligence. Engineers who seek managerial and executive-level positions typically have master’s degrees in business management or engineering management.
Some people prepare for engineering careers by participating in apprenticeships or by receiving training in the military.
Certification
Automation engineering is an interdisciplinary field and, as such, engineers need a wide range of skills and knowledge based on their employer and job title. As a result, many aspiring and current engineers augment their training by participating in in-person and online certificate programs—which typically last from six months to a year. Certificate programs are offered by professional associations; for-profit, online learning providers; and colleges and universities. For example, the International Society of Automation offers the automation project management specialist certificate to applicants who complete a course and pass a multiple-choice exam. In the program, students learn how a variety of engineering disciplines (software, computer systems, networks, and instrumentation) are used in automation, new technologies, and other topics. Visit https://www.isa.org/certification/certificate-programs to learn more about the program. The Missouri University of Science and Technology offers a graduate certificate in Automation Engineering and Programming Logic Controllers (PLC) that is a cross-disciplinary program between electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering. To earn the certificate, students must complete required courses (Plantwide Process Control and Advanced PLC), as well as two of the following classes: Intermediate Chemical Process Safety, Mechatronics, Robotic Manipulators and Mechanism, and Manufacturing Equipment Automation. Visit https://distance.mst.edu/distance-programs/distance-graduate-certificate for more information.
Other Education or Training
Keeping your skills up to date and staying aware of industry trends are key to success as an automation engineer. Professional associations often provide continuing education (CE) opportunities such as in-person classes, presentations and workshops at industry conferences, and webinars. For example, the Association for Advancing Automation offers CE opportunities at its conferences as well as webinars such as Technologies Used in Automation: How to Get Started; Putting Motion Control to Work in Your Production; Collaboration and Robotics: The Latest Solutions; and Smart Automation: How AI is Changing Industry Today. The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, International Society of Automation, and other associations also provide professional development classes, webinars, and other educational options. Contact these organizations for more information.
- 3-D Printing Specialists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Agile Coaches or Trainers
- Air Quality Engineers
- Apparel Industry Workers
- Artificial Intelligence Specialists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Augmented Reality Developers
- Automotive Engineering Technicians
- Automotive Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Back-End Developers
- Big Data Developers
- Bindery Workers
- Biochemical Engineers
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biometrics Systems Specialists
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Blockchain Developers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Broadcast Engineers
- Building Automation Systems Engineers
- Building Performance Diagnosticians
- Ceramics Engineers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Chief Information Officers
- Chief Information Security Officers
- Chief Robotics Officer
- Civil Engineering Technicians
- Civil Engineers
- Clinical Data Managers
- Cloud Engineers
- Computer and Office Machine Service Technicians
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Service Owners
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Computer Trainers
- Computer-Aided Design Drafters and Technicians
- Continuous Improvement Managers
- Coremakers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cost Estimators
- Cryptocurrency Specialists
- Customer Success Managers
- Cybersecurity Architects
- Data Entry Clerks
- Data Processing Technicians
- Data Scientists
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Specialists
- Deepfake Professionals
- Digital Agents
- Digital Workplace Experience Engineers
- Document Management Specialists
- Drafters
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electromechanical Engineering Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Electronics Service Technicians
- Electroplating Workers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Enterprise Architects
- Environmental Engineers
- Ergonomists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- ETL Developers
- Fiber Optics Technicians
- Forensic Engineers
- Forge Shop Workers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Full Stack Developers/Engineers
- Furniture Designers
- Furniture Manufacturing Workers
- Futurists
- Genetic Engineers
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Graphic Designers
- Graphics Programmers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Hardware Engineers
- Health Informaticists
- Heat Treaters
- Help Desk Representatives
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Industrial Safety and Health Technicians
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Information Assurance Analysts
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Consultants
- Information Technology Infrastructure Engineers
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Internet Consultants
- Internet Developers
- Internet of Things Developers
- Internet Security Specialists
- JavaScript Developers
- Job and Die Setters
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Leather Tanning and Finishing Workers
- Logging Industry Workers
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Machine Learning Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Marine Engineers
- Materials Engineers
- Mathematicians
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Metallurgical Engineers
- Metallurgical Technicians
- Microelectronics Technicians
- Millwrights
- Mining Engineers
- Mobile Software Developers
- Model View Controller Developers
- Molders
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Network Operations Center Engineers
- Network Operations Center Technicians
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Occupational Safety and Health Workers
- Online Gambling Specialists
- Optical Engineers
- Optics Technicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Paper Processing Workers
- Personal Privacy Advisors
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plastics Engineers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Prepress Workers
- Product Designers
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Product Owners
- Project Managers
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radio Frequency Engineers
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Integrators
- Robotics Technicians
- Rubber Goods Production Workers
- Sales Representatives
- Salesforce Developers
- Scrum Masters
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Silverware Artisans and Workers
- Site Reliability Engineers
- Smart Building Systems Designers
- Software Application Developers
- Software Designers
- Software Engineers
- Software Quality Assurance Testers
- Solar Engineers
- Solutions Architects
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sporting Goods Production Workers
- Stationary Engineers
- Steel Industry Workers
- Supply Chain Managers
- Systems Setup Specialists
- Technical Support Specialists
- Technical Writers and Editors
- Technology Ethicists
- Textile Manufacturing Workers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers
- Traffic Engineers
- Traffic Managers
- Transportation Engineers
- Unity Developers
- User Experience Designers
- Visual Interaction Designers
- Welders and Welding Technicians
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wireless Service Technicians
- Wood Science and Technology Workers