Automation Engineers

College engineering students often obtain additional experience by participating in internships or cooperative education opportunities or by working part-time at an engineering firm or other employer. Apprentices obtain both hands-on experience and classroom training while participating in the program.

Automation engineers should have strong programming skills in languages such as C#, Java, and SQL (but the preferred programming language varies by industry); knowledge of automation testing software; experience using Agile frameworks and DevOps; and familiarity with cloud computing, artificial intelligence (including machine learning and generative AI), advanced robotics, and other current or emerging technologies, among other technical skills.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills are important for success in this career. Engineers who work in manufacturing must be able to work effectively with machinery operators, who are most familiar with the equipment because they oversee it every day. Those in other settings must be able to work well with software developers, customer support specialists, and other professionals to improve existing processes. Strong writing and presentation skills are key because engineers frequently write reports and e-mails and explain their ideas regarding current and future projects to colleagues, company executives, and current and potential clients. Other important traits include:

• Organizational skills to manage and prioritize one’s assignments and maintain documentation of one’s work
• Creativity and curiosity
• Flexibility and adaptability because project parameters change frequently
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills and a detail-oriented personality in order to effectively debug or troubleshoot a system
• An analytical personality in order to assess what’s worth automating and what is not, as well as to solve complex problems
• An ability to work both independently, when necessary, and with a group of engineers, technicians, operators, and others on large projects
• A commitment to pursue continuous learning because automation technology is advancing so quickly.