Robotics engineering technician

Description

Robotics engineering technicians collaborate with engineers in the development of robotic devices and applications through a combination of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and computer engineering. Robotics engineering technicians build, test, install and calibrate robotic equipment.

Excludes automation engineering technician.

Robotics engineering technicians typically do the following tasks:

  • Collaborate with engineers to design, build, and test robotic systems and equipment.
  • Program robots using specialized software and programming languages.
  • Install, maintain, and repair robots and robotic systems.
  • Troubleshoot and diagnose problems with robots and related equipment.
  • Test and evaluate robotic systems to ensure they meet performance and safety standards.
  • Document work processes and procedures to assist with training and troubleshooting.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of new robotic technologies.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to robotics engineering technician:

technician in robotic systems
technician in robotics engineering
robotics engineering technologist
robotics systems technologist
robotics mechanic
automation engineering inspector
robotics inspector
technician in robotics
robotics technician
robot engineering technologist
robot technician
robotics engineering mechanic
robot engineering inspector
robotics technologist
robot technologist
technologist in robotics
robotic systems technician
automation control engineering inspector
technologist in robotics engineering
robot inspector

Working conditions

Robotics engineering technicians typically work in manufacturing or research and development facilities. They may be exposed to noise and machinery and may be required to wear personal protective equipment such as safety glasses or hard hats. They may work in teams or independently, depending on the project.

Minimum qualifications

Robotics engineering technicians typically have an associate degree in robotics, mechatronics, or a related field. Some employers may prefer or require a bachelor’s degree. Coursework may include robotics, electronics, programming, and control systems. On-the-job training is also common. Some employers may require certification in specific areas of robotics or related technologies. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are also essential for success in this field.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Robotics engineering technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Robotics engineering technician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to robotics engineering technician.

automation engineering technician
mechatronics engineering technician
electromechanical engineering technician
microsystem engineering technician
sensor engineering technician

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of robotics engineering technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of robotics engineering technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

robotics engineer
mechatronics engineer
automation engineer
electromechanical engineer
sensor engineer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of robotics engineering technician.

  • Design drawings: Understand design drawings detailing the design of products, tools, and engineering systems.
  • Electrical engineering: Understand electrical engineering, a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
  • Mathematics: Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.
  • Physics: The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.
  • Robotic components: The components that can be found in robotic systems, such as microprocessors, electronics, sensors, circuit boards, encoders, servomotors, controllers, pneumatics or hydraulics.
  • Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
  • Control engineering: Subdiscipline of engineering that focuses on controlling the behaviour of systems through the use of sensors and actuators.
  • Mechatronics: Multidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the design of products and manufacturing processes. The combination of these areas of engineering allows for the design and development of “smart” devices and the achievement of an optimal balance between mechanical structure and control.
  • Robotics: The branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and overlaps with mechatronics and automation engineering.
  • Automation technology: Set of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of robotics engineering technician.

  • Monitor machine operations: Observe machine operations and evaluate product quality thereby ensuring conformity to standards.
  • Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
  • Read assembly drawings: Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.
  • Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
  • Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
  • Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
  • Align components: Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
  • Test mechatronic units: Test mechatronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.
  • Assemble robots: Assemble robotic machines, devices, and components according to engineering drawings. Program and install the necessary components of robotic systems, such as robot controllers, conveyors, and end-of-arm tools.
  • Follow safety standards in industrial contexts: Abide by safety procedures and standards for industrial contexts, mostly where machinery is involved.
  • Set up machine controls: Set up or adjust machine controls to regulate conditions such as material flow, temperature, or pressure.
  • Read engineering drawings: Read the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.
  • Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
  • Fasten components: Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
  • Assist scientific research: Assist engineers or scientists with conducting experiments, performing analysis, developing new products or processes, constructing theory, and quality control.
  • Prepare production prototypes: Prepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.
  • Set up automotive robot: Set up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of robotics engineering technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Programmable logic controller: Programmable logic controllers or PLC’s are computer control systems used for the monitoring and control of input and output as well as the automation of electromechanical processes.
  • Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
  • Sensors: Sensors are transducers that can detect or sense characteristics in their environment. They detect changes in the apparatus or environment and provide a corresponding optical or electrical signal. Sensors are commonly divided in six classes: mechanical, electronic, thermal, magnetic, electrochemical, and optical sensors.
  • Transmission technology: Technologies that allow the transmission of analogue or digital information signals over a point-to-point or a point-to-multipoint through the use of communication channels or transmission media, such as optical fibre, copper wire, or wireless communication channels. The information or data are usually transmitted as an electromagnetic signal, such as radio waves or microwaves.
  • Computer science: The scientific and practical study that deals with the foundations of information and computation, namely algorithms, data structures, programming, and data architecture. It deals with the practicability, structure and mechanisation of the methodical procedures that manage the acquisition, processing, and access to information.
  • Power electronics: The functioning, design, and usage of electronics that control and convert electric power. Power conversion systems are usually categorised as AC-DC or rectifiers, DC-AC or inverters, DC-DC converters, and AC-AC converters.
  • Computer engineering: Engineering discipline that combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering occupies itself with electronics, software design, and the integration of hardware and software.
  • Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
  • Hybrid control systems: Control systems containing both subsystems with continuous dynamics as well as subsystems with discrete dynamics.
  • Cad software: The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
  • Electric drives: Electromechanical systems that utilise electric motors to control the movement and processes of electrical machinery.
  • Pneumatics: The application of pressurised gas to produce mechanical motion.
  • Safety engineering: The engineering discipline used to ensure that systems, machines and equipment work according to the set safety standards and laws, such as environmental law.
  • Optoelectronics: Branch of electronics and optics dedicated to the study and use of electronic devices that detect and control light.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of robotics engineering technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Keep up with digital transformation of industrial processes: Keep up to date with digital innovations applicable to industrial processes. Integrate these transformations in the company’s processes aiming for competitive and profitable business models.
  • Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
  • Resolve equipment malfunctions: Identify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions; communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.
  • Install hardware: Assemble the necessary hardware components, such as the motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), hard drive, disk drive, power supply unit, RAM, PCI card, mouse, keyboard, cameras and other necessary components to build the computer device. Attach the components manually using screwdrivers or use assembly machines and install the wiring.
  • Customise software for drive system: Adapt and customise software to the specific machine or application.
  • Calibrate mechatronic instruments: Correct and adjust the reliability of an mechatronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular intervals which are set by the manufacturer.
  • Maintain robotic equipment: Diagnose and detect malfunctions in robotic components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing robotic components in clean, dust-free, and non-humid spaces.
  • Use CAM software: Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
  • Integrate new products in manufacturing: Assist with the integration of new systems, products, methods, and components in the production line. Ensure that production workers are properly trained and follow the new requirements.
  • Examine engineering principles: Analyse the principles that need to be considered for engineering designs and projects such as functionality, replicability, costs and other principles.
  • Write technical reports: Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
  • Simulate mechatronic design concepts: Simulate mechatronic design concepts through creating mechanical models and performing tolerance analysis.
  • Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
  • Apply technical communication skills: Explain technical details to non-technical customers, stakeholders, or any other interested parties in a clear and concise manner.
  • Install software: Install machine-readable instructions, such as computer programs, in order to direct the computer’s processor to perform a certain set of actions.
  • Replace machines: Evaluate when to invest in replacing machines or machine tools and take the necessary actions.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
  • Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
  • Program firmware: Program permanent software with a read-only memory (ROM) on a hardware device, such as an integrated circuit.
  • Assemble mechatronic units: Assemble mechatronic units using mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, and information technology systems and components. Manipulate and attach metals through using welding and soldering techniques, glue, screws, and rivets. Install wiring. Install drive systems, sensors, actuators, and transducers. Mount switches, control devices, coverings, and protection.

ISCO group and title

3119 – Physical and engineering science technicians not elsewhere classified


References
  1. Robotics engineering technician – ESCO
  2. Robotics Technician | Science & Engineering Career – Science Buddies
  3. What Do Robotics Technicians Do? – Goodwin University
  4. Featured image: Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash
Last updated on May 16, 2023