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- Design and build machines to do automated jobs in industries
- Combine engineering, science and technology with design skills
- Specialise in a particular area of robotics like driving vehicles or space exploration
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
As a robotics engineer, your exact duties will depend on what part of a project you work on but may include:
- Understanding what customers want to automate
- Designing processes and parts using computer aided design
- Building and testing prototypes
- Analysing data from robot sensors and cameras
- Finding and fixing faults
- Researching news ways to use robots and artificial intelligence
- Demonstrating finished products to customers
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll split time between a lab and an office, usually Monday to Friday. You may have to work overtime, and sometimes travel.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with a passion for engineering and technology, design skills, thinking and reasoning, and complex problem-solving skills.
You can do a degree or postgraduate qualification in: artificial intelligence and robotics, mechatronics, robotics engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, computer science or mathematics. You'll usually need 2 or 3 A levels, including maths and physics for these degrees.
You can also work in the development of artificial intelligence if you have a qualification in psychology or cognitive science.
Alternatively you could start as a robotics technician or junior engineer and study for a degree on the job to qualify.
You could also do a college course, which may help you to find a job as a robotics technician. Relevant courses include a Level 3 Certificate in Robotics and Automation and Level 4 Diploma in ComputingHigher National Certificate in Electrical or Electronic Engineering. With further training, you can qualify as an engineer.
There are many degree apprenticeships in robotics specialisms, such as control and technical support engineering, software development, manufacturing engineering and embedded electronic systems design.
You'll find it useful to join robotics engineering groups or take part in robotics design competitions to build up your skills and knowledge.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience you could become a lead engineer, with overall responsibility for managing a project. You could also specialise in a particular area of robotics, for example self-driving vehicles, space exploration, surgical instruments or deep ocean research.