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Machinery

Automation Engineering Technician

Installing, testing and maintaining automated machines and robots on advanced production lines

How this role makes a difference

If you’ve seen a video of an automotive production line – cars being built piece-by-piece by automated machines – you’ll know it’s fascinating to watch. But did you know many other products are manufactured this way and that other processes are automated too?

The goal of every manufacturer, energy plant or delivery business is to keep their production line or processes running. You could be a technician that guarantees continuity by maintaining machines and fixing them, ultimately making sure the right quantity of products is made on time and customers have what they need.

Useful skills
Logical thinking
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Instructing others
Skills & attributes
Useful skills
Precise
Skills & attributes

The kind of work you’ll do

  • Installing new machines into industrial networks
  • Testing and maintaining hardware and software
  • Fixing technical faults
  • Monitoring the production environment
  • Modifying automation and control systems
  • Coordinating installations and maintenance with production teams

What you can bring to the role

An interest in learning how electrical and electronic circuits and devices work.

The ability to focus and follow detailed instructions.

A natural ability to look at a problem logically and consider all possibilities before finding the best way forward.

An aptitude for understanding technical drawings and diagrams.

The confidence to work independently.

A knack for teaching others how to do something and communicating complex ideas.

You could also be right for this role if you have any of the following interests:

- building, making and fixing things

- science

£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per year *
£ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 , 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Average salary per month *

Data powered by LMI for all
*according to ONS

Future career opportunities

You could begin your career in a manufacturing, logistics or utilities environment – places where machines are used to automate processes or production to make them more efficient.

Once you’re skilled at installing, maintaining, fault finding, and optimising hardware and software, you could progress to managing teams, training others, specialising in a specific technical area, or using your knowledge to design better systems.

How to get into this role

There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job. But if you're interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:  

Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.

A little more about the role

Exciting features...

Automated machines involve hardware and software. You’ll handle the technical tooling to fix physical issues and gain the programming skills to establish and fix controls. You’ll apply your knowledge across a wide range of machinery (including robots!), always thinking about how to optimise how things work.

Discover
technicians who
do this role

Ashleigh Quelch

Automation Engineering Technician

Ashleigh Quelch
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