What is an automation engineer?
Automation engineers are experts in simplifying processes. An automation engineer can improve the efficiency of various manufacturing or computer processes or systems by automating parts of them or the entire process or system to do work on their own. They may also design entirely new technology to automate a system or process.
Automation engineers are also referred to as test automation engineers and process automation engineers since testing and process improvement play such big roles in their work. Those who work specifically in industrial environments, like manufacturing plants, are known as industrial automation engineers.
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Data Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 0 years
You'll be part of a cross-functional team working across multiple time zones, building data infrastructure and applications that drive real business value. What You'll Do: Lead or contribute to data engineering projects of moderate complexity. Build and maintain scalable front-end and back-end applications using .NET and Python. Design and optimize queries within relational databases. Implement containerized applications using Kubernetes. Work within a Microsoft Azure ecosystem to develop robust data pipelines. Support and guide teams through Agile methodologies and DevOps tooling. Collaborate with stakeholders to support data-driven decisions, using the ESSA approach. Clearly communicate technical solutions to both IT and non-IT audiences
Senior Infrastructure Engineer
Location: Perth
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 0 years
About the Role: This position sits in the Digital Function in the Operational Technology (OT) BAU team, reporting to the Senior Cybersecurity Lead. The OT BAU team is responsible for providing tactical cybersecurity support and assurance activities to keep our frontline systems and assets secure from cyber attacks. Duties & Responsibilities: The role will be responsible for the maintenance of Asset OT security, with a strong focus on overseeing and delivering the OT Maintenance Program. This includes informal leadership of contractors and service providers delivering OT specific work to company assets, ensuring OT System changes are secure and fit for purpose. The individual will also be responsible for supporting front line maintenance in break down OT incidents, whilst also being responsible for supporting the CSIRT (Cyber Security Incident Report Team) in the event of a site cyber incident. They are accountable for ensuring that maintenance activities and system changes align with established security principles and processes, with all deviations from the maintenance program appropriately risk assessed and managed. Additionally, the role involves supporting the update and delivery of OT Security Platform components, ensuring that all asset OT maintenance and change management activities comply with the Manage OT Process and that associated cyber security risks remain within tolerable limits. The position is Perth based, working in our client's CBD offices.
Project Engineer
Location: Melbourne
Branche: Life Sciences
Expertise: Production & Manufacturing
Experience: 3 years
Key Responsibilities: Manage equipment-related work packages from planning through to commissioning and qualification Coordinate factory acceptance testing (FAT), delivery, installation, and commissioning of new equipment Monitor progress, identify risks, and implement mitigations to ensure on-time project delivery Interface with vendors, contractors, and internal stakeholders to align on deliverables Maintain documentation and ensure compliance with GMP standards where applicable
Site Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Infrastructure
Expertise: Quality Management
Experience: 3 years
Support construction team with technical and engineering advice Ensure works comply with drawings, specs, and standards Coordinate with designers to resolve site issues Monitor and inspect works for quality and structural integrity Manage testing and keep records of results and inspections Update redline and as-built drawings Ensure materials and workmanship meet project requirements Report progress and quality issues to the project team Assist in handover and closeout with quality documentation
Geotechnical Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 0 years
Lead or support geotechnical assessments for active and closed tailings storage facilities (TSFs), waste dumps, and other mine infrastructure. Provide geotechnical input into design, risk assessments, slope stability analysis, dam safety reviews, and ongoing performance monitoring. Liaise with site-based teams, clients, and regulatory bodies to deliver geotechnically sound, compliant solutions. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including hydrology, civil, environmental, and construction specialists. Participate in project management activities such as budgeting, reporting, proposal writing, and stakeholder engagement. Contribute to or lead technical reviews, innovation in practice, and continuous improvement initiatives.
What does an automation engineer do?
In this profession, automation engineers are responsible for understanding manual processes currently used in a business and assess the areas where automation can improve efficiency. Based on the analysis, automation engineers design and develop automated systems that can perform tasks such as data collection, monitoring, and decision-making, which would otherwise be performed manually.
Before deployment, automation engineers test and validate the automated systems to ensure that they are functioning correctly and meet the business requirements. Automation engineers work closely with software developers, quality assurance professionals, project managers, and other stakeholders to ensure that the automation system meets the business requirements and integrates well with other systems. After deployment, automation engineers monitor and maintain the automated systems to ensure that they continue to work as expected.
In addition, automation engineers need to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies to improve and optimize their automated systems continually. They must document their work and report on the status of the automated systems to stakeholders and management.
Overall, automation engineers play a critical role in modernizing and optimizing businesses by automating their processes, improving efficiency, and reducing manual labor. Automation engineers have been used in the manufacturing industry for decades, but it’s relatively new to the business, healthcare, and finance industries. Today, automation engineers can work in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceutical and medical devices, (bio)chemical, oil and gas, food processing, mining, waste and water treatment, software engineering and eCommerce warehousing, among others.
Common automation engineer responsibilities
An automation engineer is responsible for automating systems and processes, and more specific responsibilities may include:
- Designing and developing automation solutions to streamline manual processes and improve efficiency;
- Ensuring that the automation system works as expected by testing and troubleshooting any issues that may arise;
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams, such as software developers, quality assurance teams, and project managers to ensure that the automation system meets business requirements;
- Implementing and maintaining automation systems to run smoothly;
- Conducting feasibility studies and developing recommendations based on their findings;
- Performing system upgrades to keep up to date with technology advancements;
- Documenting and reporting on automation work to stakeholders and management;
- Training end-users on the new automated system to ensure proper use of the technology;
- Improving processes and automate new areas to streamline operations;
- Gathering customer or user requirements to develop suitable automation solutions.
Qualifications for automation engineers
Automation engineers should have at least a Bachelor's degree in Automation Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. In some cases, a Master's degree or higher may be required for more advanced positions. In addition to a degree, automation engineers may need to be licensed in order to practice. Licensing requirements vary by country.
Additional supporting skills and experience include:
- 2-5+ years of automation engineering experience;
- Excellent technical skills, including experience in software development, automation tools, and programming languages;
- Strong problem-solving skills and able to troubleshoot and resolve issues quickly;
- Ability to work well in teams and collaborate with cross-functional teams;
- Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders;
- Being detail-oriented and able to identify potential issues and areas for improvement;
Thinking creatively and developing innovative solutions to automate processes.