Top 5 In-Demand Jobs in Industrial Automation for 2025

Those who are Automation Engineers know that the profession provides an exciting and rewarding technical career path. I started as an Automation Engineer four decades ago, and I have found the decision to pursue Automation as a profession to have been a great decision.

For those who are considering Automation Engineering as a career choice and for those in the industry who want to be a part of the “next big technical revolution”, this article will be of interest to you!

Automation Engineers are found in many different settings. Industrial automation is practiced in manufacturing plants, in design & build and systems integration firms, and with automation equipment suppliers.

Outside of industry, Automation Engineers are found in government-related jobs, including infrastructure, utilities, and military and space.

For the really ambitious and experienced Automation Engineers, consulting is an opportunity for being able to work for yourself. There are many different pathways that can lead to a successful and rewarding career in Automation Engineering.

There are a great number of factors that are making opportunities in Automation Engineering important not only for us as engineers but also for potential employers. Employers are facing an aging workforce, with a significant shortage of automation engineers on the horizon.

With the increased specialization of many experienced engineers, entry and mid-level positions are plentiful. With communication tools and technology, remote work opportunities are becoming prevalent as well.

The biggest equalizer in starting an Automation Engineering career is that very few universities offer degrees in Automation Engineering, so the profession is mostly a learned profession.

You are here reading this training article, and I would bet you are one of the many engineers who want to learn more about Automation Engineering. The best Automation Engineers are those who have a keen interest in the profession and want to learn and succeed! Engineers just like you!

Opportunities abound! Let’s explore the Top 5 In-Demand Jobs in Industrial Automation that will help you start your journey to a rewarding and successful career!

I did some research and believe these five areas not only provide excellent technical opportunities at the present but are poised to provide growth opportunities for the long term. Let’s get started!

Industrial Automation Engineer

Industrial automation engineers design, install, and maintain automated systems used in manufacturing, assembly, and production lines.

They often work with Programmable Logic Controllers( PLCs), SCADA systems, and robotics systems to improve efficiency and reliability. These positions are largely hands-on and exist in many exciting and “hot” industries such as semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.

With an aging workforce, there is a growing need for these in-plant resources. In-plant jobs, from my own experience, are the best incubators for upskilling your engineering talents. Industrial Automation Engineers are a key to a manufacturer’s 24/7 operation.

As manufacturing becomes more digitized and interconnected, the need for highly skilled engineers to implement and optimize automated systems will continue to grow.

If you are looking for these positions and want to learn these skills and gain expertise, you can check out our Skill Paths, including PLC Programming, HMI Design, SCADA, and Industrial IoT.

Automation Project Engineer

If a manufacturing plant-based opportunity is not your thing, perhaps the position of Automation Project Engineer or Project Manager would be of interest.

When starting a new automation project, automation project engineers manage an engineering team and lead their team through client requirements, design plans, and implementation.

The number of these positions is growing due to an increase in the outsourcing of projects. System Integration firms specialize in defining, planning, and execution of automation projects, and Automation Project Engineers are in high demand.

As an Automation Project Engineer, you are an essential leader of the team charged with automating complex processes while ensuring safety, efficiency, and reliability. As industries become more automated, demand for these positions will rise.

Systems Integrators are in need of good automation engineers with special skills: expertise in control theory, PLCs, SCADA systems, HMI (Human-Machine Interface), and process control.

Robotics Process Automation Specialists

The future is here: Robots and Co-bots, AGVs, automated mobile devices, and materials logistics programs are growing in demand.

Industries from automobile manufacturing to warehouse operations to pharmaceutical plants are using more and more of these automated systems.

With the rise of Industry 4.0, automation in manufacturing and beyond will heavily rely on robotics to improve efficiency, increase precision, and reduce costs. Robotics engineers will be at the forefront of designing and implementing these systems.

RPA specialists develop scripts and bots to automate these tasks, reducing the margin of error and increasing throughput and efficiency.

As a robotics or mechatronics engineer, you will acquire knowledge in mechanical design, control systems, AI programming, computer vision, and sensor integration.

If you want to improve your robotics skills, make sure to check out realpars.com/courses. Under Skill Path, filter for Robotics.

AI & Machine Learning Specialist

For those with an innovative mind and a knack for cutting-edge technologies, a new field of opportunity for automation engineers is emerging in Artificial Intelligence.

As a Machine Learning/AI specialist, you will work with cutting-edge technologies & help create technologies that can learn, adapt, predict, and automate complex decision-making processes.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Specialists design machine learning models, develop algorithms and build systems that can see, hear, and understand human language. Exciting stuff!

What does it take to excel in this position? Start with a high level of ingenuity, and add in numerical, programming, problem-solving, and reasoning skills. It helps to already have basic expertise in machine learning, neural networks, data analysis, and programming languages like Python.

If you're also interested in learning practical skills for AI-powered visual inspection software, check out our course, MELSOFT VIXIO: AI-Powered Visual Inspection Software for Industrial Automation. In this course, you'll learn how to develop and deploy AI models using MELSOFT VIXIO software.

Building Automation Engineer

With more focus on sustainability, smart buildings, and energy efficiency, the demand for building automation engineers is increasing rapidly. This may not have made your short list, but it is more than worth investigating a a career.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming a big part of the future of Building Automation. This technology has the potential to make buildings even smarter, enabling systems to learn from data and make more informed decisions.

AI-powered automation systems can predict and adjust heating and cooling settings based on occupancy patterns, weather forecasts, and energy prices, leading to significant energy savings.

Building Automation Engineer may be the perfect blend of exciting new technologies and traditional controls engineering, all in a comfortable setting!

Here’s what you will develop as a Building Automation Engineer. You will use your engineering technical abilities, programming and software skills, problem-solving abilities, communication and collaboration skills, attention to detail to create workspace environments that are energy efficient, comfortable, and cutting edge in smart building features and capabilities.

Summary

Automation engineering is a diverse field with many opportunities arising for 2025 and beyond. For those who are willing to upskill their capabilities, there are numerous opportunities to be on the forefront of exciting developments in Industrial Automation, Automation Project Management, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, and Building Automation.

Interested in learning more about these exciting technologies? Come over to realpars.com/courses and check out the extensive catalog of available Skill Paths.As mentioned before, you can easily find the Skill Paths you're looking for by filtering for PLC Programming, HMI Design, SCADA, Robotics, and Industrial IoT.

Also, if you want to train your team with practical industrial automation courses? Head over to www.realpars.com/business and fill out the form.

As mentioned before, if you want to learn more about practical skills for AI-powered visual inspection software, you can check out the course: MELSOFT VIXIO: AI-Powered Visual Inspection Software for Industrial Automation

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