Become an Automation Technician

The title “automation technician” refers to a category of jobs that exists at the intersection of technology and commerce. Automation technicians are responsible for developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting the critical technological systems that guide production and streamline company operations. If you’re interested in becoming an automation technician, get started by earning your bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as engineering, computer science, or mathematics. You can then begin looking for jobs in your industry of choice, where you’ll receive the hands-on training you need to work with specialized equipment and processes.

Steps

Receiving the Necessary Education

1. Earn your high school diploma. In order to get hired as an automation technician, you’ll need to hold a minimum of an associate or two-year degree. Finishing high school will, therefore, be the first step along your path, if you haven’t done so already.
   • Buckle down and study hard—automation technicians need to be well-versed in a variety of subjects, particularly math and science.
   • A GED will also be enough to gain you admittance to most community colleges and technical or vocational schools, provided you meet all the other entry requirements of the school you plan on attending.
2. Obtain an Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS). Enroll in a community college or technical school with a strong engineering, mathematics, or physical sciences program. The subjects that make up your curriculum will help familiarize you with the kinds of concepts and problems you’ll encounter in the automation world.
   • You're free to get your degree in any of the applied sciences. However, subjects like mathematics, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering tend to be the most applicable in terms of preparing you for a future in the automation workforce.
   • Other degree programs that could provide a solid educational foundation include manufacturing engineering, mechanics, computer science, information systems, physics, calculus, and statistics.
3. Pursue a higher degree in your chosen subject to gain a professional edge. If you’re a dedicated learner, consider taking your education to the next level by seeking a bachelor’s or master’s degree. While having one of these degrees isn’t a necessity, it could help set you apart from your competition once you begin looking for employment.
   • If you decide to go on to get your bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can expect to complete your education in around 5-7 years.
   • Keep in mind that you will need to have a bachelor’s degree if you eventually intend to move up to the role of automation engineer or coordinator.
4. Sign up for an automation technician certification program to get an edge over your competition. Certification programs cover the same sorts of principles you would learn at a two-year school, only with a more industry-specific focus and in a much shorter period of time. Upon completion, you’ll be awarded a certificate stating that you possess the knowledge and skills needed to excel as a technician in one of several specialized fields.
   • Search for automation certification programs online to find a participating institution. Most programs consist of individual web-based study units, or modules, each of which is designed to be completed in 1-2 weeks.
   • Program costs differ, but tend to average around $1,500-2,000 for full certification.
   • One of these programs will also give you your first taste of hands-on training, which is a very attractive qualification for many prospective employers.Template:Greenbox:'''Tip:''' An automation technician certificate program could be a great alternative education opportunity if you don’t have the time or money to go to college.

Accumulating Useful Knowledge and Skills

1. Continue learning about key automation principles on your own time. In addition to your formal education, make a commitment to continually add to your existing expertise, particularly in subjects like computer science, mechanics, software engineering, and robotics. Ongoing independent study will help you become better acquainted with important concepts and give you a decisive advantage when interviewing for competitive positions.
   • You’ll find textbooks on a wide range of industry-relevant subjects online or at major retailers of new and used books.{{greenbox:Tip: Subscribing to industry publications, such as OEM magazine and Control Engineering, is also a good way to stay informed about groundbreaking advances in technology and business standards.}}
2. Become proficient with a wide range of common tools. As an automation technician, you’ll be directly responsible for the installation, monitoring, and maintenance of highly specialized machinery and computer systems. It’s therefore crucial that you know your way around universal hand tools, such as screwdrivers, drills, saws, and pliers, and measuring and calibration devices, like multimeters and various gauges. This is where the “technician” part of the job title comes in.
   • You’ll also need to be able to read and make sense of complex blueprints, diagrams, and schematics relating to the systems and processes you’ll be working on.
   • Automation technician is a more hands-on job than automation engineer or coordinator. The latter are primarily concerned with innovation, planning, and implementation rather than the nitty-gritty tasks involved with keeping the gears turning.
3. Learn to code. These days, more and more of an automation professional’s daily duties revolve around communicating with a computer. For this reason, it’s recommended that you have at least a nuts-and-bolts practical understanding of universal programming languages like C++, Java, HTML, and CSS. Experience with less common formats like Haskell and F# will also be a plus.
   • If you’re not sure where to start, online resources like The Odin Project, Codecademy, and Udacity, as well as quality textbooks and video tutorials, can be good places to pick up the basics.
   • There’s no need to devote all of your free time to becoming a code wizard—even teaching yourself a few simple commands will make you that much more attractive to potential employers.
4. Sharpen your technological problem-solving skills. Get experience working with as many different types of components, assemblies, operating programs, and pieces of software as you can. Diagnosing issues with sophisticated computer-integrated equipment is a little like solving a riddle. If something goes wrong, it will take keen awareness and creativity to get to the bottom of the problem and determine how to resolve it.
   • While figuring out how various systems work, pay just as much attention to what makes them not work. Becoming an ace troubleshooter is all about learning to make sense of the subtle relationships between mechanical and cybernetic elements.

Getting Your Start in the Industry

1. Apply for jobs in your chosen industry. Once you’ve fulfilled the basic educational requirements and built a versatile skill set, you can begin the process of finding employment to put those skills to use. Use popular job-hunting sites to browse open positions with businesses or laboratories near you. In particular, look for companies whose work you’re already somewhat familiar with through your prior education and training.
   • Be sure to keep an eye out for announcements of recruitment opportunities in industry publications and on company websites, as well.
   • As always when looking for a new job, it’s important to submit an up-to-date resume and well-crafted cover letter that clearly lays out why you’d be a good fit for the job.
   • Automation technicians are employed in almost every major industry, including manufacturing, food and agriculture, gas and oil, mining and metal extraction, chemical processing, medical devices, and robotics.{{greenbox:Tip: If you know someone who already works in the automation industry, see if they would be willing to put in a good word for you and help you get your foot in the door. Who you know is just as important to many leading employers as how you look on paper.}}
2. Apply yourself during your hands-on training. As a new automation technician, the vast majority of your training will take place on the job. The need for extensive workplace training is largely due to the fact that there’s so much diversity among applied technologies, even within the same industry. Make an effort to absorb as much as possible of what you’re shown, and always be on the lookout for ways to streamline or otherwise improve operations.
   • The exact nature of your training and daily duties can vary significantly depending on your exact position. Some technicians, for instance, work with proprietary machine components, while others are tasked with overseeing entire systems; still others specialize in robotics, computer integration, or specific software, applications, and/or devices.
   • Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you might have or request clarification for concepts or procedures you don’t understand. In a sense, the company’s success is dependent on how well you know your station.
3. Work hard to rise through the ranks of the industry. Dedicated service to your company could be rewarded with the possibility of a promotion or raise. Positions like service manager or maintenance supervisor are the next rung on the ladder for employees who have proved themselves as capable technicians. Each new role you take on will come with an increase in pay, authority, and influence within the company you work for.
   • If at some point you decide to make a career change, your experience may translate well to programming, design, machine assembly, application support, sales, or one of many other related fields.
   • It could take several years before you’re given opportunities for advancement. In the meantime, be patient, keep a positive attitude, and do your best to cooperate effectively with teammates, project leaders, and supervisors. Professionalism counts for a lot.

Tips

• The median annual salary for an automation technician is around $65,000. Engineers, coordinators, and other high-level automation professionals often pull in $100,000 or more a year on average.

References

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