The impact of industrial automation and manufacturing engineers can’t be understated. Globally, the fields account for around 14% of all employment, and 16% of gross domestic product, with the engineering roles found across these sectors becoming increasingly crucial to the economic fortunes of entire nations’ economies. In short, industrial automation and manufacturing are helping to progress lives everywhere.
But what are the most popular roles within these burgeoning fields?
In this guide, we’ll explore the five most popular industrial automation and manufacturing engineer jobs in 2023, discussing their duties and responsibilities—as well as the levels of remuneration that candidates looking for roles in these sectors can expect—before we discuss the education and work experience required for long-term career success in them.
5 Popular Industrial Automation and Manufacturing Engineer Jobs
Whilst focused on the American economy, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent report on the state of engineering in the nation highlights the positive impact that the two fields of industrial automation and manufacturing are having on the post-pandemic economic recovery. In 2021 alone, 365,000 new manufacturing jobs were created, recovering nearly all of the jobs lost over the previous year.
Shifts in economic activity and the growth of emerging technologies such as big data processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are enhancing the roles of engineering experts and driving the rallying markets. This is particularly important as nations begin to discuss resilience in the face of supply chain disruption, with governments such as the Biden administration committing to invest billions of dollars into bolstering the industry.
Let’s take a closer look at five of the engineering jobs that are on the rise in 2023 within the fields of industrial automation and manufacturing, and discuss their duties and the education and experience that employers expect candidates to possess when they’re applying for these roles.
1. Process Engineering
Process engineering, similar in a sense to quality engineering, is focused on developing, implementing, streamlining, and improving manufacturing methods. Working closely with corporate leadership within their organisation, process engineering professionals aim to determine and manage projects that allow for cost reduction and increases in profit, optimising the performance of all manufacturing equipment.
Often found working alongside their colleagues in quality control, process specialists in manufacturing engineering jobs devise strategies to identify the weaknesses and strengths of the systems they’re currently working with, and are crucial when it comes to achieving profit and production goals.
Duties
The day-to-day duties of a process engineer are varied. From the research and design of new equipment or industrial automation solutions, to the development of new manufacturing processes which maintain high uptime and efficiency whilst reducing costs, the average workload for process engineering professionals can include troubleshooting and planned maintenance, as well as the development of quality control software which can help to improve the reliability and condition of products.
Education Requirements and Salary Expectations
Process specialists in industrial automation or manufacturing engineer jobs are typically required to hold an undergraduate degree in a related field like chemical engineering, industrial engineering, or mechanical engineering, although some employers will want to see candidates holding master’s degrees and industry-recognised certifications, particularly in when it comes to senior or engineering manager roles.
Average salary: £41,300.00
2. Industrial Engineering Technologist
In the industrial workplace, the technologist plays the role of the problem-solver. These engineering roles are focused on applying the principles of electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering to the problems of the manufacturing environment.
Their day-to-day responsibilities will see the industrial engineering technologist working with staff at all levels to develop manufacturing and automation systems that meet production and quality requirements. Alongside this, they’ll often be tasked with preparing the internal documentation that will allow future scientists and engineers to carry out their duties effectively.
These experiences means that technologists are often well-suited to an engineering manager role, with experience and networking allowing them to advance into positions where they’ll be responsible for teams of quality controls or the overall planning of manufacturing facilities.
Duties
Technologists will often be tasked with conducting statistical production studies which collect and analyse data on equipment performance, production bottlenecks, and overall costs, allowing them to identify areas for improvement and saving. Alongside this, they’ll be expected to research the new equipment or workflow techniques that will empower their colleagues on the assembly line, or in the quality and process control departments.
Education Requirements and Salary Expectations
Engineering technologists will often hold a degree in industrial automation, process engineering, or a manufacturing-related field such as mechanics or computer science, although some employers may be willing to hire an early-career candidate and provide them with the training they need to succeed in such a role.
Average salary: £41,900.00
3. Production Management
Production management plays a vital role within the industrial automation and manufacturing workplace. Typically responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and control of internal processes to ensure that goods are produced cost-effectively and efficiently.
Like many of the positions explored in this guide, the production engineering manager role requires a collaborative and team-oriented candidate that is prepared to work alongside their colleagues to meticulously plan and schedule production to ensure minimal downtime.
They work closely with all members of an organisation to manage budgets and keep costs under control, identifying and resolving production issues and making certain that internal procedures are in place—such as preventative maintenance—to control the manufacturing environment and make sure that it is a profitable, safe workplace.
Duties
The day-to-day duties of the production engineering manager role often involve the preparation of data-driven reports through which clearly communicate project progress, identify issues that require resolving, and suggest improvements. In the industrial automation environment, these experts liaise with other managers and manufacturing engineers to estimate costs, formulate objectives, and prepare budgets which ensure the efficient use of all raw materials.
A production manager may also be tasked with supporting engineering personnel, monitoring activities to ensure smooth operation and hiring, training, and evaluating workers where necessary to meet performance and safety requirements.
Education Requirements and Salary Expectations
Production managers will typically come from a background of engineering experience, holding an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a manufacturing or industrial automation-adjacent field such as mechanical, electrical, or software engineering, alongside relevant experience to give them the skills and competencies required to support all of the business activities they’re responsible for.
Average salary: £46,800.00
4. Quality Engineering
Quality engineering jobs are found across the whole environment of industrial automation and manufacturing. These specialists are responsible for monitoring and testing the quality of products making their way off the assembly line or workbench in a diverse range of sectors, from the aerospace and automotive industries to the life sciences and beyond.
Given the increasing demand for effective and robust goods, the demand for these engineering roles remains high, with the average number of positions expected to continue to increase by 8% year-on-year.
Quality engineers are expected to collaborate closely with their colleagues in multidisciplinary teams, supporting designers, process engineers, and electrical engineers where necessary. This allows them to ensure that products are reliable, safe, and exceed customers’ expectations, whilst keeping manufacturing costs low.
Duties
Quality engineers are tasked with creating and documenting internal practices and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a product or entire factory environment, setting out the tests required and results expected for a product to pass through their stringent control. These duties see them designing and building automated testing systems and quality control workflows which improve their efficiency and speed.
Alongside this, quality engineers will audit their systems based on the ISO 9000 set of standards, allowing them to meet regulations and high standards that are set out in the ISO’s quality management principles, namely:
Customer focus
Leadership
Engagement of people
Process approach
Improvement
Evidence-based decision making
Relationship management
In short, these engineers are able to monitor the entire production cycle, identifying issues and recommending solutions based on their expertise and a methodology guided by continuous improvement.
Education Requirements and Salary Expectations
Like most engineering roles in industrial automation and manufacturing, quality engineers will often enter their positions following the completion of a Master’s degree and gaining relevant experience as an early-career technician, though some employers will also want to see evidence of advanced certification from an industry body such as the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI).
Average salary: £47,500.00
5. Supply Chain Management
A unique engineering manager role, supply chain management in an industrial automation or manufacturing environment oversees and coordinates the sourcing and delivery of the materials necessary for production processes. With four-fifths of organisations experiencing at least one significant disruption to their supply chain in 2022, supply chain management experts are quickly becoming crucial to ensuring businesses have the resilience necessary to weather uncertainties.
Supply chain managers supervise and administer every stage of production, from the purchase of raw materials to the logistics of storing those products and getting them to consumers and businesses. This means they’ll need to be comfortable collaborating closely with colleagues in both engineering and business administration departments from operations to finance, which will enable them to forecast demand and design production schedules.
Alongside this, they’ll be expected to keep a close eye on inventory levels, negotiating with suppliers to ensure that they get the best prices and expedited delivery of raw materials.
Duties
Whether they’re communicating with their suppliers and colleagues in person, over the phone, or via email, supply chain managers’ daily responsibilities will see them working in close partnership with cross-functional teams such as sales, procurement, and logistics, ensuring that the supply chain can support the needs of the entire business.
The duties of a supply chain manager in a manufacturing or industrial automation environment are also being reshaped by the impact of emerging technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, with specialists more able than ever to make data-driven decisions based on the trends they identify when analysing disruptions, allowing them to stay one step ahead of often volatile pricing trends in raw material costs and logistics and storage rates.
Education Requirements and Salary Expectations
Unlike the other entries on this list, a supply chain engineering manager role can be accessible without a degree, with candidates able to start in positions where they can prove their worth such as administration, purchasing, or logistics. Despite this, long-term success in the field often requires specialisation, which a relevant degree in logistics, business administration, or engineering management can provide.
Average salary: £61,800.00
Given that the field of industrial automation and control systems is anticipated to expand to a global value of $395bn by the end of the decade, there’s never been a better time to begin thinking about a career in one of the many engineering roles that facilitates the effective production of consumer and business goods.
If you’re interested in learning more about the positive impact that industrial automation and manufacturing engineers have on society, make sure to see our guide to The Impact of Industrial Automation Systems on the Future of Work for a deep-dive into the role of professionals in “Industry 4.0”, or the fourth industrial revolution.
What Does This Mean For Manufacturing and Industrial Automation?
The profound influence of industrial automation and manufacturing engineers cannot be underestimated. With a global footprint encompassing almost a quarter of employment and GDP, these fields are the lynchpin of economic prosperity on a national scale.
As we’ve delved into the realm of industrial automation and manufacturing engineer jobs in 2023, it’s clear that these roles are pivotal to the post-pandemic recovery that is underway. The surge in demand for engineering roles like process engineering, industrial engineering technologists, production management, quality engineering, and supply chain management underscores the vital contributions made these manufacturing engineers and experts.
As industries evolve in the face of emerging technologies and economic challenges, the need for skilled engineering professionals only grows stronger. Aspiring engineers should recognise the immense potential within these fields, not only for personal career growth and success, but also for the enduring impact they can have on progressing lives everywhere. Industrial automation and manufacturing are shaping a more resilient and efficient future across all global economies.
Experts in Industrial Automation and Manufacturing Engineer Jobs
The consultants at Amoria Bond are dedicated to championing the transformative potential of industrial automation and manufacturing engineer jobs. We support candidates at all levels of seniority, connecting them with exciting opportunities across several sectors. Whether you’re searching for an engineering manager role or you’re interested in kick-starting your manufacturing career, reach out to us for a discussion of your professional ambitions.
