Career Portfolio in Robotics Engineering

A career in robotics engineering is to design and build machines to do automated jobs in industries
like manufacturing, aerospace, and medicine. Salary starts at £27,500 a year to £55,500; negotiation
in contract is always open. Working 37 to 40 hours a week (teacher works 50) from typically 9am to
5pm.

As a robotics engineer for your day-to-day tasks, you would research what customers want to
automate, product development, this means you would automate what your clients and the world
want. This would be carried out by using a Computer-Aided Design software; commonly referred to
as a CAD. CAD design is used by architects, construction managers and engineers and has replaced
manual drafting. It helps users create designs in either 2D or 3D to visualise construction and enables
the development, modification, and efficiency of the design process. As a result an engineer would
also be tasked to build and test prototypes and fix faults; a necessary quality for this is patience, it
may take months for a single prototype to be modelled and many more months after to be
perfected. While in the prototype phase of a product you will be tasked to report on risks, issues and
project progress, possibly on a daily basis (varies for place of work). Part of engineering is to analyse
data from robotic sensors and cameras. A quality for this would be being able to read understand
and analyse data continuously. The main task as a robotics engineer is to research new ways to use
robots and artificial intelligence to expand technology industry and be able to apply this to robotics.
Your place of work will differ from and office, laboratory or at a manufacturing plant.

A career in robotics engineering means acquiring a set of skills and knowledge in fields such as
engineering, science, and technology. In the technology field you would be required to understand
computer operating systems, hardware, and software for the development of robotics. To excel in
this field an excellent knowledge of maths is required which also increases the possibility of hire.
Math includes complex problem-solving skills to fix small errors and identifying those errors. A useful
skill is to be able to design to attracts clients and customers; normally in this field the more of your
product is sold the more your wage is increased, this can lead to a renegotiation of your contracts
which includes your annual wage. To be able to sell the idea to a board of directors or your superiors
excellent verbal communication skills are required alongside general manners with a likeable
personality to increase in the amount of product sold. Of course, in the line or work most if it is trial
and error with continuing to learn from past mistakes and so the ability to use, repair and maintain
machines and tools is an absolute necessity to create a piece of functioning work worthy of being
sold to the wider world. Without being able to use a computer and the main software packages
confidently your chances or hire remain very low

There are multiple ways to start this journey if you want to go straight into this job. One of the most
advance ways is a university course in AI, mechatronics, robotics engineering, mechanical or
electronics engineering, computer science or maths which all contribute to a career or job in
engineering. To enter any university course, you would need 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent, including
maths and physics to develop the understandings and knowledge while acquiring certain skills for
this job and a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

A university course is not the only way; the option of a collage course is open. However, the course
would only take you as a far as being a robotics technician but with some further education you can
become a fully qualified robotics engineer. Being a technician before a fully qualified engineer
means it would cost less and if you decide to not pursue this career less damage is done financially
than going to a university. To get into the course a level 3 certificate in robotics and automation is
required alongside a level 4 diploma in computing and a Higher National Certificate in Electrical or
Electronic Engineering. With further training and studying you could then qualify as a robotics
engineer. To enter the courses as listed you need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 or equivalent for a level
3 course and 1 or 2 A levels, a level, 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course.

The most recommended way to become a robotic engineer is through an apprenticeship in robotics
specialism like control and technical support engineering, electro-mechanical engineering,
embedded electronic systems design, manufacturing engineering and robotics engineer. An
apprenticeship may be the best way, but it requires dedication and hard work, more than university
and college. However, by pursuing this career through an apprenticeship you would be left in much
less financial debt with long hours of work experience. To enter you would need 4 or 5 GCSEs at
grades 9-4 or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship. It helps knowing the competition for this kind
of course is extremely difficult and requires hard work and long study hours.

After solidifying your status in the world of engineering you can specialise in a specific are of
robotics. A major sector is self-driving vehicles like tesla which have become famous for this feature
alongside them being fully electric manufactured by CEO and chief technology officer of Space X Elon
Musk. Space exploration is another major sector of technology, most recently the discovery of
reusable fuel tanks which land in the ocean on a pad remotely controlled. Engineering is the world
leading technological advancement creators improving day by day. Engineering in the health sector
includes advancing surgical instruments to decrease fatality rates and lesson the amounts of
mistakes made in every surgery. Advancements in surgery would also impact the health industry
centuries from now when technology progresses, and new innovative projects can be developed.
Marine life and deep ocean research is another major path in robotics engineering with only 5% seen
by humans always expanding with new technology expanding our reach in the seas.

After researching and investigating the journey to become a professional in engineering my decision
on weather I would still want to consider this career as an option for my self is undecided. The long
journey required is a challenge and would consume my young life; however, the salary and hours
needed to work is a major factor to tempt me to consider this career considering current situations
which will deteriorate.
As a robotics engineer you would (Day to Day Tasks)

 research what customers want to automate

 make design using computer aided design (CAD) software
 build and test prototypes and fix faults
 analyse data from robot sensors and cameras
 report on risks, issues and project progress
 research news ways to use robots and artificial intelligence

This can be done in an office, laboratory or at a manufacturing plant.

Skills and Knowledge

 knowledge of engineering science and technology

 knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
 maths knowledge
 design skills and knowledge
 excellent verbal communication skills
 the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
 thinking and reasoning skills
 complex problem-solving skills
 to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

You can get into this job through:

1. A university course in:

1.1. Artificial intelligence
1.2. Mechatronics (Mechanical Engineering: The design and analysis of mechanical systems,
such as sensors, mechanical structures.)
1.3. Robotics engineering
1.4. Mechanical or electronics engineering
1.5. Computer science or maths

To enter you would need:

- 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent, including maths and physics.
- A degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study.
You can get into this job through:

2. a college course which will help to find a job as a robotics technician

2.1. level 3 certificate in robotics and automation
2.2. level 4 diploma in computing
2.3. Higher National Certificate in Electrical or Electronic Engineering

With further training you could then qualify as a robotics engineer.

To enter you need:

- 4 or 5 GCSE’s at grades 9-4 or equivalent for a level 3 course

- 1 or 2 A levels, a level, 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course.

You can get into this job through:

3. You could do a level 6 degree apprenticeship in robotics specialism like:

3.1. Control and technical support engineering
3.2. Electro-mechanical engineering
3.3. Embedded electronic systems design
3.4. Manufacturing engineering
3.5. Robotics engineer

To enter you would need:

- 4 or 5 GCSE’s at grades 9-4 or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

Career Path and Progression:

You could specialise in a specific area or Robotics:

 self-driving vehicles
 space exploration
 surgical instruments
 deep ocean research