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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Optimisation Software Engineer
Location: Perth CBD
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 4 years
The Domain Engineer is a highly skilled software engineer with a strong mathematical foundation, specializing in optimization algorithms. This role requires a unique blend of expertise in linear programming, operations research, and software development to modify and improve on algorithms and methods used in existing products. With a proven track record of delivering high-performance, scalable solutions, they will collaborate with domain experts, architects, and development teams to assist in improving existing algorithms within the existing product suite. Responsibilities: Design, develop, and maintain the assignment engine which dynamically allocates tasks to autonomous assets under management of the product suite, leveraging linear programming, combinatorial optimization, and real-time data integration. Collaborate with Architects, Development teams, Verification teams, and other domain experts to translate operational requirements into detailed, high-quality algorithm specifications. Provide expert guidance in solving complex optimization problems, such as minimizing idle time, optimizing routes, and balancing fleet utilization in mining operations. Work with architects to create detailed development work packages for the algorithm improvements, ensuring alignment with system architecture and operational goals. Contribute to the product delivery plan by providing insights into optimization-driven software development timelines and dependencies. Mentor other engineers, sharing expertise in mathematical optimization and software development to accelerate team growth and knowledge sharing. Actively participate in technical discussions, advocating for solutions that balance computational efficiency with practical mining operational needs.
Data Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 3 years
Reporting to the Data Management Lead, you will design and enhance data-driven services, solving business problems and delivering insights through: Designing, building, deploying, and scaling data pipelines for machine learning and predictive models. Data modelling and architecting datasets from various enterprise systems. Engineering complex big data compute tasks. Developing innovative data service techniques to support analytics models. Creating platforms and processes to enhance reproducibility and accuracy of results. ETL reporting from traditional and legacy systems.
Project Engineers - Multiple roles in Regional NSW
Location: Sydney
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 2 years
Manage end-to-end project delivery, ensuring adherence to design specifications, budget constraints, and timelines. Conduct cost reconciliations, identify risks and opportunities, and manage project budgets for Life of Mine and 5-Year Plans. Perform site assessments (surface and underground) to determine feasibility and technical requirements. Collaborate with contractors, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to ensure smooth execution. Use project management software and CAD tools to support engineering decisions and project tracking.
Systems Engineer - Rollingstock
Location: Perth CBD
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 2 years
Execute the systems engineering process, including requirements analysis, system architecture, design, integration, verification, and validation. Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to develop integrated rolling stock systems. Develop and manage system requirements to meet project objectives and regulatory compliance. Contribute to System Engineering Management Plans (SEMP) for rolling stock projects. Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies for technical challenges. Support procurement processes, evaluate supplier proposals, and provide technical guidance. Participate in design reviews, verification, and validation activities.
Mining Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 2 years
In these roles, you'll lead planning, designing, and optimizing operations for both open-pit and underground sites, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective resource extraction while maintaining top safety and environmental standards. Mine Planning & Design: Develop and implement mine plans for open-pit and underground operations. Optimization: Maximize resource extraction and minimize operational costs. Production Management: Oversee mining activities to meet targets within budget and on time. Collaboration: Work alongside geologists, safety officers, and equipment teams to ensure smooth operations. Safety & Compliance: Uphold the highest safety standards and environmental regulations. Innovation: Continuously improve processes and implement new technologies to boost efficiency.
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.