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.
Apply now for a job as an automation engineer!
Mining Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Mining
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 1 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.
ILS Engineer
Location: Perth CBD
Branche: Shipbuilding
Expertise: HR & Recruiting
Experience: 0 years
Reporting to the Head of Engineering & ILS, you'll support of all logistics engineering deliverables, ensuring alignment with the Functional Performance Specifications (FPS) and Provisional Operating Support Intent (POSI). You'll manage key artefacts, integrate cross-functional inputs, and maintain a strong focus on delivery, governance, and stakeholder engagement. Key Responsibilities: Lead and manage a team of logistics engineers, officers, and contractors across Australia and internationally. Oversee technical outputs, including SSSPECs, UUPs, and LCC documents, ensuring compliance with defence standards. Conduct detailed analyses, such as FMECA, RCM, and LORA, to support logistics strategies. Drive collaboration across engineering, training, and technical documentation teams. Track performance and risk, ensuring projects stay on time and within scope. Champion continuous improvement, optimising tools, processes, and supportability strategies.
Simulation Engineer
Location: Perth CBD
Branche: Information Technology
Expertise: IT & Shared Services
Experience: 4 years
We are currently seeking Simulation Engineer - to work on a contract basis on an exciting green energy project .The position will be based in the Perth. For further information about this position please apply. Key accountabilities will include: Development of simulation tools to drive decision making on decarbonation programs, including electrification and hybridisation. Help drive decisions on technology pathways, control philosophies and high-level engineering decisions based on simulation data/tools Develop validation plans to ensure simulations are of high quality and had fidelity required to determine real world constrains and conclusions
Senior Electrical Test Engineer
Location: Perth CBD
Branche: Mining
Expertise: Communications & Distribution
Experience: 5 years
Develop and implement test plans, test cases, and automated scripts based on system requirements Lead and coordinate physical testing on rigs, HiL setups, and active mine sites Identify and manage specialist vendors for advanced electrical testing Support FAT/SAT activities and the safe integration of systems into operational environments Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate performance, troubleshoot faults, and ensure product compliance Collect, analyse, and interpret data from instrumentation and sensors Maintain detailed documentation and test reports in line with QA and regulatory requirements Drive continuous improvement in testing methodology, tools, and safety
Production Engineer
Location: Brisbane
Branche: Conventional Energy
Expertise: Quality Management
Experience: 4 years
Daily production monitoring and analysis of wells and gathering system; Daily support to field operations as and when required acting as an interface between office and Field ops; Accountable for FBHP optimisation and tracking; Update and monitor well production trends and discuss daily remedial actions with optimisation Lead, Production Technology, Engineering and Field Teams Proactively develop and maintain close working relationships to collaborate across the business; Provide technical support during the implementation and ongoing surveillance of technology trials; Ensure all HSSE risk assessments and operational processes are properly and rigorously used; Lead by example with a deep strong commitment to company vales, code of conduct, safety and the environment; Apply company standards with rigor and intervene when they are compromised.
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.