Science & ResearchISCO 2149
Robotics engineer
A robotics engineer is a person who designs and develops robotic devices and applications, combining them with the principles of mechanical engineering.
Check yourself in a minute: robotics engineer
Rate 5 of the 16 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
adjust engineering designs
develop computer vision system
perform scientific research
use technical drawing software
execute feasibility study
About robotics engineer
The engineer works from established designs and from the state of the art to improve or develop systems, machines and devices, drawing on several fields at once: computer science, engineering and electronics. The engineer draws on robotics for kinematics and control, on mechanics for loads and tolerances, and on automatic control systems to keep a machine working to the same accuracy. They use technical drawing software such as CAD packages to design the mechanical parts and to check that an arm reaches everything it has to reach without striking anything.
The engineer also designs for human-robot collaboration, deciding how a machine that shares a space with people behaves when someone steps into its reach.
Before development begins, the engineer draws up a feasibility study and assesses viability: whether the application can be built with available technology and whether it pays for itself over the life of the installation. Engineering principles underpin all of it. Formal requirements are set by the employer.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (16)
human-robot collaborationhuman-robot collaborationHuman-Robot Collaboration is the study of collaborative processes in which human and robot agents work together to achieve shared goals. Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) is an interdisciplinary researc...engineering principlesengineering principlesThe engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.automatic control systemautomatic control systemSet of interconnected mechanisms and components, such as controllers or sensing elements, that use programming logic to automate the operation and behaviour of a process or system without a continuous...robotic componentsrobotic componentsThe components that can be found in robotic systems, such as microprocessors, electronics, sensors, circuit boards, encoders, servomotors, controllers, pneumatics or hydraulics.mechanical engineeringmechanical engineeringDiscipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.roboticsroboticsThe branch of engineering that involves the design, operation, manufacture, and application of robots. Robotics is part of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science and over...mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.develop computer vision systemdevelop computer vision systemApply and combine different computer vision tools and methods such as image acquisition, image processing, image segmentation and classification, detection, etc. in one system to allow computers to ex...perform scientific researchperform scientific researchGain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.use technical drawing softwareuse technical drawing softwareCreate technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.execute feasibility studyexecute feasibility studyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the p...assess financial viabilityassess financial viabilityRevise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Asse...approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.design automation componentsdesign automation componentsDesign engineering parts, assemblies, products, or systems that contribute to the automation of industrial machines.
Optional (36) — show
model based system engineeringmodel based system engineeringModel-based systems engineering (MBSE) is a methodology for systems engineering that uses visual modelling as the primary means of communicating information. It is focused on creating and exploiting d...manufacturing processesmanufacturing processesThe steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.electrical engineeringelectrical engineeringThe field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.safety engineeringsafety engineeringThe study of the risks associated with engineered designs and systems, accident prevention as well as the safety benefits of reducing deaths and injuries. The discipline focuses on analysing and mitig...design principlesdesign principlesThe elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.computer engineeringcomputer engineeringEngineering discipline that combines computer science with electrical engineering to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineering occupies itself with electronics, software design, and...microprocessorsmicroprocessorsComputer processors on a microscale that integrate the computer central processing unit (CPU) on a single chip.electronicselectronicsThe functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications.industrial engineeringindustrial engineeringThe field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.state estimationstate estimationThe process of fusing input data measurements and a mathematical model to determine the internal state of an energy system.mechatronicsmechatronicsMultidisciplinary field of engineering that combines principles of electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, control engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering in the ...product data managementproduct data managementThe use of software to track all information concerning a product such as technical specifications, drawings, design specifications, and production costs.industrial research and developmentindustrial research and developmentThe set of activities that companies carry out to do industrial innovation and introduce new engineering products and services or new industrial production processes.keep up with digital transformation of industrial processeskeep up with digital transformation of industrial processesKeep up to date with digital innovations applicable to industrial processes. Integrate these transformations in the company's processes aiming for competitive and profitable business models.debug softwaredebug softwareRepair computer code by analysing testing results, locating the defects causing the software to output an incorrect or unexpected result and remove these faults.record test datarecord test dataRecord data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptiona...create software designcreate software designTranspose a series of requirements into a clear and organised software design.perform test runperform test runPerform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, ...apply advanced manufacturingapply advanced manufacturingImprove production rates, efficiencies, yields, costs, and changeovers of products and processes using relevant advanced, innovative, and cutting edge technology.create technical planscreate technical plansCreate detailed technical plans of machinery, equipment, tools and other products.calibrate mechatronic instrumentscalibrate mechatronic instrumentsCorrect and adjust the reliability of an mechatronic instrument by measuring output and comparing results with the data of a reference device or a set of standardised results. This is done in regular ...test mechatronic unitstest mechatronic unitsTest mechatronic units using appropriate equipment. Gather and analyse data. Monitor and evaluate system performance and take action if needed.maintain robotic equipmentmaintain robotic equipmentDiagnose and detect malfunctions in robotic components and systems and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance tasks, such as storing rob...use CAM softwareuse CAM softwareUse computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.assemble robotsassemble robotsAssemble robotic machines, devices, and components according to engineering drawings. Program and install the necessary components of robotic systems, such as robot controllers, conveyors, and end-of-...analyse test dataanalyse test dataInterpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.follow standards for machinery safetyfollow standards for machinery safetyApply basic safety standards and machine-specific technical standards to prevent risks connected with the use of machines in the workplace.advise on machinery malfunctionsadvise on machinery malfunctionsOffer advice to service technicians in case of machinery malfunctions and other technical repair tasks.simulate mechatronic design conceptssimulate mechatronic design conceptsSimulate mechatronic design concepts through creating mechanical models and performing tolerance analysis.draft design specificationsdraft design specificationsList the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.use CAD softwareuse CAD softwareUse computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.design prototypesdesign prototypesDesign prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.conduct performance testsconduct performance testsConduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditi...assemble mechatronic unitsassemble mechatronic unitsAssemble mechatronic units using mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic, and information technology systems and components. Manipulate and attach metals through using welding and sol...prepare production prototypesprepare production prototypesPrepare early models or prototypes in order to test concepts and replicability possibilities. Create prototypes to assess for pre-production tests.control productioncontrol productionPlan, coordinate, and direct all production activities to insure the goods are made on time, in correct order, of adequate quality and composition, starting from intake goods up to shipping.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a robotics engineer do?
Robotics engineers design and develop robotic devices and applications in combination with mechanical engineering principles. They use pre-established designs and current developments for improving or inventing systems, machinery and equipment. They combine several knowledge fields such as computing, engineering, and electronics in the development of new engineering applications.
What skills does a robotics engineer need?
A robotics engineer needs 16 essential skills, including human-robot collaboration, engineering principles, technical drawings, automatic control system, robotic components.
Will AI replace robotics engineer jobs?
The AI disruption score for robotics engineer is 72/100 (high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: record test data, product data management, analyse test data. Most resilient: assemble mechatronic units, mechanics, model based system engineering.
AI Replacement Risk
72/ 100
High Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Skills most at risk from AI
Skills resilient to automation
This is the average for the whole occupation. The AI Career Shield test (about 10 minutes) shows the risk in your own work and what you can do about it.
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