Robotics Technician
A Robotics Technician, also known as an electromechanical technician, specializes in building, repairing, and maintaining robotic systems and mechanical devices within manufacturing environments. This role combines knowledge of electrical and computer systems to ensure robots operate efficiently and effectively. Responsibilities can vary, with some technicians involved in the design and assembly of robots while others focus on maintenance and troubleshooting. The work often requires interpreting technical manuals and applying critical thinking to solve complex issues.
Typically employed in factories, robotics technicians operate in environments that can be noisy and require safety precautions. Most positions require a high school diploma followed by two years of postsecondary training, such as an associate's degree in robotics technology or related fields. The career outlook for robotics technicians shows a slight decline in employment opportunities, with a median annual earning of approximately $65,080. This role is essential for optimizing production processes, particularly in settings where repetitive or hazardous tasks are performed by robotic systems.
Robotics Technician
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Interests: Robotics technology, engineering, computer science, electrical systems, machinery
Earnings (Yearly Median): $65,080 annually
Employment & Outlook: -3% (Decline)
Overview
Sphere of Work. Robotics technicians, or electromechanical technicians, build and repair robots and mechanical devices in a manufacturing setting. Drawing on their electrical and computer systems knowledge, robotics technicians develop efficient robots and keep them in good working order. Some technicians assist at all levels of a robot’s conception, production, and installation. Others are experts regarding the machines they are assigned to maintain.
Technicians install new systems and replace old ones. Some robotics technicians work closely with engineers in development and design. Others spend their time inspecting sites and making repairs. Robotics technicians read and interpret manuals and instructions but also think critically to find solutions to unusual or complex problems with machines.
Work Environment. Most robotics technicians work in factories or similar manufacturing settings. Technicians use several technologies, ranging from sophisticated computer programs to hand tools, to test machines and look for problems. A technician’s work can be dangerous, so technicians need to take proper safety precautions and follow correct procedures.
Occupation Interest. A robotics technician should be interested in engineering and enjoy taking machines apart and putting them back together. Technicians are meticulous, and they always double-check their work. A robotics technician plays an important role within the larger framework of a factory operation.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Every day is different for robotics technicians. Their responsibilities include building and installing new robotic devices, replacing old or outdated parts and machines, testing robot performance, troubleshooting problems within a system, maintaining inventories of necessary parts and tools, and programming computers.
There are generally two types of robotics technicians: those who work with engineers to design and assemble robots and those who maintain and repair those robots. The first type thinks creatively to find a way for machines to simulate the work of humans. Robot manipulators, or robots that simulate the work of arms or hands, are common in industrial settings, particularly when the work is repetitive or performed in a dangerous environment. Technicians work with engineers to develop machines such as manipulators to perform a very specialized task within the larger framework of the factory or plant.
The second kind of robotics technician monitors the use of these machines. After the robot has been tested and installed, a technician routinely inspects it for missing or malfunctioning parts. This work is largely preventative, as a broken or worn-down machine can stall production across the plant. When a machine does break down, robotics technicians have the knowledge and skill to repair them.
Technicians typically work a regular forty-hour week, though sometimes companies schedule repairs of robotic equipment during weekends or holidays. In this event, a technician might have to work overtime.
Controllers, Repairers, and Testers (825.381-018). Controllers, repairers, and testers adjust, clean, repair, and test electric control equipment of commuter and rapid-transit cars or streetcars, following wiring diagrams and using specialized equipment and hand tools.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Robotics technicians work in factories, plants, and other industrial settings.
Plant Environment. The plants and factories in which robotics technicians work are often dirty and loud. Technicians are often required to wear protective gear when performing their job. Working with large machines can be dangerous, so people must follow strict safety precautions.
Human Environment. Most robotics technicians work in teams that include other technicians, technologists, engineers, and machine operators. A robotics technician rarely works alone. Even minor repairs require assistance from or interaction with others.
Technological Environment. A robotics technician must be familiar with a range of technologies. In terms of computers and computer programming, most technicians use computer-aided design (CAD) software and industrial control software programs.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Aspiring robotics technicians should enroll in mathematics, physics, computer science, and English courses. Shop classes and extracurricular activities related to robotics or simple machinery are also valuable. A robotics technician is familiar with various machines and understands why and how those machines work. They are comfortable using the scientific method and solving equations. They are also adept at reading manuals and diagrams and can easily explain complex instructions. A job as a robotics technician requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
Postsecondary. Most robotics technician jobs require only two years of postsecondary training, culminating in an associate’s degree or certificate. Community colleges and technical schools offer degree programs in electromechanics, robotics technology, industrial maintenance, and computer-integrated manufacturing. Many of these programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and include courses in trigonometry, science, algebra, and engineering specializations.
Similar fields of study, including electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, are available in four-year bachelor’s degree programs, but most robotics technicians do not pursue this career path. Students who earn a bachelor’s degree are much more likely to pursue a career as an engineering technologist.
Related Occupations
− Computer-Control Machine Tool Operator
− Computer-Control Tool Programmer
− Electrical & Electronics Engineer
− Electromechanical Equipment Assembler
Bibliography
"Electro-mechanical Technicians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/electro-mechanical-technicians.htm. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.
"Robotics Engineer: Career Definition, Job Outloook, and Training Requirements." Learn.org, learn.org/articles/Robotics‗Engineer‗Career‗Definition‗Job‗Outlook‗and‗Training‗Requirements.html. Accessed 24 Aug. 2024.