Robotics engineer
Revolutionise the way people live and work by designing exciting new systems that can save time, money and change lives.
Also known as: robotic autonomous systems operations engineer, robotic systems engineer, robotic design engineer
About the job
A day in the life – Robotics engineer
What it's like
Robotics engineers use technology and innovation to design and construct robotic systems. Imagine being a bionic inventor, creating amazing robots that can do all sorts of jobs. These robots might do tasks too dangerous, time-consuming or difficult for humans to complete.
Take exploring shipwrecks. Buried in the ocean's hidden depths, this can be a task that’s dangerous or impossible for even the most experienced human diver. But thanks to robotics engineers, we have deep sea robots that can do it for us!
There are endless possibilities for the robots you might create. You could engineer surgical or military machines that save lives or robots that get sent into space! Robotics engineers built systems used on NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover.
And that’s not all! You could develop robots that work independently to generate power on offshore wind farms. They’ll install, inspect, maintain and repair parts of the wind farm.
Advances in technology mean you’ll need to keep up to date with the latest technical systems and trends. Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping revolutionise the world of robotics. You'll get to work with AI in this role and come up with creative ways to make robots smarter and more adaptable.
If you're always tinkering with tech, love a good challenge and get a kick out of seeing your creations come to life, then this job might be perfect for you!
Your tasks might include:
identifying issues that robotic automation could solve
creating robots using mechanical, electrical and computer engineering skills
writing programmes to control robot movements
implementing artificial intelligence into robotic systems
working out design needs and costs based on a given budget
maintaining and improving the functionality of robotic systems
staying updated with the latest technical advancements
helping others with the use and maintenance of robotic automation
develop, create and maintain robotic systems that generate power on an offshore wind farm
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Related industries
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Transport Financial and professional services Creative Life sciences Healthcare Engineering and manufacturing Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From February 2024 to February 2025.
- robotics
- industrial robotics
- robotic systems
- c++ (programming language)
- python (programming language)
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- analysing
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- researching
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- innovative
- designing
- creative
- working with technology
Top three skills
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
Computing Science
Design and Technology
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Applications of Mathematics
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Robotics Engineers typically have a high level of technical qualification across multiple disciplines. There are a variety of possible routes to reach this level of technical ability.
Many Robotics Engineers will have a Higher National Diploma, degree or postgraduate qualification in the following subject areas:
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science
Robotics and Mechatronics college
You can gain qualifications through university or through work based learning, for example, through Apprenticeships. Even with high level qualifications, relevant experience and additional in-work training and qualifications are usually essential.
As technology is ever changing, it is necessary to keep up with these advances throughout your career.
Apprenticeships
You can gain skills and qualifications in the workplace through options such as Foundation Apprenticeships (FA), Modern Apprenticeships (MA) and Graduate Apprenticeships (GA).
Foundation Apprenticeships
You might want to consider doing this in areas such as:
Engineering
Modern Apprenticeships
You might want to consider doing this in areas such as:
Engineering
Graduate Apprenticeships
You might want to consider doing this in areas such as:
Engineering: Design and manufacture
Although not all employers list specific qualification requirements they do ask for relevant (usually work based) experience that demonstrates a range of transferable meta-skills, such as problem solving and perseverance skills.
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