The Eclectic Road to Working in Robotics

If there’s one thing our team at Yaskawa can get excited about it’s National Robotics Week (aka: RoboWeek). This national celebration is a week set aside to highlight the latest in robotic innovations and to build excitement for working in the industry.

Expected to register at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 12 percent between now and 2030, the Industrial Robotics Market continues to grow¹, opening the door for new businesses and career opportunities. For robot manufacturers and integrators alike, many of these jobs fall into the engineering category. From electrical and mechanical engineers to process and welding engineers, there are multiple areas of study where engineering is concerned. However, working in robotics can mean more than being an engineer.

Most robot suppliers have different departments, ranging from sales and marketing to manufacturing, finance, information technology, customer service and more. Needless to say, as the industry grows, there will be a larger need for professionals with varied educational backgrounds and work experiences to maintain the high level of manufacturing execution required to fulfill future industry demands.

Career Path Examples

The road to working in the robotics industry does not always take a cookie cutter approach. While many professionals employed in the field graduate high school and go directly to college to earn a degree, others take a less conventional approach. All that to say, there’s more than one way to gain the skills needed to have a hands-on job working with robots.

At Yaskawa, our experts are frequently asked, “What kind of education do I need to get a job here?” And, while that can vary, here are a few job examples (along with some helpful advice) to provide a glimpse into the type of training that can be beneficial to securing a career in the robotics industry:

Electrical Engineer, Co-op – from learning robotic standards to putting them into practice on drawings and models, this position works closely with a variety of engineers, helping robot projects come to fruition. After graduating high school, our current co-op in this role is continuing to gain robotics education by:

• Completed Associate’s degree in Automation and Control with Robotics at Sinclair Community College (concurrent with Yaskawa employment)

• Hired at Yaskawa as an Electrical Engineer Co-op

• Acquiring a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Wright State University (concurrent with Yaskawa employment)

Key Advice: for individuals starting out on an engineering or robotics career path, and for those looking for a co-op or internship position, our Electrical Engineer Co-op encourages, “Never give up on finishing your degree path. It can be a little discouraging at times, but in the end, it is well worth it, especially if you really enjoy robotics and/or engineering. Also, by working at a robotics company as a Co-op, you can put the skills you’ve been developing at college to use. Being able to see something that starts out as an idea or drawing come to fruition is very rewarding and helps motivate you toward your end goal.”

Project Technician – from conducting liaison activities between internal sales managers and customers to clarifying any technical matters pertaining to equipment issues, selection and improvements, this position mixes working on-site and out in the field. A current employee in this position took the following career path:

• Studied Construction Electricity at Scarlet Oaks vocational school

• Completed an Electrical Training Apprenticeship through IEC Cincinnati

• Spent a decade working for several electrical contractors

• Worked for an overhead crane company, doing electrical controls and heavy mechanical installations

• Hired at Yaskawa as an Automation Technician, then worked as a Technical Support Specialist, before taking the role of Project Technician

Key Advice: for those looking for a different path (outside of college), our Project Technician says, “Take advantage of the career path opportunities set in place for the robotics industry. There are a lot of schools that have great programs that didn’t exist twenty years ago.”

Robotics Instructor – from performing R&D and maintaining course curricula to instructing various robotic training courses, this position requires being able to teach core robot programming skills to Yaskawa Academy students and on- and off-site customers. Other duties include assisting with development and implementation of audio-visual aids, providing technical support for programming and maintenance issues (internal and external), etc. A current employee in this position took the following career path:

• Joined the United States Air Force

• Earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Wilmington College

• Hired as a Technical Writer by Ferno-Washington

• Hired as a Technical Writer at NCR/AT&T

• Hired as a Technical Writer at Yaskawa, then worked as a Web Analyst, before training for the role of Robotics Instructor

• Hired as a Web Design Instructor at Wright State University (concurrent with Yaskawa employment)

Key Advice: for those looking for a career change, our Robotics Instructor says, “Listen to your gut. Don’t pursue money or what’s easy. Neither of those things are ultimately fulfilling. Don’t be afraid to take risks and embrace doing things that scare you. Also, embrace hobbies – as a hobby is an unrestricted outlet for your true creative instincts. They are clues that point to what makes you happy.”

Process Engineer, Material Handling – from product research, testing and development to supporting sales efforts, leading continuous improvement initiatives and more, this job requires a high level of technical proficiency in material handling and problem solving. Likewise, this position also serves as a communicator between internal sales managers and customers, helping to pinpoint any technical matters pertaining to equipment issues, selection and improvements. In fact, a primary role for this position is working with new customers to demonstrate that our robotic systems perform as required. Other duties include designing and building tradeshow demos, maintaining the demo lab facility, preparing technical materials and presentations for both internal and external meetings/trainings, etc. A current employee in this role took the following career path:

• Graduated high school/Earned a diploma in Mechatronics from Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

• Completed a Technology Advancement Co-op position at Yaskawa

• Completed an R&D Summer Internship with University of Dayton – Motoman Robotics Lab

• Worked as a Robotics Lab Assistant at the University of Dayton – Motoman Robotics Lab

• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton

• Worked a total of 4.5 years as a Controls Engineer and a New Model Engineer for Honda Development and Manufacturing of America – Anna Engine Plant

• Hired at Yaskawa as a Process Engineer

Key Advice: for young people that already know they want to work in robotics, our Process Engineer says, “My robotics journey started when I was in seventh grade. Since then, it has always been a passion for me, and something I pursued throughout middle school, high school and college. That said, if you’re interested in robotics, have a plan for what you want to do, and don’t do the bare minimum and expect opportunities to just happen. Get out and find opportunities to grow your skills and your future. While doing this, make connections everywhere you go. Most of the positions that I have interviewed for or held were because I knew someone…who knew someone. And, most importantly, don’t expect to know everything right out of school. It takes time to mature your knowledge, skills and professionalism.”

Sr. Engineer – having a strong electrical emphasis, this position focuses on assignments involving the origination, design and development of new robotic systems and products. Modifications and improvements to current system designs are also a main part of this job. A strong understanding of ISO procedures is required. Other duties include performing advanced mechanical/electrical calculations, solving technical problems, using resource planning software, communicating with customers, etc. A current employee in this position took the following career path:

• Joined the United States Air Force

• Hired as an Assembler at Yaskawa, then as a Sr. Assembler, Manufacturing Technician, Sr. Manufacturing Technician, Manufacturing Coordinator and a Robotic System Specialist, before taking on the role of Senior Engineer

• Earned an Engineering Science degree from Sinclair Community College (concurrent with working at Yaskawa)

• Earned an Electrical Engineering degree from Wright State University (concurrent with working at Yaskawa)

Key Advice: for those interested in working your way up through a company, our Sr. Engineer says, “Be willing to learn multiple engineering disciplines. For example, if you are studying to be an electrical engineer, take a couple of mechanical and computer engineering classes. Likewise, get involved with engineering clubs and get to know your instructors, and let them get to know you.”

Sr. Process Engineer, Welding – from product research, testing and development to supporting sales efforts, leading continuous improvement initiatives and more, this job requires a high level of technical proficiency in welding and problem solving. Likewise, this position also serves as a liaison between internal sales managers and customers, helping to clarify any technical matters pertaining to equipment issues, selection and improvements. Another key role for this position is working with new customers to demonstrate that our robotic systems perform as required. Other duties include designing and building tradeshow demos, maintaining the demo lab facility, preparing technical materials and presentations for both internal and external meetings/trainings, etc. A current employee in this role took the following career path:

• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Welding Engineering from The Ohio State University

• Completed a three-year Engineering Internship at the Edison Welding Institute

• Hired at Yaskawa as an Application Technician, before moving to Process Engineer

Key Advice: for individuals looking to specialize in robotic welding, our Sr. Process Engineer offers, “Robot welding technologies have a long way to go before they are very robust and easy to use. Future engineers should have a strong desire to learn about how things work, then use their creativity to develop new ideas for solutions to problems. Likewise, these individuals should be prepared for their ideas to fail, while having the willingness to accept this failure and move on by making modifications or creating a new ideas. Also, potential engineers should focus on finding a niche – as most experts know a lot about a specific field.”

Supervisor of Process Engineering – with a strong emphasis on leadership, this job is responsible for managing the engineering lab – overseeing team members to resolve difficult technical issues under heavy customer scrutiny. Likewise, this position also serves as a liaison between internal sales managers and customers, helping to clarify any matters pertaining to equipment issues, selection and improvements. From product research, testing and development to supporting sales efforts, leading continuous improvement initiatives and more, this job requires a high level of technical proficiency in problem solving and understanding ISO standards. Another key role for this position is working with new customers to demonstrate that our robotic systems perform as required. Other duties include designing and building tradeshow demos, maintaining the demo lab facility, preparing technical materials and presentations for both internal and external meetings/trainings, etc. A current employee in this role took the following career path:

• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton

• Completed an Engineering Co-op position with Sprimag Inc.

• Completed an Engineering Co-op position with RL Industries

• Completed an Engineering Co-op position with Yaskawa

• Hired at Yaskawa as a Mechanical Engineer, then as Process Engineer and Sr. Mechanical Engineer, before being hired as the Process Engineering Supervisor

Key Advice: for individuals starting out on an engineering or robotics career path, or for those looking for a co-op or internship position, our Supervisor of Process Engineering advises to, “Keep an open mind about what your career could look like. It is hard to know exactly what a real-world engineering job entails until you have one. Most of what I learned in college prepared me to solve problems, rather than being essential knowledge for my everyday job. You will end up learning so much more on the job for your specific career path, so don’t be afraid to deep dive into a project and grow as a professional. Also, never assume you know it all and ask questions constantly – this is how you will learn and gain experience.

Associate Chief Engineer – often having a strong electrical focus, this job focuses on the design, testing and development of new robotic systems, products and components. Modifications and improvements to current system designs are also a main part of this job. Along with this, the ability to identify new technologies and their possible applications is important. Other duties include, leading continuous improvement initiatives, assisting manufacturing projects, documenting processes, etc. A current employee in this role took the

• Earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Dayton

• Hired at Yaskawa as a Project Engineer, then as Sr. Project Engineer, before being hired as an Associate Chief Engineer

Key Advice: for individuals pursuing a career path in engineering, our Associate Chief Engineer says, “Start with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. This will open a lot of doors. Also, the ability to enjoy problem solving and working with others is a must in this line of work. Although many engineers seem anti-social, all worthwhile problems require teamwork to solve.”

Education Next Steps

As the robotics industry continues to grow, educational institutions must be proactive, taking strategic steps to grow a relevant workforce by emphasizing robotic automation, developing primary skill sets and aligning curriculum with advanced technology, while teaching the necessary soft skills needed in business today. Likewise, businesses and manufacturers surrounding these school should get involved and form partnerships, sponsoring technology labs, STEM-centric events and robotics competitions. All of this will help encourage students to seek robotic automation as a career field and build a strong workforce for future success.