Robot Technician: Job Outlook and Requirements for Becoming a Robotics Technician
Robotics engineering is an exciting and growing field, and a career in Robotics Technology offers an accessible entry point. With a 2-year associate degree, individuals can begin working as Robot Technicians to manufacture, service and repair robots for industrial use. With on-the-job experience and further education, the growth potential for Robotics Technology careers is significant, and paths for expansion in this industry are abundant.
Career Definition: Robot Technology
Robot Technicians perform a crucial function of Robotics engineering, a field with its feet already planted in the industrial arena. Robot Technicians build, maintain and repair robots in automated manufacturing plants and other settings, using computer programming and electromechanical engineering skills and knowledge. While robotics engineers conceptualize, design, and oversee the fabrication of such robots, Robot Technicians are essential in providing expert service throughout the life of the robot, prolonging its use and supporting the increased efficiency it facilitates.
How to Become a Robot Technician
Required Education for a Career in Robotics Engineering
As in every field of engineering technology, the field of Robotics Technology requires an associate degree or technical certificate to qualify for jobs, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov. Most programs take two years to complete and include coursework in motion programming, conveyor systems and computer networking and integration, according to Online Robotics, www.onlinerobotics.com. After completing a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and gaining a few years of work experience, Robotics Technicians may pursue professional certification through the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET), which requires a passing grade on a written exam, supervisor references and a designated amount of in-school and on-the-job training (www.nicet.org).
Skills Required for a Career in Robot Technology
According to Online Robotics, Robot Technicians should be well-versed in theoretical approaches to Robotics engineering, as well as laboratory methodologies and standards. A grasp of software programming is highly desirable, and creative problem-solving skills are essential. Robot Technicians should understand the anatomy of an industrial robot and be familiar with its manufacturing process in order to determine the best solutions to technical issues and enhancement needs. Solid interpersonal skills and creativity are also invaluable.
Robot Technology Career Outlook
PayScale.com reports that Robot Technicians make between $42,000 and $52,000 per year (www.payscale.com), depending on experience, and the BLS predicts average job growth in the engineering technologies between 2006 and 2016. Because Robotics Technology is such a burgeoning field, however, Robot Technicians can expect to see a higher rate of job growth and increased opportunities for advancement as Robotics become an integral part of more and more industries, including the agriculture, military and healthcare domains.
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