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What does an automation engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Dr. Howard Rees
What does an automation engineer do

An automation engineer takes charge of developing detailed design specifications and any other documents. Automation engineers develop automation software that is based on certain requirements for the involved process. They conform to local standards, international standards, and other process-oriented guidelines. Their duties also include the simulation and testing of automated machinery and processes. The must-have skills for this position include configuration software experience, scripting and coding expertise, certifications, and in-depth knowledge of technology.

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Automation engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real automation engineer resumes:

  • Perform inter-departmental audits documenting ISO compliant results with associate corrective action requests in order to achieve company-wide certification.
  • Design and develop automation framework settings and implementation of Java, JavaScript.
  • Develop automation scripts for quality assurance in Perl and ruby.
  • Develop and maintain an automation tool written in Perl which are used to perform the build verification and regression test.
  • Execute the batches (shell scripts) in UNIX that invokes Java programs and SQL loader to load data into tables.
  • Involve in documenting test cases and packaging test suites and making them available to all of engineering and QA using JIRA.
  • Migrate automation team onto git.
  • Develop SoapUI extension for test statistics.
  • Create tests using VersionOne, TestComplete and SOAPUI.
  • Develop maven build files for maintaining test automation builds.
  • Used cucumber annotations for implementing the automation for feature files.
  • Help developers and testers daily with various git and perforce usage.
  • Analyze modules and designer test scenarios and test scripts in UNIX environment.
  • Deploy new builds in Linux server using putty from Jenkins- used for continuous integration.
  • Develop log files using Log4J API to store system logs and manually generate logs.

Automation engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Automation Engineers are proficient in Python, Java, and PLC.

We break down the percentage of Automation Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 12%

    Implemented Switches and Routers configuration keywords function for RobotFramework library using python library telnet.

  • Java, 8%

    Automated regression test cases using Java Responsible in executing Selenium test scripts on different browsers and checked for compatibility.

  • PLC, 5%

    Core Responsibilities: Building and troubleshooting control systems Planning and implementing projects Programming and Troubleshooting PLC controls systems

  • HMI, 5%

    Installed HMI Touch Screen Interface for automated packaging operation

  • GIT, 4%

    Migrated the existing subversion repository including all history over to Git.

  • Control Systems, 4%

    Monitored automation and controls systems design, specification, programming, simulation and testing and development of control systems.

"python," "java," and "plc" are among the most common skills that automation engineers use at work. You can find even more automation engineer responsibilities below, including:

See the full list of automation engineer skills

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Compare different automation engineers

Automation engineer vs. Quality assurance tester

A quality assurance tester, also known as QA tester, has different responsibilities depending on the line of work or industry involved. In a computer development setting, they are in charge of working and coordinating with technical engineers. They have to conduct regular tests for new software and programs, identify inconsistencies, and find areas for improvement. Furthermore, a quality assurance tester must produce reports from the tests, which can be the basis of progress for further developments.

If we compare the average automation engineer annual salary with that of a quality assurance tester, we find that quality assurance testers typically earn a $18,457 lower salary than automation engineers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between automation engineers and quality assurance testers are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like java, jenkins, and linux.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an automation engineer are more likely to require skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "git." On the other hand, a job as a quality assurance tester requires skills like "test scripts," "selenium webdriver," "status reports," and "bug fixes." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Quality assurance testers earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $86,999. On the other hand, automation engineers are paid more in the retail industry with an average salary of $109,438.quality assurance testers tend to reach similar levels of education than automation engineers. In fact, quality assurance testers are 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Automation engineer vs. Tester

The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.

Tester positions earn lower pay than automation engineer roles. They earn a $27,395 lower salary than automation engineers per year.A few skills overlap for automation engineers and testers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "java," "jenkins," and "linux. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, automation engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "git." Meanwhile, a tester has duties that require skills in areas such as "digital transformation," "test scripts," "metasploit," and "api." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Testers may earn a lower salary than automation engineers, but testers earn the most pay in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $74,239. On the other hand, automation engineers receive higher pay in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $109,438.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Testers tend to reach lower levels of education than automation engineers. In fact, they're 6.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for automation engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Dr. Howard Rees

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Information Systems, Rider University

Hmm, what technology? That's a question with many different levels of context. For some undergraduates in CS and IT, I would look at systems programming in massively parallel environments, application programming with particular focus on security and privacy, and data science and analytics. For other undergraduates, they might look at artificial intelligence and machine learning, for business applications especially. AI is becoming ubiquitous throughout the business, but it's often used as a "black box."
Meaning that the applications (and those "operating" them) do not understand what's happening inside. AI systems are often "designed, trained, and tested" by the provider and certified as generating the output most desired by the customer but only in a statistical sense. There is no "proof" that the AI black box is, with certainty, doing what the business customer (or the provider for that matter) thinks it is doing - it just does a good job when tested on data. There will be a significant need for tech-savvy people to design, train, monitor, and apply them so that they do not deviate from the desired goals. Such deviations can result in socially destructive business practices. As you can't properly manage what you don't understand, there is a risk in using AI too blindly. CS and IT graduates will need to help out.

Automation engineer vs. Software tester

The responsibility of software testers involves the quality assurance of software development and deployment. Software testers conduct manual and automated tests to make sure that the software is developed for its purpose. They remove the issues and bugs within a product before deployment to users. Their responsibilities include software and systems analysis, risk mitigation, and software-related issue prevention. They should have skills in automation, programming, social networking, logical thinking, and mobile and web technology.

An average software tester eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of automation engineers. The difference in salaries amounts to software testers earning a $14,017 lower average salary than automation engineers.By looking over several automation engineers and software testers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "java," "c++," and "c #." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, automation engineers are more likely to have skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "git." But a software tester is more likely to have skills like "test scripts," "selenium," "data integrity," and "status reports."

Software testers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $85,662. On the other hand, automation engineers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $109,438.When it comes to education, software testers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to automation engineers. In fact, they're 2.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Automation engineer vs. Systems tester

A systems tester is an information technology expert who specializes in developing test structures to identify the strengths and weaknesses of systems and software. They primarily work to identify and eliminate bugs to ensure quality and client satisfaction. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing reports and findings. Furthermore, as a systems tester, it is essential to recommend solutions against problem areas, all while adhering to the project's budgets and the company's policies and regulations.

Systems testers tend to earn a higher pay than automation engineers by an average of $3,237 per year.According to resumes from automation engineers and systems testers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "python," "java," and "c++. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "plc," "hmi," "git," and "control systems" are skills that commonly show up on automation engineer resumes. On the other hand, systems testers use skills like test automation, selenium, test scripts, and api on their resumes.The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for systems testers, with average annual pay of $104,166. Comparatively, the highest automation engineer annual salary comes from the retail industry.systems testers reach similar levels of education compared to automation engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 2.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of automation engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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