What does an automation specialist do?
An automation specialist is in charge of designing and developing new systems to optimize business operations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing research and analysis to determine the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, coordinating with different departments to learn their operational needs, and improving software and hardware. They may also install and repair various equipment, troubleshoot, and conduct regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency and smooth workflow. Furthermore, as an automation specialist, it is essential to provide technical support to employees, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Automation specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real automation specialist resumes:
- Manage a large SCADA communications replacement project.
- Manage integration of data associate with critical systems into enterprise SCADA system.
- Manage multiple imaging-relate projects across both radiology and cardiology service lines, both inpatient and outpatient, to completion.
- Verify customer issues by running Microsoft SQL scripts on host and non host servers.
- Assist customers with lock out Novell account.
- Develop high performance test tools using Java and Perl
- Follow BDD and TDD for test suite development.
- Install and configure new and existing PCs and printers.
- tool is for UI relate testing in across the browser.
- Identify and isolate software defects and report them via JIRA.
- Maintain logs SLA and ticket information in DARS and Maximo.
- Install and maintain peripheral devices, such as routers and switches.
- Utilize Java encryption (BouncyCastle) to mimic PHP MD5 HMAC computations.
- Prioritize and report defects, present documents and reports in daily scrum meetings.
- Act as assistant network administrator in the configuration and maintenance of a Novell network server.
Automation specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Automation Specialists are proficient in Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, and Java. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Automation Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Digital Marketing, 9%
Worked with multiple businesses promoting products globally using multiple digital marketing tools.
- Email Marketing, 6%
Managed all email marketing campaigns for specific targets and demographics.
- Java, 6%
Design and development of browser automation for the TVG website using Selenium 2, Java, & Groovy.
- PLC, 5%
Designed and commissioned PLC program and graphics for simultaneous drying-coating-grinding process.
- Salesforce, 5%
Created HTML emails for use within Salesforce.
- HMI, 4%
Modified HMI programs and added new screens to give people (depending on security levels) access to more functions.
Common skills that an automation specialist uses to do their job include "digital marketing," "email marketing," and "java." You can find details on the most important automation specialist responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for an automation specialist to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what automation specialists do because "computer support specialists must be patient and sympathetic." Additionally, an automation specialist resume shows how automation specialists use customer-service skills: "work directly with sales team to design control systems that meet the customer's needswhile providing a competitive price. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform automation specialist duties is listening skills. Automation specialists responsibilities require that "support workers must be able to understand the problems that their customers are describing and know when to ask questions to clarify the situation." Automation specialists also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "communicated with companies and other base organizations to receive and/or troubleshoot computer parts. "
Problem-solving skills. automation specialists are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to automation specialist responsibilities, because "support workers must identify both simple and complex computer problems, analyze them, and solve them." An automation specialist resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "provide timely resolution and troubleshooting of technical issues related to instrumentation and automation control systems. "
Speaking skills. automation specialist responsibilities often require "speaking skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "support workers must describe the solutions to computer problems in a way that a nontechnical person can understand." This resume example shows what automation specialists do with speaking skills on a typical day: "presented documentation to multiple levels of users within the organization from data entry to executive level management. "
Writing skills. A commonly-found skill in automation specialist job descriptions, "writing skills" is essential to what automation specialists do. Automation specialist responsibilities rely on this skill because "strong writing skills are useful for preparing instructions and email responses for employees and customers, as well as for real-time web chat interactions." You can also see how automation specialist duties rely on writing skills in this resume example: "process improvement * data mining * database design * data analysis * report writing * professional dashboards * adhoc reports/queries"
The three companies that hire the most automation specialists are:
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Compare different automation specialists
Automation specialist vs. Technology services specialist
Technology Services Specialists are information technology (IT) personnel in a company. They assist internal employees and external clients on everything related to technology. They may specialize in a specific item, such as software, hardware, or network infrastructure. Technology services specialists advise users on the usage of different tools. They should be able to troubleshoot concerns and conduct repair and maintenance activities. They should also know how to address the needs of their clients. Technology Services Specialists may sometimes man helpdesk tickets and respond to these tickets accordingly.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an automation specialist are more likely to require skills like "digital marketing," "email marketing," "java," and "plc." On the other hand, a job as a technology services specialist requires skills like "technical service," "patients," "customer satisfaction," and "preventative maintenance." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Technology services specialists tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $71,116. In contrast, automation specialists make the biggest average salary, $85,765, in the technology industry.technology services specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than automation specialists. In fact, technology services specialists are 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Automation specialist vs. Technical support specialist
A technical support specialist is responsible for assisting customer's and businesses' concerns and system issues by performing troubleshooting and remote solutions. These specialists must have extensive knowledge of system applications, including software and hardware database to handle complex processes that might affect the end user's experience or the business' daily operations. Technical support specialists should maintain excellent communication skills to guide the client and business on solving network problems. They must also document concerns and progress promptly for reference and quality checks.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that automation specialist responsibilities requires skills like "digital marketing," "email marketing," "plc," and "salesforce." But a technical support specialist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "troubleshoot," "math," "customer satisfaction," and "phone calls."
Technical support specialists earn a lower average salary than automation specialists. But technical support specialists earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $60,838. Additionally, automation specialists earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $85,765 annually.technical support specialists earn similar levels of education than automation specialists in general. They're 3.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Automation specialist vs. Field service specialist
A field service specialist is responsible for visiting sites and driving down to clients' locations to provide support for their technical and mechanical issues. Field service specialists identify maintenance problems by asking questions to the clients and personally fix those errors, informing the clients of technical solutions. They also perform installation and quality check services to ensure the stability and efficiency of the technical components and materials. A field service specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially the ability to work for extended hours in the field to achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an automation specialist is likely to be skilled in "digital marketing," "email marketing," "java," and "salesforce," while a typical field service specialist is skilled in "customer satisfaction," "provide customer support," "customer support," and "troubleshooting support."
When it comes to education, field service specialists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to automation specialists. In fact, they're 3.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Automation specialist vs. Support specialist/trainer
A support specialist/trainer is in charge of developing training and support programs for employees in a company. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data, coordinating with the human resources department, and developing strategies to improve the skills of new and current employees. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients to address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. Furthermore, a support specialist/trainer must enforce the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
Types of automation specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
