How to Be Principal Automation Engineer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Aug 19, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The rise of automation engineering has had a tremendous impact on the manufacturing industry. By automating a variety of processes, it has enabled businesses to reduce costs and increase efficiency. A Principal Automation Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing automation solutions for a variety of applications.

This involves developing code to control automated systems and monitoring the performance of the systems. By utilizing the latest technologies, a Principal Automation Engineer can create solutions that are both reliable and efficient. These solutions help to optimize production processes and reduce manual labor costs.

Furthermore, they can also be used to improve overall product quality and reduce waste. As a result, businesses have been able to increase their production levels and maximize their profits.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
Develop experience in automation engineering, such as through an internship or entry-level job.
Consider pursuing a Masters Degree in Automation Engineering, Robotics, or a related field.
Build a portfolio of automation engineering projects to demonstrate your skills and experience.
Obtain certification in automation engineering, such as the Certified Automation Professional (CAP) certification.
Gain experience in managing people and teams to demonstrate your leadership ability.
Apply for open positions as a Principal Automation Engineer.
Demonstrate your skills during the interview process and show that you have the necessary qualifications to be successful in the role.

The rise of automation engineering has had a significant effect on the industry, as it has increased productivity and efficiency while reducing costs. Automation engineering involves the use of computer-aided design (CAD), robotics, and other advanced technologies to automate processes. An ideal automation engineer must have strong technical knowledge, excellent problem-solving skills, and be highly motivated and creative.

They must also have the ability to work well with others and be able to handle pressure in a fast-paced environment. Automation engineers are responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining automated systems, and they must be able to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies to optimize operations. Automation engineers must also be able to understand customer needs and be able to create solutions that meet their requirements.

With these skills, the automation engineer is capable of making a lasting impact on a business by creating more efficient processes that lead to higher quality products and services.

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Job Description

Design and develop automation solutions for industrial process and manufacturing operations.
Analyze existing systems and processes to identify improvement opportunities and develop automation solutions accordingly.
Develop and implement control systems, instrumentation, and electrical systems for automation projects.
Utilize various software tools to design and develop automation solutions.
Develop test plans, protocols, and data collection plans to ensure that automation systems meet customer requirements.
Monitor, troubleshoot, and maintain automation systems to ensure optimal performance.
Maintain database of automation system performance, modifications, and changes.
Research and recommend new technologies for automation solutions.
Perform safety inspections and risk assessments of automation systems.
Collaborate with other teams to ensure that automation projects are completed within budget and on time.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Advanced knowledge of programming languages such as Python, Ruby, or Java
Knowledge of configuration management tools such as Chef, Puppet, or Ansible
Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, Travis CI, or CircleCI
Expertise in automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cucumber, or Appium
Familiarity with container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
Experience with cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
Understanding of network protocols and network security
Solid problem-solving and analytical skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Principal Automation Engineers are responsible for designing and implementing automated systems, as well as maintaining them. This requires a strong understanding of engineering principles and a wide range of technical skills. The most important skill for a Principal Automation Engineer is the ability to think critically and analytically.

Being able to identify problems, develop solutions, and implement those solutions in a timely manner is essential. having a comprehensive understanding of software development processes and the ability to work with multiple programming languages and platforms is key. Automation Engineers must have excellent communication skills in order to effectively collaborate with other engineers, technicians, and customers.

Finally, having a passion for technology and innovation is essential for staying ahead of the competition and developing new solutions for customers. Taken together, these skills are essential for any successful Principal Automation Engineer.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in the automation engineering field?
What automation methods have you used and how successful were they?
What strategies do you use to ensure that automation projects are completed on time and within budget?
What challenges have you faced while working on automation projects and how did you resolve them?
How do you stay up to date with the latest advancements in automation engineering?
Describe a successful automation project you have been involved in and what was your role?
How do you handle complex automation problems?
What is the most difficult automation task you have been faced with and how did you solve it?
How do you ensure that different automation systems are able to interact and communicate with each other?
What techniques do you use to ensure the accuracy of automated processes?

Common Tools in Industry

Ansible. A configuration management and automation tool that allows users to automate system and application configurations (e. g. deploying applications, configuring software, and managing systems).
Chef. An open-source configuration management tool used to automate deployment and management of applications. (e. g. creating cookbooks to configure nodes).
Puppet. An automation and configuration management tool for IT infrastructure, used for automating administrative tasks such as server provisioning, software installation, and configuration management. (e. g. automating repetitive tasks and enforcing policy compliance).
Terraform. A cloud-agnostic Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool used for building, changing, and versioning infrastructure safely and efficiently. (e. g. setting up resources in Azure, AWS, GCP).
Jenkins. An open-source automation server used for automating software builds, tests, and deployments. (e. g. configuring pipelines to run tests and deployments).
Kubernetes. An open-source container orchestration platform used to automate deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. (e. g. deploying containerized applications in a cluster).
Saltstack. A configuration management and automation platform that automates complex IT tasks such as application deployment, system updates, and server configuration. (e. g. automating system configurations).
Packer. An open-source tool for creating identical machine images for multiple platforms from a single source configuration. (e. g. creating and deploying machine images).
AWS CloudFormation. A cloud formation tool from Amazon Web Services used to automate cloud resource provisioning and management across multiple services. (e. g. creating a stack of services such as EC2 instances, S3 buckets).
Azure Resource Manager. A cloud resource management tool for Microsoft Azure used for deploying and managing cloud resources in a consistent manner. (e. g. creating resource groups and deploying virtual machines).

Professional Organizations to Know

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
International Society of Automation (ISA)
International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Robotics Society of America (RSA)
International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR)
Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI)
International Association of Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC)
Robotics and Automation Society (RAS)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

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Common Important Terms

Robotic Process Automation (RPA). A technology enabling software robots or bots to automate repetitive tasks that were previously done by humans.
Scripting. A method of automatically generating instructions written in a computer language to carry out a task.
Orchestration. The coordination of different technology components (e. g. , software and hardware) to work together as an automated system or process.
AI/ML. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are technologies that use algorithms to automate processes and make decisions based on data inputs.
Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD). A process of automating the process of building, testing, and deploying software applications, enabling faster and more reliable delivery.
DevOps. A set of practices that combine software development and operations to enable continuous delivery of applications.
Automated Testing. A process of using automated tools to test software applications for bugs, errors, and other issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary role of a Principal Automation Engineer?

The primary role of a Principal Automation Engineer is to design and develop automation solutions for complex systems, create and maintain automation frameworks, and provide technical guidance to teams.

What qualifications are needed for a Principal Automation Engineer?

To become a Principal Automation Engineer, individuals should have a bachelors degree in computer science, engineering or a related field, along with several years of experience in software systems or automation.

What skills do Principal Automation Engineers need?

Principal Automation Engineers need strong technical skills, including experience with programming languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript, as well as experience with automation tools such as Selenium and Jenkins. They also need excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

What are the responsibilities of a Principal Automation Engineer?

The responsibilities of a Principal Automation Engineer include developing automation frameworks, writing automated tests, debugging automated scripts, and providing technical guidance to teams. They are also responsible for ensuring the quality of the automation solutions and maintaining the existing automation frameworks.

How much does a Principal Automation Engineer typically earn?

According to PayScale, the average salary for a Principal Automation Engineer is $115,477 per year. Salaries can vary depending on experience, location, and other factors.

Web Resources

Automation Engineer | NC State Online and Distance Education online-distance.ncsu.edu
Automation Engineer NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education mckimmoncenter.ncsu.edu
Automation Engineering Technology - Associate www.cvtc.edu