From Automation Engineer to Software Engineer A journey

As organizations increasingly adopt AI-driven solutions, the demand for skilled AI Automation Engineers continues to grow. Through dedicated learning, practical experience, and professional development, aspiring engineers can build rewarding careers in this dynamic field. AI Automation Engineers serve as the architects of intelligent systems that can learn, adapt, and improve over time. These professionals design and implement AI-driven solutions that automate repetitive tasks, enhance decision-making processes, and create efficient workflows. The position requires a unique blend of technical expertise, problem-solving capabilities, and strategic thinking to develop robust automated systems that leverage artificial intelligence technologies.

• Automation engineers enjoy high job stability due to the essential nature of their work.
• These professionals need strong skills in data structures, algorithms, and software architecture principles.
• Because they have limited experience in the industry, they have lower salaries.
• These engineers leverage their expertise in software development, scripting, and testing to create automated workflows and systems that reduce manual effort, increase efficiency, and improve reliability.
• Hiring skilled test and QA automation software engineers offers many benefits.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Degree in Automation Engineering?

What about individuals that started their careers in a different field of engineering and want to become software engineers? In addition to various technical skills, you’ll need workplace skills to meet the demands of the role, as you also need to work well full-stack developer with others and have excellent problem-solving abilities. QA Automation professionals can transition from entry-level to senior positions if they work consistently and with the utmost energy. As of February 2025, the average U.S. salary for an automation engineer among Indeed’s roughly 4,000 respondents was $101,492 per year, including a reported $6,000 bonus. Many professionals enter the field through a combination of formal education and hands-on experience. Most companies choose to hire through job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, which have state-of-the-art tools for locating and onboarding talent.

Automation Engineer Career Guide

Consider the exhilarating journey that automation engineering presents—the continuous innovation, problem-solving challenges, and the opportunity to shape the future of technology. Besides well-honed technical skills, the ideal automation engineering expert should also have first-class soft skills, like the ability to innovate, leadership skills, and flexibility. Pay close attention to these software quality assurance (QA) analyst skills — without them, your hire will find it difficult to perform many of their duties.

How long does it take to become an automation engineer?

• Software automation is a powerful tool for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing errors in repetitive tasks.
• However, some are traditional automation engineers who work primarily with physical machines.
• Thus, with your developers free to focus on more creative tasks, a more innovative product will surely result.
• An online master’s in engineering can lead to new career opportunities.
• Most companies choose to hire through job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, which have state-of-the-art tools for locating and onboarding talent.
• Their daily tasks may include handling technical support requests, designing and managing the installation of electrical equipment, and performing design calculations.

Successful AI automation projects follow established guidelines and processes. Engineers implement robust testing protocols for both models and automation workflows. Version control JavaScript/Automation Engineer (JS) job practices ensure code quality and collaboration efficiency. Documentation standards maintain project clarity and knowledge transfer. Agile methodologies guide project management and feature development cycles.

From here, consider areas where you could implement automation and develop processes for common tasks using your existing networking skills and tools. You could take an online course in automation or AI to further boost your resume, such as Cisco’s Network Automation Engineering Fundamentals Specialization. Network automation is becoming an essential part of IT infrastructure for businesses and organizations, increasing the need for highly skilled individuals in the field.

• Automation technology is becoming essential for businesses, with network engineering being one of the areas seeing an increase in automation.
• If you don’t have the time to test and vet candidates manually, consider partnering with a tech talent marketplace.
• If you’re interested in automating your software development process, consider hiring a software automation engineer.
• Also, they need to understand computer-aided design software for creating physical components, along with process control systems.
• Sharpen your skill set and learn the fundamentals of automation engineering with courses on Coursera.