Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Automation Engineer

An automation engineer designs, implements, and maintains automated systems. They work in industries such as manufacturing, computer science, and software engineering. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Automation Engineers.

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Main Responsibilities of Automation Engineer

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Automation Engineer:

Adhere to

Adhere to compliance and safety requirements and departmental SOPs.
Adhere to safe work practices.
Adhere to strict Information Systems security guidelines in all cases.

Analyze

Analyze and narrow down issues found during test.
Analyze, and mitigate quality risks.
Analyze current equipment for process suitability and provides detailed plans for improvement.
Analyze, plan, organize and complete projects of a very complex nature.
Analyze situations or data.
Analyze the testing needs and develop testing strategy and plans.

Assign

Assign work to a small team of QAs, guiding, coaching, and supporting them.

Assist in / Assist with

Assist and manages production and laboratory system contractors as required.
Assist clients and team members with any BAS operations, software, networking problems.
Assist in on-boarding, coaching and mentoring junior RPA Engineers.
Assist in preparation of all quotes for new business as needed.
Assist in the continuous improvement of departmental engineering methods.
Assist / Mentor peers and junior engineers in your area of expertise.
Assist team members in supporting customer and implementation-related issues.
Assist with building and grounds maintenance as needed.
Assist with commissioning new equipment.
Assist with organizing and managing test environments.
Assist with the training and support of junior automation engineers.

Automate

Automate cloud operations tasks including backups and patching.
Automate testing of defects and assist with the maintenance of Regression Test suite.

Build

Build and deploy software applications on multiple environments.
Build and execute defects reports.
Build and maintain a robust automation framework.
Build automation (Cloud build, Jenkins, Travis-CI, Circle-CI).
Build, develop and maintain virtualisation automation, monitoring and reporting tools.
Build tools for developers that increase confidence and speed of development.
Build your internal network across all departments.

Code

Code Review Scripts towards improving efficiencies.

Collaborate with

Collaborate closely with the Scrum team members.
Collaborate with all roles - development, System Test, Release engineering.
Collaborate with BA and development teams.
Collaborate with developers, DevOps, QA and automation engineers.
Collaborate with developers, QA team, product managers, partners and consultants.
Collaborate with engineers to ensure seamless handoff of designs for development.
Collaborate with external consultants.
Collaborate with systems engineering, storage, network, and project management teams.

Communicate

Communicate and report on status of test automation activities.
Communicate project status and plans and anticipates delays and obstacles.

Complete

Complete comprehensive unit testing on all developed / enhanced software.
Complete sections of maintenance plan for automated test scripts as assigned.
Complete understanding of at least one application (architecture).

Compose

Compose reports and make adjustments to equipment or processes that require improvement.

Conduct

Conduct equipment design reviews and provide design guidance to suppliers.
Conduct meeting to help support team milestones and recommend estimates for completion.

Configure

Configure and administer testing tools and / or environments.

Contribute to

Contribute to building a positive team spirit.
Contribute to mentoring Junior members technically in Architecture, Designing and robust Coding.
Contribute to QA team discussions on test planning.
Contribute to the automation test framework and automation architecture.
Contribute to the design and implementation of automated testing within the CI / CD pipeline.
Contribute to the development of robust, high throughput walkaway automation.
Contribute to the interpretation of results and the design of subsequent activities.
Contribute to the maintenance and optimization of existing products as required.
Contribute to the overall health and effectiveness of the Process Controls team.
Contribute to the sections of automated test plan.

Coordinate

Coordinate and perform all testing activities in the software development process.
Coordinate machine start up and de-bugging as it relates to PLC controls.
Coordinate projects with staff group for timely implementation.
Coordinate with electrical contractors.
Coordinate work between engineering or engineering firm, client, vendors, and contractor.

Create

Create a continuous integration platform which runs 24 / 7.
Create and adhere to an editorial calendar and consistent publishing schedule.
Create and execute API and UT test automation scripts.
Create and execute automated test cases and report test results.
Create and execute system test plan.
Create and execute test cases and participate in regression test cycles.
Create and maintain scalable and robust Test Automation Framework (JavaScript preferred).
Create and manage test databases for multiple test environments.
Create BAS accounts for new users, maintain / ensure BAS accounts are accurate and up-to-date.
Create effective HMI control systems.
Create execution reports and test plans.
Create, extend and maintain test automation libraries and frameworks.
Create generic and demonstration program templates for those solutions.
Create, prioritize and organize automation backlog.
Create scripts, test sequences, and implement procedures to ensure appropriate test coverage.
Create test plans & test cases for assigned features and perform.

Define

Define and act on quality enhancements, service improvement and cost saving opportunities.
Define and establish automation strategy and process.
Define and implement test automation scenarios.
Define solution design and services.
Define system boundaries and develop SOP's.

Design

Design and build GUI java automating tests, in the highest level.
Design and build test systems.
Design and create electrical panels and schematics.
Design and execute QA tests using scripts that automatically test functionality.
Design and maintain test strategies for comprehensive, customer-focused end to end testing.
Design and specify electrical control panels.
Design automation framework to support multiple cloud environments.
Design benchmark frameworks used to identify hardware and software performance bottlenecks.
Design & implement test platform to stand the test of time.
Design test reporting and metrics appropriate to project needs.
Design test automation framework architecture.

Develop

Develop and implement new quality assurance.
Develop and implement technologies which enhance operations and production.
Develop and maintain a suite of extensible, automated test scripts.
Develop and maintain test environments.
Develop and manage the QA automation roadmap to enable continuous improvement.
Develop and updates Automation training packages, and conducts Automation training.
Develop appropriate and maintainable automated tests for functional and regression testing.
Develop automated tests for mobile-based and web-based products.
Develop Automated Test Strategies and execute test cases, scripts, plans and procedures.
Develop automation knowledge base database & cross-training program.
Develop client telemetry and data analytics tools to pinpoint anomalies or bottlenecks.
Develop customer deliverable requirement use cases.
Develop effective tooling, alerts, and automated responses to identify and address reliability risks.
Develop efficient test strategies.
Develop equipment specification development with other process engineers.
Develop, estimate, purchase & implement assembly tooling & equipment for projects.
Develop excellent partnership with client through trust, actions and results.
Develop innovative partnerships.
Develop mocks / stubs to facilitate integration testing.
Develop operations and technical documents.
Develop project plans in coordination with the local organization and our customer.
Develop QA processes to support the System Engineering team.
Develop skills in supporting programming for PLC's, motion control and PC controlled equipment.
Develop software (scripts) that automate the execution of test cases / procedures.
Develop software to automate the testing of applications and hardware platforms.
Develop solutions for automation problems.
Develop solutions with existing tools like Ansible and Kibana.
Develop test plans and test procedures for all components at module, system and integration levels.
Develop test scripts to automate testing of software features and requirements.
Develop tooling that facilitates testing.
Develop tools to improve the efficiency of manual testing.
Develop UI tests in automation frameworks like Selenium, Jasmine, or Cypress.

Diagnose

Diagnose issues and take ownership of issue resolution.

Document

Document defects and tracking resolutions.
Document software defects using JIRA bug tracking system.

Drive

Drive and accelerate the testing process by creating your own tools.
Drive operational improvements and provide technical support.

Enhance

Enhance the test automation framework shared by all Automation Engineers.

Ensure

Ensure all required information from supplier is submitted prior to buy-off.
Ensure correct executions for automated test cases in the CI / CD pipeline.
Ensure defect fixing process results in increased automation coverage for the team.
Ensure new equipment functions properly, meets specifications, cost targets, and timing plans.
Ensure our products and procedures meet industry standards (e.g. ISO).
Ensure quality and coverage for functionality, integration, regression, end to end and performance.
Ensure revenue targets are delivered.
Ensure that test results are documented, evaluated and disseminated.

Establish

Establish and ensure consistency in test design strategies, methodologies and procedures.
Establish build-and-destroy models for cloud infrastructure.

Estimate

Estimate, plan and build quality testing activities.
Estimate, prioritize, plan and coordinate testing activities.
Estimate the efforts based on the proposed solutions and scope.

Evaluate

Evaluate and introduce new tools.
Evaluate, root cause, and test the software in order to detect defects and recommend bug fixes.
Evaluate the coverage of existing automated tests and how to improve coverage.

Execute

Execute automated web UI test cases.
Execute automation to stress test system Run functional and non-functional test cases.
Execute on the plan and delivery (Framework, Reporting, Process of Automation, Scripting 3.).
Execute regression test suite based on design specifications and requirements.

Facilitate

Facilitate resolution and communication across functional groups on issues and decisions.
Facilitate the review of applications and software for automation capability.

Foresee

Foresee issues and requirements for large projects and features.

Gather

Gather requirements from clients, customers or end-users to develop the best automation solutions.

Generate

Generate and maintain requirement and design specifications associated with the automated systems.
Generate regulatory compliance reports - Weekly, monthly, annually, and per audit request.
Generate and present innovative approaches and solutions to recurring problems.
Generate test scenarios based on problem statement.
Generate test setup sheet, test reports and data required by customers.

Help

Help build and roll out a world class test automation framework to enhance the test capabilities.
Help define, document and evolve quality assurance processes and practices.
Help drive best practices and processes across the team.
Help drive the evolution of our teams towards a DevOps and Agile culture.
Help maintain a database, including reports on builds.
Help manage and improve our Continuous Integration and Deployment framework.
Help us pick new tools and decide on new processes that help improve how we do QA.

Identify

Identify and correct any safety issues inside the facility.
Identify areas for cooperation with other teams to improve overall quality.
Identify areas of optimization and improvement in the testing process.
Identify, document and verify bugs.
Identify opportunities for automation.
Identify opportunities for automation within software processes.
Identify test conditions from User Stories, Product Backlog Items, and other requirements documents.

Implement

Implement and oversee Security policy, monitoring, and guidelines for Cloud Services.

Improve

Improve automated tests, framework and tool sets to meet best practices and standards.

Increase

Increase the quality and scalability of Expedient's cloud platform.

Install

Install applications and databases relevant to automation.

Integrate

Integrate applications with Okta SSO via SAML / OIDC for Single Sign-On (SSO).
Integrate automation with CI / CD to run QA tests with every deploy.

Interact

Interact effectively with Product Management and Development.
Interact with PLM, architects and release managers to harden requirements.

Interpret

Interpret and analyze data problems.

Investigate

Investigate production inquiries and issues.

Lead

Lead best-practices for building, testing, and releasing software.
Lead in installation and qualification of new equipment into operations.
Lead in installing and placing new equipment into operations.
Leas team (s) in Agile meetings like Backlog Grooming, Planning, Retro's, etc..
Lead testing estimation, test plan and test strategy across platform.
Lead the design and development of automated regression suites for multiple layers of the product.

Learn

Learn and develop new programming skills.
Learn from approachable, responsive executive management team, and high caliber colleagues.
Learn VB scripting and other scripting languages.

Leverage

Leverage cloud technologies and serverless architectures.

Liaise

Liaise with internal teams (e.g. Software Developers and Business Analysts) to identify system.

Maintain

Maintain a good level of the documentation.
Maintain and enhance DevOps tool.
Maintain and enhance the test automation framework.
Maintain and execute automation scripts.
Maintain and improve our UX and API automation solutions.
Maintain and monitor various systems.
Maintain automated regression cases and execute them on need basis.
Maintain automated tests and test framework.
Maintain automation system documentation.
Maintain Test Environments and debug applications.
Maintain well organized records of test results and generate historical analysis of test results.

Make

Make modifications to automation framework if necessary.
Make operational changes to improve customer experience.
Make proposals and recoomendations, with business case, for implementing new capabilities.
Make recommendations for optimization or modifications as needed for new packaging designs.
Make sure projects comply with the standards, regulations and procedures in effect.
Make sure that each deployment to production is of highest quality.

Manage

Manage and implement projects as assigned.
Manage and maintain ongoing testing initiatives across various projects.
Manage existing automation script akin to how engineers manage code.
Manage integration of drivers and firmware within source code control system.
Manage project costs, including field changes, within budget.
Manage state and routing for interactive, dynamic data visualizations.

Maximize

Maximize reuse of test assets across teams.

Mentor

Mentor and help to upgrade the automation skill set of other QAs.
Mentor team members on automation.

Monitor

Monitor jobs during stress cycles using data logging routines.
Monitor performance and scalability of core virtualization products.
Monitor, request and respond to online reviews.
Monitor automation projects and ensures that projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
Monitor, test, and tune system performance.

Oversee

Oversee investigations of automation anomalies to prevent recurrence.
Oversee regulatory design aspects for quality related engineering managed computer systems.
Oversee investigations of automation anomalies to prevent recurrence.

Own

Own the testing framework, run both manual and automated tests.

Participate in

Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and champion outcomes of the initiatives.
Participate in global networks.
Participate in meeting to report progress, take leadership and ownership of assigned work.
Participate in on-call rotation with other members.
Participate in planning and pointing sessions in an agile scrum team environment.
Participate in prototype development.
Participate in the evolution and extension of our Testing Automation Framework.
Participate in the planning and implementation of projects.
Participate in the start-up of equipment in the factory and sometimes at customers' premises.

Perform

Perform all work in accordance to OHSA standards for general industry.
Perform API / Web Services Automation Testing.
Perform engineering analysis using traditional hand calculations, computer aided tools, etc..
Perform experimental assembly to evaluate new equipment, techniques, and material.
Perform experimental welding to evaluate new equipment, techniques, and materials.
Perform Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) equipment demonstrations.
Perform I&C work such as instrument selection, I / O lists, cable schedules, layouts, etc..
Perform maintenance on their own area of interest in accordance with the maintenance plan.
Perform other duties as necessary.
Perform pre-production checks on automated equipment ensuring that it is in ‘ready to run' state.
Perform regression testing and debugging directly.
Perform testing on various web applications and modules with complex business logic.
Perform the design, installation, and commissioning of site equipment and associated control systems.

Plan

Plan, design and execute testing by utilizing an Agile methodology.
Plan tests and strategies according to the project.

Prepare

Prepare and produce releases of software components.
Prepare Automated Regression Test Deck for each progressive code release regression.
Prepare project scopes of work, preliminary design concepts, specification, and cost estimates.
Prepare solution alternatives and setup business plans.

Process

Process and packaging electrical hardware knowledge preferred.
Process Data Management Systems, OSI PI.

Produce

Produce documentation, calculations and presentations.

Provide

Provide after-hours support to the 7 / 24 Technical Analysts when required.
Provide a great customer experience through the implementation process.
Provide as a ‘risk-owner'- communicates and provides documentation throughout the project.
Provide automation expertise / knowledge to the development and test teams.
Provide client services support for business area applications.
Provide coaching and mentoring to intermediate and associate testers on the team.
Provide effective and accurate technical feedback in code reviews.
Provide engineered solutions to failures and issues.
Provide expertise and thought leadership.
Provide guidance and training to key stakeholders on PKI lifecycle, processes and procedures.
Provide hands on repairs to systems.
Provide highly effective automation to support Drug Product process control systems.
Provide input on staffing, budget and personnel.
Provide off-site weekend / evening automation phone or on-site support on a rotational basis.
Provide ongoing manufacturing support as a top-level SME.
Provide oversight and assistance with project quality tasks (e.g. setting up quality processes).
Provide service support for in house instrumentation as needed.
Provide software and hardware capability assessments to outside departments.
Provide support to Cloud Operations team supporting the AWS platform and services.
Provide support to your technology peers and the business, join forces to deliver solutions.
Provide technical knowledge / advise to IPT / COE's on computerized / automation systems.
Provide technical leadership and assist with complex troubleshooting and design issues.
Provide technical solutions through the development of automatic tests against software components.
Provide technical support of site automation systems and network infrastructure.
Provide technical support to team members and customers.
Provide test automation estimates and timelines for assigned projects.
Provide user support, incident responses, and postmortems.

Publish

Publish research papers and product resiliency technical whitepapers.

Recommend

Recommend and purchase measurement systems for gathering optical data.
Recommend equipment improvements and / or manufacturing methods for improvement and all equipment.

Report

Report on analytics regarding software and hardware usage.
Report on the results and progress of the automated tests and report bugs and improvements.

Research

Research and analysis (both primary and secondary research).
Research and evaluate new automated testing strategies.
Research and recommend new technologies and emerging operational practices.
Research, recommend, and implement tools.

Resolve

Resolve and / or escalates issues in a timely fashion.
Resolve operational problems related to projects and minimize delays and unexpected costs.
Resolve tickets on a timely fashion, and manage time against assigned projects.

Review

Review and analyse system specifications.
Review and approves payment for contracted work.
Review and approves the acceptance criteria for system changes testing and installation.
Review and assess requirements and product backlog items for the purpose of creating test cases.
Review and participates in grooming sessions in order to produce a test strategy and test cases.
Review existing equipment capabilities with respect to new packaging options.
Review the software for test readiness at both the API level and the GUI level.
Review vendor shop / manufacturing drawings to ensure conformity with engineering designs.

Run

Run Defect triage and test data creation.
Run R& R experiments to determine repeatability and reproducibility of measurements.

Seek

Seek peer challenge and review of scientific ideas and experimental design.

Serve as

Serve as the key technical liaison for device and instrument vendors.
Serve as the system integrator and lead maintenance person for GxP automation systems.

Support

Support and lead expansion of automation efforts across operations and other areas.
Support basic Lab responsibility.
Support Cascades' innovation objectives to ensure the company's long-term success.
Support end to end QA lifecycle from test case generation to execution and defect management.
Support enterprise email security by managing DKIM / SPF / SRV DNS records.
Support in monthly stewardship report development & improvement.
Support interfaces for communicating with shop floor devices.
Support internal teams for test automation.
Support / lead IIOT initiative in Gene Therapy manufacturing where appropriate.
Support optimizing existing automation to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Support problem solving practices to identify and resolve technical and operational problems.
Support production deployment and validations.
Support regulatory audit\inspection as required.
Support the design and implementation of automation to meet business needs.

Take

Take a lead / expert role in areas of our infrastructure platform.
Take pride in work, showing focus, high attention to detail, and build quality.

Test

Test and characterize automated and robotic solutions.
Test coverage analysis and improvement.

Track

Track and document progress as devices are moved through the project cycle.
Track equipment configuration.
Track network use over time to assist capacity planning models.
Track quality assurance metrics.

Translate

Translate business requirements into software solutions.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot and address technical environment needs.
Troubleshoot and investigate issues as they arises.
Troubleshoot defects and manage defect tracking and resolution processes.
Troubleshoot Programing issues, and provide support to automation infrastructure.

Understand

Understand business functionality of our solution through the existing NRT scenarios.

Use

Use appropriate measures and KPIs to validate and report on software quality.
Use FMEA for automation integration.
Use of compatibility testing services.
Use your java skills to manage and augment our built in-house framework as well as adding new cases.
Use your python skills to to solve those complex network and infrastructure management problems.

Utilize

Utilize project management tools such as MS Project, etc..

Validate

Validate conformity of internal standards.

Verify

Verify code patches and bug fixes.

Visualize

Visualize and conceptualize new ideas and solutions.

Work with

Work with functional testers to raise defects.
Work with functional testing team to understand the steps and associated data for E2E Testcases.
Work within an agile development model.
Work with internal groups to i.
Work with multiple stakeholders to deliver automated workflows in a timely fashion.
Work with process engineering group to optimize equipment through PLC logic.
Work with Product Owners / Engineers to define stories and deliver appropriate test scenarios.
Work with product teams to define the priorities of the tasks.
Work with RESTful APIs, Restful Interfaces, Regular Expressions.
Work with the QA lead to ensure the highest quality releases.
Work with your team to continually improve their automated test practices.

Write

Write and execute test cases.
Write and modify PLC programs for electrical and automation equipment.
Write new programs for PLCs, and HMIs.
Write process and technical documentation, and create diagrams.
Write scripts in Selenium - Appium environment.
Write test cases and other application development documentation.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Automation Engineer:

Java
Python
Selenium
Jenkins
Javascript
Automation
C#
SQL
Jira
AWS
GIT
Docker
Electrical Engineering
Linux
Cucumber
Test Automation
Ansible
Agile
Kubernetes
Software Development
Continuous Integration
Ruby
Electrical
Testing
Design
Postman
Tools
Agile Environment
Azure
Jmeter
Powershell
API Testing
Appium
Automation Tools
Testng
Bash
Scripting
Terraform
CSS
HTML

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Automation Engineer:

Written and oral communication skills
Problem-solving attitude
Analytical ability
Interpersonal skills
Organizational capacity
Attention to detail
Collaborative
Team player
Multi-task
Leadership
Troubleshooting skills
Flexible
Creative
Self-starter
Teamwork
Work independently with little direction
Critical thinker
Self-motivated
Detail-oriented
Time-management
Adaptable to changes
Accountable
Organized
Planning
Respect
Integrity along with courage
Presentation
Transparency
Delivering high quality results
Overcoming challenges