Career opportunities for graduates
Automation Engineer, processing and control systems expert
Function in a professional context:
Automation engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the automatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, and are able to conceive, design, implement and start up automation systems for machines, processes, systems, products and services. Automation engineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to work effectively in different areas, as systems analyst and/or designer and/or technician in all fields of application in which automation technologies and principles play an important role.
In this context, one function of the automation engineer is that of processing and control systems expert. Automation engineers work in the design, management and implementation of real time acquisition, processing and control systems typical of computer-based automation systems. Their key competencies lie in the understanding and modelling of complex system dynamics and the development of real time software and algorithms for supervision and automation. Automation engineers are also strongly oriented to the integration of different computer and electronic technologies that are functional to the automation of small and large-scale industrial installations.
Given these functions, the role is identified by the ISTAT professional groups 2.2.1.3.0 and 2.2.1.7.0 listed below.
Competencies associated to the function:
Specialist knowledge, skills and competencies are required to perform the above functions in the technical and engineering fields.
Specifically, these professional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- Knowledge of hardware and software for real time processing and control systems;
- Knowledge of embedded systems, PLC platforms, data acquisition systems, fieldbuses, distributed control systems, FPGA;
- Real time programming instruments and techniques. They have sound knowledge of the principles of concurrent computing and knowledge of the main programming languages (C, C++);
- Modelling of dynamic systems and the principles of control theory, with specific knowledge of the techniques and instruments for modelling and simulation;
- Processing and management of analogue and digital signals;
- Ability to understand the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic and electrical systems;
- Self-learning and lifelong learning skills, and appropriate transversal
communication-interpersonal, organisational, managerial and programming skills.
Career opportunities:
The Emilia-Romagna Region offers numerous opportunities for employment in the industrial automation sector for automation engineers. These include automatic packaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagna region has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley". In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and in particular the area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced and highly internationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of small and medium enterprises operating in a range of industrial sectors, from mechanics to electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramics industry to food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key role in international markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreign countries including China and the United States. The regional economic system also has highly developed traditional and advanced services structures, both in the private sector and within the public administration.
By virtue of their versatility and specific skills which integrate technological competencies in different, interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineers respond effectively to the needs of this diversified economic context. The main career opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation and services, in both conventional (transport, distribution and territorial management, etc.) and advanced fields with high added value (management consulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the public administration. In these fields, Automation Engineering graduates are able to contribute with their specific skills to the innovation of technological and production processes, which also require the integration of information and industrial technologies.
The international curriculum also allows Automation Engineering graduates to work in foreign industrial contexts, exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by the companies in Emilia Romagna working internationally.
Referring specifically to the competencies of the processing and control systems expert, graduates may be employed by:
- companies working in the fields of industrial automation, robotics, car manufacturing, design and production of wood processing machinery and systems as well as the packaging, food processing and pharmaceutical sectors;
- companies manufacturing and/or using automation components and systems;
- engineering and consulting firms in the field of process automation;
- developers of software used in mechanical design, control and simulation;
- resource management and optimisation companies.
Automation Engineer, Industrial Automation Specialist
Function in a professional context:
Automation engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the automatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, and are able to conceive, design, implement and start up automation systems for machines, processes, systems, products and services. Automation engineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to work effectively in different areas, as systems analyst and/or designer and/or technician in all fields of application in which automation technologies and principles play an important role.
In this scenario, one professional area of automation engineering is that of industrial automation, referring specifically to the conceptual design, implementation and start-up of mechanical automation systems for machinery, processes and plants. These automation engineers are able to blend purely mechanical competencies, interpreting mechanical drawings, with electrical/electronic/computer competencies, understanding the respective fields and playing an essential role in the integration and improvement of the respective areas. The specific competences acquired also allow automation engineers to design simple devices and components, acting as mechanical designer in small businesses working with designs of limited mechanical complexity.
Given these functions, the role is identified by the ISTAT professional groups 2.2.1.3.0 and 2.2.1.7.0 listed below.
Competencies associated to the function:
Specialist knowledge, skills and competencies are required to perform the above functions in the technical and engineering fields.
Specifically, these professional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- Knowledge of CAD mechanical design tools;
- Knowledge of the features and problems of the main electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic handling systems for automatic machinery;
- Modelling and simulation techniques and instruments;
- Ability to understand the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic and electrical systems;
- Self-learning and lifelong learning skills, and appropriate transversal communication-interpersonal, organisational, managerial and programming skills.
Career opportunities:
The Emilia-Romagna Region offers numerous opportunities for employment in the industrial automation sector for automation engineers. These include automatic packaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagna region has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley". In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and in particular the area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced and highly internationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of small and medium enterprises operating in a range of industrial sectors, from mechanics to electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramics industry to food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key role in international markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreign countries including China and the United States. The regional economic system also has highly developed traditional and advanced services structures, both in the private sector and within the public administration. By virtue of their versatility and specific skills which integrate technological competencies in different, interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineers respond effectively to the needs of this diversified economic context. The main career opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation and services, in both conventional (transport, distribution and territorial management, etc.) and advanced fields with high added value (management consulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the public administration. In these fields, Automation Engineering graduates are able to contribute with their specific skills to the innovation of technological and production processes, which also require the integration of information and industrial technologies. The international curriculum also allows Automation Engineering graduates to work in foreign industrial contexts, exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by the companies in Emilia Romagna working internationally.
Referring specifically to the competencies of the industrial automation specialist, graduates may be employed by:
- industries for the development of support software for mechanical design, control and simulation, computer-assisted industrial drawing, reverse engineering, virtual simulation generally;
- process industries in the mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, energy and chemical sectors;
- companies manufacturing and/or using automation components and systems;
- Design engineering and consulting firms;
- Public or private organisations using automatic/mechanical/computer techniques and technologies to optimise production, manage and/or provide services;
- Companies working in the fields of industrial automation, robotics, car manufacturing, design and production of wood processing machinery and systems as well as the packaging, food processing and pharmaceutical sectors.
