Mid Green occupation

Engineering and manufacturing

Robotics engineer

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Specify, design, build, program and test robotic systems or solutions intended to do automated jobs.

Summary

This occupation is found in technology or engineering functions across a range of public and private sectors such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare and transportation, all of which range in size from large to small operations. Robotics engineers will normally operate with a considerable degree of autonomy and will lead teams that develop and deploy robotic systems. They work in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, standards and ethics.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to specify, design, build, program and test robotic systems or solutions intended to do automated jobs in industries including manufacturing, construction, logistics, aerospace and medicine, as well as robots that interact with people and operate autonomously in public spaces and warehouses.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a multidisciplinary project team that can consist of process engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, communication engineers, industrial psychologists, shop floor staff, safety engineers and other key stakeholders depending on the nature of the project. An employee in this occupation would typically report to a project manager and would have significant interaction with customers and stakeholders. The work locations could vary between office, shop floor, or other remote locations where the robotic systems are deployed.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the design, development, integration, programming and deployment of robotic systems with considerations to project timescales, milestones, safety regulations, ethical issues, sustainability, cost, reliability, maintenance, and implementation.

Typical job titles include

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1:

Principles of mechanical designs: material selection, manufacturing processes, robot types and configurations.

K2:

Principles of engineering mathematics required to model robotic systems using advanced mathematical techniques.

K3:

Principles of electronic engineering: networks and electronic circuit design.

K4:

Principles of robotics control: kinematics, dynamics, robotics programming structure and control algorithms.

K5:

Robot and computer program design, structure, concepts, compilers and logic, and programming languages for robotics applications.

K6:

Principles of software engineering: object-orientated programming, software architecture, and version control.

K7:

Principles of safety: safety standards, hazard identification, risk assessment and risk mitigation.

K8:

Communication techniques, protocols and interface methods for the integration of robotic systems.

K9:

Principles of computer and machine vision for robotics applications: 3D computer vision and point clouds.

K10:

Human Factors principles for robotics applications: ergonomics, safety design, trust, acceptance, situational awareness, and workload.

K11:

Principles of human-robot interaction: user-centred design, human-robot interface, human-computer interaction, human-robot collaboration and robot ethics.

K12:

Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and techniques for robotics applications.

K13:

Autonomous systems design principles and techniques: perception, decision making, locomotion, robot ethics and navigation and mapping.

K14:

System thinking for sustainability in robotics applications: energy management, waste reduction, and circular economy around the lifecycle of a project.

K15:

Industrial research and strategy techniques: factory planning, scheduling, processes, lean production and supply chain.

K16:

Project management principles: planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management and resource management.

K17:

Communication techniques: oral, written, and presentations.

K18:

Principles of robot sensors and how to select and install robot sensors in robotics systems.

K19:

Data analysis techniques: how to select and use measurement devices and how to interpret data.

K20:

Critical thinking and problem-solving techniques

Technical Educational Products

: ST1317: Robotics engineer - degree (Level 6) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC1317

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £44,134 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 2129 Engineering professionals n.e.c.

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2129/13 Robotics engineers
- 2129/10 Mechatronic engineers

S1:

Communicate and provide guidance to others through design models, reports, drawings, specifications, presentations, digital media and discussions.

S2:

Manage different, competing interests within and outside the organisation, for example using negotiation skills.

S3:

Seek input from others to manage relationships.

S4:

Apply analytical and critical thinking skills for technology solutions development.

S5:

Apply structured problem-solving techniques to systems and situations.

S6:

Plan, lead and conduct industrial research using literature and other media.

S7:

Design robotic processes with considerations to human factors, sustainability, efficiency, and safety through modelling and using simulation tools.

S8:

Produce robot design at component and system level using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and robot simulation.

S9:

Generate and present business cases to support design decisions and to illustrate potential return on investment (ROI).

S10:

Manage the planning, budgeting and organisation of tasks, people and resources through the use of management systems, work to agreed quality standards, project programmes and budgets, within legal, contractual and statutory requirements.

S11:

Select appropriate components and vendors for robot system development.

S12:

Manage project risks through risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring.

S13:

Assess robot system safety compliance through hazard identification, safety risk assessment and risk mitigation, and liaison with certified safety engineers when required.

S14:

Generate robot programmes to perform tasks.

S15:

Apply system engineering techniques and software development methodologies and models in robot system development.

S16:

Develop and test robotic systems through the integration of off-the-shelf or bespoke components as appropriate.

S17:

Evaluate the suitability of robotic systems for human-robot interaction concerning human factors, safety, and ethics.

S18:

Install and integrate sensors and instrumentation in robotic systems.

S19:

Perform measurements and analyse data using measurement devices and analytical software

Technical Educational Products

: ST1317: Robotics engineer - degree (Level 6) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC1317

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £44,134 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 2129 Engineering professionals n.e.c.

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2129/13 Robotics engineers
- 2129/10 Mechatronic engineers

B1:

Act as a role model and advocate for health and safety across the team.

B2:

Act in a professional and ethical manner.

B3:

Collaborate and promote teamwork across disciplines.

B4:

Commit to their own and support others’ professional development.

B5:

Lead by example to promote innovation.

B6:

Lead by example to promote accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion.

B7:

Adapt and show resilience to challenging or changing situations.

B8:

Act as a role model and advocate environmental and sustainable practices.

Technical Educational Products

: ST1317: Robotics engineer - degree (Level 6) Approved for delivery

Reference:: OCC1317

Status:: Approved occupation

Average (median) salary:: £44,134 per year

SOC 2020 code:: 2129 Engineering professionals n.e.c.

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2129/13 Robotics engineers
- 2129/10 Mechatronic engineers