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(Controls Engineer, Automation Systems Engineer, Process Automation Engineer, Mechatronics Engineer)
Engineering & Manufacturing
Salary
€42,000 - €90,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Growing
Sector
Engineering & Manufacturing
As an Automation Engineer you design, develop, and maintain automated systems and machinery used in industrial production environments such as pharmaceutical plants, food processing facilities, and manufacturing sites. You programme PLCs (programmable logic controllers), configure SCADA systems, and integrate robotics to streamline production processes and reduce the need for manual intervention. Your daily work involves troubleshooting faults, commissioning new equipment, and collaborating closely with electrical engineers, process engineers, and production managers. You also carry out risk assessments and ensure that all automated systems comply with relevant safety and quality standards.
Listen: a day as an Automation Engineer
You arrive at the pharmaceutical manufacturing site outside Limerick at half seven, sign in at the security gate, and collect your personal protective equipment before heading to the morning production handover meeting. The night-shift supervisor runs through what happened overnight: one of the filling lines tripped an alarm at around three in the morning due to a sensor fault, and production lost nearly two hours. That fault is your first job of the day. You pull up the SCADA system on the control-room workstation. SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition — it is essentially the software that monitors and controls the entire production floor in real time. The alarm log points to a faulty proximity sensor on conveyor three. You head to the floor with your laptop, connect to the PLC — the Programmable Logic Controller that runs the conveyor's logic — and scroll through the ladder diagram code to confirm the sensor is sending no signal. You swap the sensor, reset the programme, run a short test cycle, and log the corrective action in the site's maintenance management system.
Leaving Certificate subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering are particularly useful preparation for this career. The most direct route is a Level 8 Honours Bachelor degree in areas such as Mechatronics Engineering, Control Engineering, or Electronic and Computer Engineering, available at institutions including MTU (Cork and Kerry), University of Limerick, TU Dublin, and ATU. A Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering can also provide entry to the industry, with progression to Level 8 possible through add-on programmes. Some graduates pursue a Level 9 Masters in Automation or Advanced Manufacturing to specialise further or move into senior roles. While no single statutory regulator governs the title, membership of Engineers Ireland is widely recognised as a mark of professional standing and is encouraged by employers in Ireland.
Most Automation Engineers begin their careers in a graduate or junior engineer role, working on the maintenance and minor modification of existing systems under the guidance of senior colleagues. With three to five years of experience, you would typically take on responsibility for leading commissioning projects and mentoring junior staff, often achieving Chartered Engineer status through Engineers Ireland. Senior engineers in Ireland frequently move into roles such as Lead Automation Engineer, Controls Manager, or Engineering Manager, particularly within the large pharmaceutical and medical device multinationals based in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. Some experienced professionals move into consultancy, working across multiple client sites, or transition into related fields such as process engineering or manufacturing IT.
Artificial intelligence is transforming automation engineering by enabling predictive maintenance systems that can anticipate equipment failures before they occur, reducing costly downtime. AI-driven process optimisation tools are taking over some routine monitoring and parameter-adjustment tasks that engineers previously performed manually. However, the need for skilled engineers to design, validate, and oversee these intelligent systems is growing rather than shrinking, particularly in regulated industries where human accountability is a legal requirement. Automation Engineers who develop competence in machine learning integration and AI-enabled control systems will be well placed for the most in-demand roles.
→ Automation Engineer (Current role)
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork; Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Dublin
Automate pharmaceutical manufacturing lines using PLCs and SCADA systems
Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Develop and maintain automated semiconductor fabrication and assembly systems
Tralee, Co. Kerry; Nationwide
Automate food and beverage ingredient processing and packaging operations
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Galway
Programme automated systems for medical device manufacturing and assembly
Dublin; Nationwide
Maintain and commission automated dairy processing and packaging machinery
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Cootehill, Co. Cavan; Longford
Integrate robotics and PLC systems in diagnostics and device manufacturing
Swords, Co. Dublin; Brinny, Co. Cork; Ballydine, Co. Tipperary
Commission and troubleshoot automated biopharmaceutical production equipment
Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Midlands
Automate renewable energy and resource recovery industrial processes
Dublin; Cork; Nationwide
Design and deliver automated systems for pharma and food clients
Limerick
Deliver bespoke PLC, SCADA, and robotics solutions across Irish industries
Raheen, Co. Limerick
Automate large-scale biologics manufacturing using advanced control systems
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