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(Mechatronics Engineer, Automation Engineer, Electromechanical Engineer, Control Systems Engineer)
Engineering & Manufacturing
Salary
€42,000 - €95,000/yr
Level
Senior
Outlook
Growing
Sector
Engineering & Manufacturing
As a Robotics Engineer you design, build, and test intelligent automated systems that combine mechanical, electronic, computer, and control engineering technologies. Your day-to-day work involves creating detailed design drawings and prototypes, writing and reviewing software that drives robotic devices, and running tests to ensure systems perform safely and reliably. You collaborate closely with software developers, mechanical engineers, production teams, and quality assurance specialists across industries such as manufacturing, med-tech, agriculture, and aerospace. You also monitor manufacturing quality standards and manage project timelines to bring complex automated systems from concept through to production.
Listen: a day as a Robotics Engineer
You arrive at the med-tech facility on the outskirts of Galway at 7.45 a.m., badge in through the cleanroom anteroom, and pull up overnight test logs on your workstation. The robotic assembly cell you have been commissioning ran an unattended cycle through the night, and you spend the first twenty minutes reading through fault codes and cycle-time data recorded by the SCADA system — that is the supervisory software that monitors the production line — before the 8.30 a.m. stand-up meeting with the wider engineering team. The stand-up is brief but packed. A mechanical engineer flags that one of the linear actuators on the pick-and-place unit is showing higher-than-normal vibration readings. You agree to investigate after the meeting, note it on the project risk register, and flag it to the quality assurance lead because any deviation here must be documented under the site's ISO 13485 medical-device quality standard.
A strong Leaving Certificate with Higher Level Mathematics, Physics, and ideally Engineering or Design & Communication Graphics is the typical starting point for this career. Most Robotics Engineers in Ireland hold an Honours Bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) in Mechatronics Engineering, Robotics, Electronic Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering, available at institutions such as University of Limerick, TU Dublin, ATU, and MTU. Some graduates pursue a Level 9 Master's degree to specialise further in areas such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, or medical robotics. A QQI Level 6 PLC in Engineering Technology can serve as an alternative entry route into a Level 7 or Level 8 degree programme for those who do not meet direct CAO entry requirements. Professional membership with Engineers Ireland is common among practising engineers and demonstrates continued professional development to employers.
Most Robotics Engineers begin their careers in a graduate or junior engineer role within a manufacturing, med-tech, or automation company, focusing on testing, commissioning, and supporting existing systems. After two to four years of hands-on experience, engineers typically progress to mid-level positions where they lead design projects and mentor junior colleagues. With further experience, senior roles such as Lead Robotics Engineer, Automation Manager, or Principal Engineer become accessible, often involving strategic responsibility for entire production lines or R&D programmes. Some experienced engineers move into consultancy, start their own engineering firms, or transition into academic research at Irish universities and institutes.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded in the tools and products that Robotics Engineers work with, enabling smarter perception, adaptive control, and machine learning-driven decision-making in robotic systems. AI-assisted design platforms and simulation tools are accelerating the prototyping process, allowing engineers to virtually test thousands of design iterations before a physical prototype is built. Rather than replacing Robotics Engineers, AI is shifting the role towards higher-level system architecture, AI model validation, and ethical oversight of autonomous systems. Engineers who develop skills in machine learning, computer vision, and AI integration will find themselves in particularly high demand as these technologies become standard in automated manufacturing and medical devices.
→ Robotics Engineer (Current role)
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Galway
Develops robotic and automated systems for medical device manufacturing.
Galway; Dublin
Engineers robotic surgical and automation systems for medical devices.
Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Applies robotic automation within semiconductor fabrication and manufacturing lines.
Dublin; Cork
Integrates and programs industrial robots for automation across sectors.
Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
Designs automated guided vehicles and robotic forklift handling systems.
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork
Engineers precision motion control systems for robotic and aerospace applications.
Dublin City University; UCD, Dublin
Researches robotic and advanced manufacturing automation technologies.
Galway
Designs bespoke robotic and factory automation solutions for Irish industry.
Dublin; Cork; Nationwide
Delivers robotic and automation engineering for pharmaceutical and data-centre projects.
Kinsale, Co. Cork
Implements robotic process automation within pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
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