Robotics Engineers
Official O*NET title: Robotics Engineers (17-2199.08)
Also called: automation engineer, autonomous vehicle design engineer, design engineer, factory automations engineer, research engineer
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Debug robotics programs
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing robotics engineers work
9 of 20 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 45%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Debug robotics programs (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design software to control robotic systems for applications (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Provide technical support for robotic systems (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Design robotic systems (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Evaluate robotic systems or prototypes (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Process or interpret signals or sensor data (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Design end-of-arm tooling (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Integrate robotics with peripherals (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation, or performance of robotic mechanisms, components, or systems (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Design automated robotic systems to increase production volume or precision in high-throughput operations (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Make system device lists or event timing charts (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Plan mobile robot paths and teach path plans to robots — some recorded AI use
- Design or program robotics systems for environmental clean-up applications to minimize human exposure to toxic or hazardous materials or to improve the quality or speed of clean-up operations — no recorded AI use
- Design robotics applications for manufacturers of green products — no recorded AI use
- Automate assays on laboratory robotics — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Debug robotics programs”. Try the prompt for: “Design software to control robotic systems for applications”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and robotics engineers
Will AI replace robotics engineers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 9 of the 20 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 14 of the 24 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which robotics engineer tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: debug robotics programs; design software to control robotic systems for applications; provide technical support for robotic systems.
Which robotics engineer tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: process or interpret signals or sensor data; build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications; create back-ups of robot programs or parameters. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 72% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a robotics engineer start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Robotics Engineers ranks #153 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #4 of 37 in Engineering.
Related jobs
- Will AI change engineering managers?
- Will AI change architects?
- Will AI change landscape architects?
- Will AI change cartographers (mapmakers)?
- Will AI change surveyors?
- Will AI change aerospace engineers?
- Will AI change electronics engineers?
- Will AI change mechanical engineers?
- Will AI change computer hardware engineers?
- Will AI change manufacturing engineers?
- Will AI change energy engineers?
- See all jobs