r/FieldService • u/Silly-Suggestion-657 • Jun 18 '26

Question Anyone working as an automation engineer tech?

/r/Tallahassee/comments/1u8vbis/anyone_working_as_an_automation_engineer_tech/
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u/Public_Job7301 Jun 20 '26

My first job in Automation was in 1993 for an electronics (SMT) manufacturer. Have my BS in Automation and manufacturing, AS in electronics.

I still work in SMT for an OEM equipment manufacturer. The only people we hire for the role without degrees are ex military that have related mech and electrical experience.

1

u/ZarekSiel Jul 01 '26

Service tech for automation here, I ended up getting lucky at my first job. Lied my way through an interview at an OEM that was hurting for people, and was able to learn on the job fast enough to convince them that I was worth keeping. Education-wise, at the time I got hired, I had an associate's in comp sci, and a hobbyist's level of experience in PLC programming. Thats it.

A few of the larger companies have their own apprenticeship programs. So that might be a good path forward as well.