Prospects
Professional figure: the Automation Engineer
The Automation Engineering graduate has an in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the automatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrical engineering sectors, and is able to conceive, design, implement and start up automation systems for machines, processes, systems, products and services. Lab and experimental activities complement the theoretical competences provided in the two years.
This flexibility both in the attitude and in the competences is believed to be a significant asset of the Automation Engineer, in view of the large variety of possible applications, of the continuous and rapid evolution of the technologies, as well of the job market.
Career opportunities
Due to its international background the Master Programme allows students to work for local international companies and abroad. The main career opportunities lies in the manufacturing, industrial transformation and services industries, both conventional (transport, distribution and territorial management, etc.) and advanced with high added value (management consulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the civil service. In these fields, Automation Engineering graduates are able to contribute with their specific skills to technological innovation and production processes, which also require the integration of information and industrial technologies.
More specifically, graduate students will find employment in companies that produce and/or use automation components and systems, engineering firms, public or private bodies which use automatic/mechanical/ computing techniques and technologies to optimise production, manage and/or supply services.
Access to further study
Graduates would be able to enrol in PhD Programmes as well as in professional Masters.
Find out more about the Ministerial Single Annual Report (SUA-CdS - Single Annual Report on Degree Programmes)
Corso di Automation Engineering - codice 8891
Professional profiles
professional profile Career opportunities for graduates Senior Automation Engineer - Processing and Control Systems Expert function in a professional context: …
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Career opportunities for graduates
Senior Automation Engineer - Processing and Control Systems Expert
function in a professional context:
2nd cycle Automation Engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the automatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, and are able to conceive, plan, design, implement and manage complex automation systems for machines, processes, systems, products and services. 2nd cycle Automation engineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to be able to work effectively in even very different areas, as systems analyst and/or designer and/or technician in all fields of application in which automation technologies and principles play an important role. The cultural training of 2nd cycle graduates allow them to work in technical and managerial leadership positions in industrial automation engineering fields, and hold key positions in international research fields.
In this context, one function of the automation engineer is that of processing and control systems expert. Senior Automation Engineers work in the design, management and implementation of real time acquisition, processing and control systems typical of computer-based automation systems.
Their key competencies lie in their finely tuned understanding and modelling of complex system dynamics and the development of real time software and algorithms for supervision and automation. Automation engineers are also strongly oriented to the integration of different computer and electronic technologies that are functional to the automation of small and large-scale industrial installations.
competencies associated to the function:
Specialist competencies are required to perform the above functions in the technical and engineering fields.
Specifically, these professional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- In-depth knowledge of hardware and software for real time processing and control systems;
- Strong knowledge of embedded systems, PLC platforms, data acquisition systems, fieldbuses, distributed control systems, FPGA;
- Solid knowledge of the principles governing concurrent programming, real time programming instruments and the main programming languages (C, C++, etc.);
- Very in-depth knowledge of dynamic system modelling, systems and control theory, modelling and simulation instruments;
- Processing and management of analogue and digital signals;
- Advanced understanding of the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic and electrical systems;
- Self-learning and lifelong learning skills, and appropriate transversal communication, interpersonal, organisational, managerial and programming skills.
career opportunities:
The main career opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation and services, in both conventional (transport, distribution and territorial management, etc.) and advanced fields with high added value (management consulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the public administration. Particularly important career opportunities are available to 2nd cycle graduates in Automation Engineering within the industrial automation sector in Emilia Romagna. In this field, it is worth mentioning the sector of automatic packaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagna region has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley". In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and in particular the area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced and highly internationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of small and medium enterprises operating in a range of industrial sectors, from mechanics to electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramics industry to food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key role in international markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreign countries including China and the United States. By virtue of their versatility and specific skills which integrate technological competencies in different, interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineers respond effectively to the needs of this diversified economic context. The international profile of the 2nd cycle degree programme in Automation Engineering allows graduates to work in foreign industrial contexts, exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by the companies in Emilia Romagna working internationally.
Specifically, Processing and Control Systems Experts are particularly sought after in the following professional fields:
- Industries producing and/or using automation components and systems;
- Companies working in industrial automation and robotics;
- Companies working in the automotive and transport sectors;
- Companies and authorities involved in the production, management and conversion of energy;
- Industrial laboratories, training centres, research centres;
- Engineering firms;
- Industries working in the design and development of products with a high technological content;
- Industries working in the supply and assembly of components (reduction gears, power components, control panels, etc.);
- Food processing industries.
Senior Automation Engineer - Industrial Automation Expert
function in a professional context:
2nd cycle Automation Engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of the automatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, and are able to conceive, plan, design, implement and manage complex automation systems for machines, processes, systems, products and services.
2nd cycle Automation engineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to be able to work effectively in even very different areas, as systems analyst and/or designer and/or technician in all fields of application in which automation technologies and principles play an important role. The cultural training of 2nd cycle graduates allow them to work in technical and managerial leadership positions in industrial automation engineering fields, and hold key positions in international research fields.
In this context, one function of the automation engineer is that of industrial automation expert. Industrial automation experts have interdisciplinary knowledge of industrial and information engineering and are able to collaborate on and potentially lead projects focusing on the conceptual design, design, implementation and start-up of automated mechanical systems. Their competences allow them to work naturally with mechanical engineers, playing a decisive role in the integration of different technologies and the automation of complex mechanical equipment. Automation engineers are potentially autonomous in the design of mechanical systems of low-medium complexity and may therefore hold transversal roles in the design and implementation of automated systems not involving high complexity.
competencies associated to the function:
Specialist competencies are required to perform the above functions in the mechanical and information engineering fields.
Specifically, these professional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- In-depth knowledge of CAD tools for mechanical design, functional not only to the ability to interpret mechanical drawings but also to design simple devices and components;
- Excellent knowledge of the features and problems of the main electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic handling systems for automatic machinery;
- Modelling and simulation techniques and instruments applied to dynamic systems;
- Ability to understand the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic and electrical systems;
- Advanced self-learning and lifelong learning competencies;
- Transversal communication, interpersonal, organisational, management and programming skills;
career opportunities:
The main career opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation and services, in both conventional (transport, distribution and territorial management, etc.) and advanced fields with high added value (management consulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the public administration. Particularly important career opportunities are available to 2nd cycle graduates in Automation Engineering within the industrial automation sector in Emilia Romagna. In this field, it is worth mentioning the sector of automatic packaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagna region has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley". In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and in particular the area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced and highly internationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of small and medium enterprises operating in a range of industrial sectors, from mechanics to electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramics industry to food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key role in international markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreign countries including China and the United States. By virtue of their versatility and specific skills which integrate technological competencies in different, interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineers respond effectively to the needs of this diversified economic context. The international profile of the 2nd cycle degree programme in Automation Engineering allows graduates to work in foreign industrial contexts, exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by the companies in Emilia Romagna working internationally.
Specifically, Industrial Automation Experts are particularly sought after in the following professional fields:
- Companies working in the fields of industrial automation, robotics, design and production of wood processing machinery and systems;
- Food and pharmaceutical packaging and preservation industries; food processing industries;
- Industries for the development of support software for mechanical design, control and simulation, computer-assisted industrial drawing, reverse engineering, virtual simulation generally;
- Public or private organisations using automatic/mechanical/computer techniques and technologies to optimise production, manage and/or provide services;
- Engineering consulting firms and university spin-offs;
- Process industries in the mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, energy and chemical sectors;
- Industries manufacturing test machines and measuring instruments destined for research and mass production;
- Biomechanical industries;
- Industrial laboratories.