What does a Robotics Engineer do?

Unlike other types of engineering, robotics engineering requires the ability to be proficient in a variety of technical areas — robotics engineers are the bridge between mechanics, electronics, computer science, and cognitive psychology.

Robotics engineers spend the majority of their time designing the plans and processes needed to not only build robots, but to have them work effectively. Some robotics engineers also design the machines that actually assemble the robots.

Prior to a robot being constructed, engineers determine exactly what the robot will be used for. Since robots are meant to solve problems or alleviate human tasks, robotics engineers undergo an in-depth analysis of the job that the robot will be given.

What exact issue is the robot solving? Is it a repetitive task? Is it a function that is too dangerous for humans? What might restrict the robot from functioning properly? These and many other questions need to be answered before moving on to any design stage.

Design Robots

Robotic engineers build, configure, and test robots. The building process takes a great deal of time, as robots are highly technical and difficult to create. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for a robotics engineers to only work on a handful of projects throughout their entire career.

Research

These engineers perform research into the design, operation and performance of robotic mechanism components or systems.

CAD / CAM

Robotics engineers create designs with the help of 3D CAD (computer-aided design) tools which allow them to design right down to the circuit level. CAM (computer-aided manufacture) tools are then used to actually build the robots.

Analyzing & Advancing

Robotic engineers analyze and evaluate the prototypes and robotic systems they have created. This is generally a never-ending task, since technology is constantly changing and advancing.

How much does a Robotics Engineer make?

The average annual salary for a Robotics Engineer in the United States is $129,398. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $103,488 to a high of $157,728, with most professionals earning between $115,836 and $144,227.

These are 2025 national salary averages and may fluctuate based on location.

What does the workplace for a Robotics Engineer look like?

Most commonly, robots are used within the automotive, food packaging, appliance, and electronic industries.

Robotics engineers share their time between a lab and an office. Time in the lab is spent working on small mechanical parts that are components of the larger robot they are creating. Time in the office is spent working on research and planning.

A typical work week consists of 40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, project deadlines can make this schedule vary drastically. Overtime may be necessary to make sure that the job is completed on time, and occasional travel may be necessary.

How to become a Robotics Engineer?

In order to work as a robotics engineer, an individual will first need to earn a bachelor’s degree, ideally, a Bachelor’s Degree in Robotics Engineering. Courses in robotics typically include general training in pneumatics and hydraulics, numerically controlled systems, CADD/CAM systems, integrated systems, logic, and microprocessors.

However, not all universities offer this degree. Since robotics technology relies heavily on the expertise of several engineering disciplines, employers will also accept a degree in electrical engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, or computer engineering.

For upper-level positions within the industry, a master’s or doctorate is required. In order to remain abreast of new changes and developments within the industry, working robotics engineers will need to continually update their technical knowledge. This requirement is generally satisfied by annual conferences, seminars, and training sessions.