Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians

Operate, test, maintain, or adjust unmanned, automated, servomechanical, or electromechanical equipment. May operate unmanned submarines, aircraft, or other equipment to observe or record visual information at sites such as oil rigs, crop fields, buildings, or for similar infrastructure, deep ocean exploration, or hazardous waste removal. May assist engineers in testing and designing robotics equipment.

The occupation of "Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians" carries an automation risk of 46.6%, which is only slightly below its base risk of 47.3%. This relatively high risk is largely due to the technical and repetitive nature of several core tasks within the role. The most automatable tasks include testing the performance of electromechanical assemblies using instruments like oscilloscopes or voltmeters, installing or programming computer hardware and software in microprocessor-based systems, and interpreting blueprints, schematics, and technical diagrams to guide assembly methods. Each of these activities involves processes that can be standardized, encoded, and executed efficiently by advanced robotics and artificial intelligence, making them prime candidates for automation as technology advances. On the other hand, several core responsibilities in this occupation remain resistant to automation because they require nuanced judgment, adaptability, and close collaboration with human experts. Consulting with machinists to ensure equipment compliance with design specifications depends on real-time problem solving and interpretation of context-dependent variables. Assisting engineers in implementing complex electromechanical designs in diverse and sometimes unpredictable settings requires human flexibility and communication. Additionally, identifying innovative and energy-efficient production methods, such as opting for bending over cutting and welding metal, demands creative thinking and holistic evaluation—abilities that current AI and robotics systems struggle to match. The bottleneck skills that protect this occupation from further automation are centered on originality, though the measured levels are relatively modest (3.0% and 3.1% respectively). This means that tasks demanding creative problem solving, unique solutions, and the development of new methods are still difficult for automation to replicate. While automation can efficiently handle repetitive testing, installation, and assembly reading tasks, it is less capable of innovation and real-time collaboration. Therefore, as technology progresses, the demand for human expertise in tasks that require creative and flexible thinking will help maintain the relevance and necessity of electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians, even as more routine job functions become increasingly automated.