OCCUPATIONALPROFILE:
Senior Automation Engineer - Processing and Control Systems Expert
FUNCTION INA PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT:
2ndcycle Automation Engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of theautomatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, andare able to conceive, plan, design, implement and manage complex automationsystems for machines, processes, systems, products and services.
Automationengineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to be able to workeffectively even in different areas, as systems analyst and/or designer and/ortechnician in all fields of application in which automation technologies andprinciples play an important role. The cultural training of 2nd cyclegraduates allow them to work in technical and managerial leadership positionsin industrial automation engineering fields, and hold key positions ininternational research fields.
In thiscontext, one function of the automation engineer is that of processing andcontrol systems expert. Senior Automation Engineers work in the design,management and implementation of real time acquisition, processing and controlsystems typical of computer-based automation systems.
Their keycompetencies lie in their finely tuned understanding and modelling of complexsystem dynamics and the development of real time software and algorithms forsupervision and automation.
Automationengineers are also strongly oriented to the integration of different computerand electronic technologies that are functional to the automation of small andlarge-scale industrial installations.
COMPETENCIESASSOCIATED TO THE FUNCTION:
Specialistcompetencies are required to perform the above functions in the technical andengineering fields. Specifically, theseprofessional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- In-depthknowledge of hardware and software for real time processing and controlsystems;
- Strongknowledge of embedded systems, PLC platforms, data acquisition systems,fieldbuses, distributed control systems, FPGA;
- Solidknowledge of the principles governing concurrent programming, real timeprogramming instruments and the main programming languages (C, C++, etc.);
- Veryin-depth knowledge of dynamic system modelling, systems and control theory,modelling and simulation instruments;
- Processingand management of analogue and digital signals;
- Advancedunderstanding of the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical,electro-mechanical, electronic and electrical systems;
- Self-learning and lifelong learning skills,and transversal communication-interpersonal, organisational, managerial andprogramming skills.
CAREEROPPORTUNITIES:
The maincareer opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation andservices, in both conventional (transport, distribution and territorialmanagement, etc.) and advanced fields with high added value (managementconsulting, automatic machines, computing, etc.) and the public administration.Particularly important career opportunities are available to 2nd cyclegraduates in Automation Engineering within the industrial automation sector inEmilia Romagna. In this field, it is worth mentioning the sector of automaticpackaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagnaregion has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley".In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and in particularthe area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced and highlyinternationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of small andmedium enterprises operating in a number of industrial sectors, from mechanicsto electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramics industryto food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key role ininternational markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreigncountries including China and the United States.
By virtue oftheir versatility and specific skills which integrate technologicalcompetencies in different, interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineersrespond effectively to the needs of this diversified economic context. “Theinternational profile of the 2nd cycle degree programme inAutomation Engineering allows graduates to work in foreign industrial contexts,exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by the companies inEmilia Romagna working internationally.
Specifically,Processing and Control Systems Experts are particularly sought after in thefollowing professional fields:
- Industriesproducing and/or using automation components and systems;
- companiesworking in industrial automation and robotics;
- Companiesworking in the automotive and transport sectors;
- companiesand authorities involved in the production, management and conversion ofenergy;
- Industriallaboratories, training centres, research centres;
-Engineering firms;
- Industriesdesigning and developing products with a high technological content;
- Industriesworking in the supply and assembly of components (reduction gears, powercomponents, control panels, etc.);
Food processing industries.
OCCUPATIONALPROFILE:
Senior Automation Engineer -Industrial Automation Expert
FUNCTION INA PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT:
2ndcycle Automation Engineers have in-depth interdisciplinary knowledge of theautomatic, mechanical, computing, electronics and electrotechnics sectors, andare able to conceive, plan, design, implement and manage complex automationsystems for machines, processes, systems, products and services.
2ndcycle Automation engineers therefore have specific skills that allow them to beable to work effectively in even very different areas, as systems analystand/or designer and/or technician in all fields of application in whichautomation technologies and principles play an important role. The culturaltraining of 2nd cycle graduates allow them to work in technical andmanagerial leadership positions in industrial automation engineering fields,and hold key positions in international research fields.
In thiscontext, one function of the automation engineer is that of industrialautomation expert. Industrial automation experts have interdisciplinaryknowledge of industrial and information engineering and are able to collaborateon and potentially lead projects focusing on the conceptual design, design,implementation and start-up of automated mechanical systems. Their competencesallow them to work naturally with mechanical engineers, playing a decisive rolein the integration of different technologies and the automation of complexmechanical equipment. Automation engineers are potentially autonomous in thedesign of mechanical systems of low-medium complexity and may therefore holdtransversal roles in the design and implementation of automated systems notinvolving high complexity.
COMPETENCIESASSOCIATED TO THE FUNCTION:
Specialistcompetencies are required to perform the above functions in the mechanical andinformation engineering fields.
Specifically,these professional figures are associated to the following competencies:
- In-depthknowledge of CAD tools for mechanical design, functional not only to the abilityto interpret mechanical drawings but also to design simple devices andcomponents;
- Excellentknowledge of the features and problems of the main electrical, pneumatic andhydraulic handling systems for automatic machinery
- Modellingand simulation techniques and instruments applied to dynamic systems;
- Ability tounderstand the dynamic phenomena of complex mechanical, electro-mechanical,electronic and electrical systems;
- Advancedself-learning and lifelong learning competencies;
-Transversal communication, interpersonal, organisational, management andprogramming skills;
CAREEROPPORTUNITIES:
The maincareer opportunities lie in manufacturing, industrial transformation andservices, 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 cyclegraduates in Automation Engineering within the industrial automation sector inEmilia Romagna. In this field, it is worth mentioning the sector of automaticpackaging machine manufacturers, which are so numerous that the Emilia-Romagnaregion has earned the international nick-name of "Packaging Valley".In addition to this specific sector, the Emilia-Romagna region, and inparticular the area surrounding Bologna, is renowned for its advanced andhighly internationalised industrial system, with a high concentration of smalland medium enterprises operating in a range of industrial sectors, frommechanics to electronics, from the car industry to robotics, from the ceramicsindustry to food processing. Many companies in Emilia-Romagna play a key rolein international markets, with both sales and industrial branches in foreigncountries including China and the United States. By virtue of their versatilityand specific skills which integrate technological competencies in different,interdisciplinary sectors, Automation Engineers respond effectively to theneeds of this diversified economic context. The international profile of theprogramme allows Automation Engineering graduates to work in foreign industrialcontexts, exploiting the many opportunities for employment offered by thecompanies in Emilia Romagna working internationally.
Specifically,Industrial Automation Experts are particularly sought after in the followingprofessional fields:
- Companiesworking in the fields of industrial automation, robotics, design and productionof wood processing machinery and systems;
- Food andpharmaceutical packaging and preservation industries; food processingindustries;
- Industriesfor the development of support software for mechanical design, control andsimulation, computer-assisted industrial drawing, reverse engineering, virtualsimulation generally;
- Public orprivate organisations using automatic/mechanical/computer techniques andtechnologies to optimise production, manage and/or provide services;
-Engineering consulting firms and university spin-offs;
- Processindustries in the mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, energy andchemical sectors;
- Industriesmanufacturing test machines and measuring instruments destined for research andmass production;
-Biomechanical industries;
- Industriallaboratories.
