# Robotics Engineers

> Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.

- **SOC code:** 17-2199.08
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-2199-08
- **Also known as:** Automation Engineer, Autonomous Vehicle Design Engineer, Design Engineer, Factory Automations Engineer, Research Engineer, Robotic Systems Engineer, Algorithm Engineer, Autonomy Engineer
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Review or approve designs, calculations, or cost estimates.
- Process or interpret signals or sensor data.
- Debug robotics programs.
- Build, configure, or test robots or robotic applications.
- Create back-ups of robot programs or parameters.
- Provide technical support for robotic systems.
- Design end-of-arm tooling.
- Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.
- Supervise technologists, technicians, or other engineers.
- Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.
- Conduct research on robotic technology to create new robotic systems or system capabilities.
- Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Design _(knowledge)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Mechanical _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Critical Thinking _(essential_skill)_
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Oral Comprehension _(ability)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Visualization _(Specialized Skill)_
- Systems Analysis _(Specialized Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_
- Active Listening _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Autodesk AutoCAD _(hot technology, in demand)_
- C _(hot technology, in demand)_
- C# _(hot technology, in demand)_
- C++ _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Git _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Linux _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Oracle Java _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Python _(hot technology, in demand)_
- The MathWorks MATLAB _(hot technology, in demand)_
- Amazon Web Services AWS software _(hot technology)_
- Atlassian JIRA _(hot technology)_

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 66th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 67th percentile (High) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 61st percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 71st percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 9th percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 2.1% growth (About average); 9.3k annual openings; 158.8k → 162.1k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $117,750; 150,750 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 48% automation, 42% augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 4.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Provide technical support for robotic systems. _(4.0% of measured AI use; learning)_
- Design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing. _(3.0% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Debug robotics programs. _(3.0% of measured AI use; feedback loop)_
- Analyze and evaluate robotic systems or prototypes. _(1.3% of measured AI use; directive)_
- Design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems. _(0.9% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Document robotic application development, maintenance, or changes. _(0.8% of measured AI use; task iteration)_
- Install, calibrate, operate, or maintain robots. _(0.3% of measured AI use)_
- Write algorithms or programming code for ad hoc robotic applications. _(0.3% of measured AI use)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me provide technical support for robotic systems.
- Help me design software to control robotic systems for applications, such as military defense or manufacturing.
- Help me debug robotics programs.
- Help me analyze and evaluate robotic systems or prototypes.
- Help me design robotic systems, such as automatic vehicle control, autonomous vehicles, advanced displays, advanced sensing, robotic platforms, computer vision, or telematics systems.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-2199-08_