Automation Engineer resume skills and keywords
In 311 Automation Engineer job postings from 206 employers analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills are Communication (61 %), Python (53 %), Troubleshooting (37 %), PLC (33 %) and APIs (32 %). Of the top 40 skills, 35 are hard skills, tools or certifications and 5 are soft skills.
Download the full list as a CSV or check your own resume against a posting with the free keyword scanner.
Top 40 skills in Automation Engineer job postings
| Skill | Share of postings | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 61 % | Soft skill |
| Python | 53 % | Tool |
| Troubleshooting | 37 % | Hard skill |
| PLC | 33 % | Tool |
| APIs | 32 % | Hard skill |
| Robotics | 29 % | Hard skill |
| Control systems | 29 % | Hard skill |
| CI/CD | 28 % | Tool |
| Commissioning | 28 % | Hard skill |
| Problem Solving | 25 % | Soft skill |
| Git | 23 % | Tool |
| Continuous improvement | 23 % | Hard skill |
| Collaboration | 22 % | Soft skill |
| Test automation | 20 % | Hard skill |
| SCADA | 18 % | Tool |
| HMI | 17 % | Tool |
| Mentoring | 17 % | Soft skill |
| Leadership | 16 % | Soft skill |
| Debugging | 15 % | Hard skill |
| SQL | 15 % | Tool |
| EtherNet | 14 % | Hard skill |
| Software development | 14 % | Hard skill |
| Allen-Bradley | 14 % | Tool |
| Azure | 13 % | Tool |
| PLC Programming | 13 % | Hard skill |
| LLMs | 13 % | Tool |
| Systems Integration | 13 % | Hard skill |
| JavaScript | 13 % | Tool |
| AWS | 12 % | Tool |
| Automated Testing | 11 % | Hard skill |
| FAT | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Electrical Schematics | 11 % | Hard skill |
| Ignition | 10 % | Hard skill |
| Industrial Automation | 10 % | Hard skill |
| Root cause analysis | 10 % | Hard skill |
| C++ | 10 % | Tool |
| TypeScript | 10 % | Tool |
| REST APIs | 10 % | Tool |
| Version Control | 9 % | Hard skill |
| System design | 9 % | Hard skill |
Hard skills vs soft skills vs tools and certifications
Hard skills (20)
- Troubleshooting 37 %
- APIs 32 %
- Robotics 29 %
- Control systems 29 %
- Commissioning 28 %
- Continuous improvement 23 %
- Test automation 20 %
- Debugging 15 %
- EtherNet 14 %
- Software development 14 %
- PLC Programming 13 %
- Systems Integration 13 %
- Automated Testing 11 %
- FAT 11 %
- Electrical Schematics 11 %
- Ignition 10 %
- Industrial Automation 10 %
- Root cause analysis 10 %
- Version Control 9 %
- System design 9 %
Soft skills (5)
- Communication 61 %
- Problem Solving 25 %
- Collaboration 22 %
- Mentoring 17 %
- Leadership 16 %
Tools and software (15)
- Python 53 %
- PLC 33 %
- CI/CD 28 %
- Git 23 %
- SCADA 18 %
- HMI 17 %
- SQL 15 %
- Allen-Bradley 14 %
- Azure 13 %
- LLMs 13 %
- JavaScript 13 %
- AWS 12 %
- C++ 10 %
- TypeScript 10 %
- REST APIs 10 %
Keyword phrases recruiters use
Multi-word phrases that recur across these automation engineer postings, with the share of postings that use each one.
How to use this on your resume
Treat the table as a checklist, not a script. Put the skills you genuinely have in your skills section, using the same wording as the posting, and back the top ones with a bullet that shows the result.
Each job posting differs from the average, so compare your resume with the actual ad: paste it into the resume keyword scanner to see which terms you already have and which are missing. The ATS keywords guide explains where to place them so applicant tracking systems read them.
Skip any skill you cannot talk about in an interview; a keyword that falls apart under one question costs more than it gains. For a full layout with these skills in context, see the Automation Engineer resume example. Then prepare for the Automation Engineer interview questions that test them.
Build a automation engineer resume with these skills
Start in the editor, tailor your bullets to the job you want and download an ATS-friendly resume.