25 Automation Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

As an automation specialist, you’re responsible for the installation, programming, testing, and maintenance of automated systems. You work with machines that use sensors and controls to operate automatically.

Automation specialists are in high demand, but before you can get the job, you’ll need to impress the interviewer with your knowledge and skills. To help you do that, we’ve compiled a list of automation specialist interview questions and answers.

1. Are you familiar with the programming languages used for industrial automation?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in industrial automation. If you are not familiar with all programming languages, it is important to highlight those that you do know and explain why they are beneficial for this role.

Example: “I am proficient in both C++ and Java, which are two common programming languages used for industrial automation. These languages allow me to create complex programs that automate processes within a company’s production line. I find these languages easy to learn because they are similar to other coding languages I have worked with in the past.”

2. What are the primary components of a control system?

This question is a basic test of your knowledge about automation. Your answer should include the primary components of a control system and how they work together to automate processes.

Example: “A control system has three main components—hardware, software and sensors. The hardware component includes all of the physical equipment used in an automation process, such as computers, controllers and input/output devices. Software is the programming that allows the hardware to communicate with each other and perform tasks. Sensors are pieces of hardware that collect data from their environment and send it back to the controller for processing.”

3. How would you troubleshoot a problem with an automated system?

Troubleshooting is an important skill for automation specialists. Employers ask this question to see if you have the necessary skills and experience to fix problems with their company’s automated systems. In your answer, explain how you would troubleshoot a problem in an effective way. Try to give examples of past experiences where you fixed similar issues.

Example: “I would first try to understand what caused the issue. I would then use my knowledge of the system to find out which component may be causing the problem. If it’s a software issue, I will check the code and debug it. If it’s a hardware issue, I will test all the components to see which one isn’t working properly. Once I identify the cause of the problem, I can solve it by fixing or replacing the faulty component.”

4. What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on as an automation specialist?

This question can give the interviewer insight into your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. Your answer should include a specific example of how you overcame challenges in your previous role, including what steps you took to solve problems and what tools or resources you used.

Example: “The most challenging project I’ve worked on was when my company wanted to automate its customer service department. The system we were using at the time wasn’t compatible with our new automation software, so we had to find an alternative solution. We decided to use a third-party application that would allow us to integrate it with our automation software. This process took longer than expected, but it allowed us to continue providing excellent customer service while upgrading our technology.”

5. Provide an example of a time you had to work with a difficult client or customer.

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict and challenging situations. They want to know that you can work with others, even if they’re difficult or demanding. In your answer, try to show that you have the communication skills and problem-solving abilities to manage a situation like this.

Example: “In my last role as an automation specialist, I worked with many different clients. One client was very demanding and would often call me multiple times a day asking for updates on our progress. This made it hard to focus on other tasks because I had to constantly respond to his calls and emails. Eventually, I scheduled a meeting with him to discuss the issue. He apologized and promised to only contact me when absolutely necessary. After that, he only called me once a week.”

6. If hired, what would be your primary responsibilities as an automation specialist?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a clear understanding of what your role would be if hired. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list out specific tasks or responsibilities that are listed in the job description and explain how you would perform them.

Example: “My primary responsibility as an automation specialist would be to create programs for machines to follow based on the specifications I receive from my team. I would also monitor the progress of these programs to ensure they’re functioning properly and troubleshoot any issues that arise. Finally, I would work with other members of my team to develop new ways to streamline processes and improve efficiency.”

7. What would you do if you discovered a colleague was intentionally damaging automated systems to sabotage a co-worker?

This question is designed to assess your integrity and ability to work with others. Your answer should show that you value teamwork, respect authority and are willing to report unethical behavior.

Example: “I would first try to talk to the colleague about their actions. If they continued to damage systems, I would report them to my supervisor or human resources department. In this situation, it’s important to remember that we’re all part of a team and need to support each other. I would also make sure to document any evidence of sabotage so HR could take appropriate action.”

8. How well do you handle stress?

Automation specialists often work in high-pressure environments. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the stress of the job and still perform well. In your answer, explain how you manage stress. Share a time when you had to handle a lot of pressure at work. Explain what steps you took to remain calm and focused.

Example: “I find that I do my best work under pressure. When there is a tight deadline or other stressful situation, I am able to focus more on getting the task done than worrying about it. Of course, I always plan ahead so I have plenty of time to complete projects. This helps me avoid last-minute emergencies that cause extra stress.”

9. Do you have any questions for me about the position or company?

This is your chance to show the interviewer that you’re interested in their company and want to learn more about it. It’s also a way for you to ask any questions you have about the job or the hiring process. When answering this question, try to think of something specific about the role or company that interests you.

Example: “I was really impressed by how many awards your company has won. I’m curious what the secret is to achieving such success. Also, I noticed that there are several open positions within the company. How often do you hire new employees?”

10. When working with clients or customers, how do you explain complex technical concepts in a way they can understand?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts in a way that is easy for clients or customers to understand. Use examples from past experiences where you had to clearly communicate complex ideas to non-technical people, and highlight your ability to simplify these ideas into more basic terms.

Example: “In my last role as an automation specialist, I worked with several different departments within the company to implement new software programs. One of the most important aspects of my job was communicating with other employees about how our automation software could help them complete their daily tasks. To make sure everyone understood what we were doing, I developed a training program so all employees could learn how to use the software on their own.”

11. We want to improve our customer service by automating some of our most time-consuming processes. What processes would you automate?

This question can help the interviewer understand your problem-solving skills and how you would apply them to their organization. Use examples from your previous experience or explain what processes you would automate if you had no prior experience.

Example: “I worked for a company that was experiencing high customer service costs because of the number of calls they were receiving. I analyzed the data and found that many customers were calling with similar questions, so we created an FAQ page on our website. This reduced the amount of calls we received by 20%, which saved us money and improved our customer satisfaction.”

12. Describe your process for testing new automation systems to ensure they’re working properly.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you apply your skills to ensure quality work. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for testing automation systems and any tools you use to make this process easier.

Example: “I start by creating test cases that simulate real-world scenarios, which I then run through my system to see if it’s working properly. If there are issues with the system, I go back to the drawing board to fix them before running the tests again. Once the system is working as intended, I will repeat the process several times to ensure the system continues to work as expected.”

13. What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel you would fit in with their company. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are the best candidate for the job. Consider highlighting any relevant experience or skills that match what they’re looking for.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate for this position because I have five years of experience working as an automation specialist. In my previous role, I worked on many different projects, including automating software for several companies. I also have extensive knowledge of various programming languages, which makes me well-suited for this role.”

14. Which industries do you have the most experience working in as an automation specialist?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your experience level and how it relates to their industry. You should answer honestly, but you may also want to highlight any similarities between this company’s industry and the ones you’ve worked in before.

Example: “I have mostly worked in the food service industry as an automation specialist. I enjoy working with restaurants because they’re always looking for ways to streamline processes and cut costs while maintaining quality. In my last role, I helped a chain restaurant reduce its wait time by 20% by implementing new technology that allowed customers to place orders from their tables.”

15. What do you think is the future of automation in the workplace?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your thoughts on automation and how it will impact the workplace in the future. Your answer should show that you have a strong understanding of what’s to come with automation and how it could affect businesses.

Example: “I think automation is going to continue to grow as more companies realize its benefits. I believe we’ll see more jobs being replaced by automation, but there will be new positions created as well. For example, I think we’ll start seeing more data scientist roles because they’re needed to create effective automation systems. There are also many other ways automation can benefit businesses.”

16. How often should automation specialists perform routine maintenance on automated systems?

This question can help interviewers evaluate your understanding of the importance of maintenance and how often it should be performed. Use examples from your experience to explain why regular maintenance is important for maintaining an automated system’s functionality.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for performing routine maintenance on our company’s software systems every two weeks. This helped ensure that we were able to identify any issues with the software before they became major problems. Regular maintenance also allowed me to update the software as needed so that we could take advantage of new features or fix bugs in existing ones.”

17. There is a bug in the programming for an automated system you designed. What is your process for fixing the issue?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach problem-solving and your ability to work independently. Your answer should include a step-by-step process for identifying, diagnosing and fixing bugs in an automated system.

Example: “When I’m working on a project that requires coding, I use a software program called JIRA Agile that allows me to create tickets for any issues or questions I have during the design phase of the project. When there is a bug in my programming, I first check to see if it’s something I’ve already addressed in one of my previous projects. If not, I’ll open a new ticket with details about the issue and then begin the process of finding the root cause of the bug by checking each line of code.”

18. What do you believe are the best practices for designing an automated system?

This question can help the interviewer determine your knowledge of best practices in automation. Your answer should include a list of steps you take when designing an automated system and how these steps have helped you achieve success in previous roles.

Example: “I believe that it’s important to start with a business goal or objective before beginning any design process. This helps me create a plan for what I want to accomplish during the development phase. Next, I would analyze the current processes and document them so I know which ones I need to automate. Then, I would develop requirements for the project and create a functional specification. Finally, I would implement the system and monitor its performance.”

19. How would you go about troubleshooting a malfunctioning robot arm?

This question can help the interviewer assess your troubleshooting skills and how you apply them to a specific task. Use examples from previous experience in which you used logical thinking, problem-solving techniques and technical knowledge to identify the root cause of a malfunctioning robot arm and fix it.

Example: “In my last role as an automation specialist, I was tasked with fixing a robotic arm that had stopped working due to a power outage. After checking all the connections between the controller and the arm, I realized there was no power going through the system. So, I replaced the batteries and tested the connection again. The arm worked fine after that.”

20. Do you have any experience with Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR)?

This question can help the interviewer determine if your skills and experience align with their company’s goals. If you have any VR or AR experience, describe how it helped you in your previous role.

Example: “I’ve worked with both VR and AR technology before, but I haven’t had much opportunity to use them in my last two roles. In my first job as an automation specialist, we used VR headsets to test our software for bugs. We would put on the headset and walk through a program to see if there were any errors. This allowed us to find issues that could be fixed before they became major problems.”

21. What safety protocols should be in place when working with robots and other automated machinery?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your knowledge of safety protocols and ensure you’re following them in the workplace. In your answer, explain which protocols are most important and why they’re necessary for keeping yourself and others safe while working with automated machinery.

Example: “Safety is one of my top priorities when working with robots and other automated machinery because it’s crucial that I keep myself and others around me safe at all times. For example, if a robot malfunctions or loses power, I know that I should always stay out of its way until someone can shut it down safely. Another protocol I follow is making sure I’m aware of any hazards before starting work on an automation project so I can take precautions to avoid injury.”

22. Describe your experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++.

The interviewer may ask you this question to learn more about your experience with specific programming languages. You can answer this question by describing the level of expertise you have in each language and how it has helped you complete projects in the past.

Example: “I’ve worked with Python, Java and C++ extensively throughout my career as an automation specialist. I started out learning Python when I was a junior programmer at XYZ Company. At that time, I used Python for basic scripting tasks such as automating repetitive processes and creating test cases. As I gained more experience, I began using Python for more complex applications like data mining and machine learning.

In addition to Python, I also use Java and C++ regularly. In my current role as an automation specialist at ABC Company, I use Java for developing web-based applications and C++ for building desktop software.”

23. Are there any automation trends that you think will become more prominent in the next few years?

This question can help the interviewer get an idea of your knowledge and expertise in automation. Your answer should include a brief description of each trend you mention, along with why you think it will become more prominent.

Example: “I believe that AI is going to be one of the most important trends in automation over the next few years. With its ability to learn from data and make decisions based on those learnings, I think this technology has many applications for businesses. Another trend I see becoming more prominent is chatbots. These automated programs are already being used by many companies to provide customer service, so I think we’ll continue to see them implemented into business operations.”

24. We’re looking to develop new automated systems for our warehouse. What processes could we automate?

This question is a great way to show your technical skills and knowledge of the industry. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list specific processes that you have experience with or ones that you would like to learn more about.

Example: “You could automate many different processes in a warehouse setting. Some common processes include picking orders, packing orders and shipping orders. You may also want to consider automating inventory management and order fulfillment.”

25. How familiar are you with the regulations surrounding the use of robotic and automated systems?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of compliance and safety standards. Your answer should show that you understand the regulations surrounding automation systems and can apply them in your work.

Example: “I am very familiar with the regulations regarding robotic and automated systems. In my last role, I worked on a project where we needed to automate some processes within our company. We had to ensure that all of our systems met the necessary regulatory requirements before implementing any changes. I also completed an online course on the legal aspects of robotics and automation systems, which helped me learn more about these regulations.”