Interview Tips for Automation Engineer Roles

The best interview prep for an Automation Engineer role is to be ready in three areas: technical fundamentals, troubleshooting stories, and communication. Review the basics of PLCs, SCADA, HMIs, instrumentation, sensors, controls, and any platform named in the job posting. Then prepare 3–4 examples where you solved a real problem, improved a process, supported startup or commissioning, reduced downtime, or worked across teams to fix an issue. Try to explain your thinking clearly: what the problem was, how you diagnosed it, what you changed, and what result you got. Also be ready to show that you understand safety, documentation, and working with operators or maintenance, because automation work is rarely just programming in isolation.

Helpful places to start:
thePros job search: https://thepros.co/search/jobs
Get.It job search: https://www.get.it/superseeker
ISA career and training resources: https://www.isa.org/
ISA automation jobs: https://jobs.isa.org/

If you are preparing now, which part feels strongest for you at the moment: PLC programming, troubleshooting, SCADA/HMI work, or explaining your projects confidently in the interview?