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(Manufacturing Technician, Process Engineering Technician, Production Engineering Technician, Industrial Technician)
Engineering & Manufacturing
Salary
€30,000 - €55,000/yr
Level
Professional
Outlook
Growing
Sector
Engineering & Manufacturing
As an Industrial Engineering Technician you support engineers in improving efficiency, productivity, and safety across manufacturing operations. Your day-to-day work involves conducting production studies, analysing workflows, and preparing layouts for machinery and equipment on the factory floor. You read and interpret engineering drawings, carry out routine machinery checks, and help identify and resolve quality problems or equipment malfunctions. You work closely with industrial engineers, production supervisors, and quality teams, typically within pharmaceutical, medical device, or food manufacturing environments. Documenting test data and assisting in the implementation of process improvements are central parts of the role.
Listen: a day as an Industrial Engineering Technician
You arrive at the pharmaceutical plant in Sligo at 7:45 a.m., a quarter of an hour before your shift officially starts. You sign in, collect your PPE — safety glasses, steel-toe boots, and a hi-vis vest — and check the production handover notes left by the night crew. There is a flag on one of the tablet-pressing machines: output dropped by around eight per cent overnight. You note it in your daily log and head to the floor. By 8:30 a.m. you are standing at the machine with a stopwatch and a clipboard, carrying out a time-and-motion study. You record each step of the operator's cycle — loading, pressing, unloading, waiting — timing them to the second. The data will eventually go into a spreadsheet so the industrial engineer you report to can spot where time is being lost. It is repetitive work, but the accuracy matters.
A strong Leaving Certificate with subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, and Design & Communication Graphics provides an excellent foundation for this career. The most common entry route is a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or Manufacturing Technology at a Technological University such as TU Dublin, MTU, ATU, SETU, or TUS. A Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor's or Level 8 Honours Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering can open doors to greater responsibility more quickly. PLC courses at Level 5 in Engineering Technology can serve as a stepping stone to higher education through the CAO or a linked progression route. Engineers Ireland offers professional membership and continued development opportunities relevant to technicians working in the sector.
Most Industrial Engineering Technicians begin their careers in a junior or technician support role within a manufacturing plant, working under the guidance of qualified engineers. With experience, you can progress to a Senior Technician or Process Improvement Technician position, taking on greater responsibility for project delivery and team coordination. Further study, such as a Level 8 degree or a Level 9 postgraduate qualification in engineering or lean manufacturing, can support a move into a fully qualified Industrial Engineer or Process Engineer role. Chartered Engineer status through Engineers Ireland is a long-term goal for those who continue to develop professionally.
AI and automation tools are increasingly being used on the factory floor to monitor equipment performance and flag inefficiencies in real time, which is changing how technicians carry out routine checks and data collection. Industrial Engineering Technicians who can work alongside AI-driven process monitoring systems and interpret automated data outputs will be well placed in the evolving workplace. While AI can assist with analysis and pattern recognition, the practical, hands-on aspects of troubleshooting equipment and implementing layout changes still require skilled human judgement. Upskilling in digital manufacturing tools and data analytics will be an important part of professional development for technicians in this field.
→ Industrial Engineering Technician (Current role)
Organisations in Ireland that employ people in this occupation.
Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Support semiconductor manufacturing efficiency, workflow analysis, and equipment optimisation
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Galway
Conduct production studies and improve medical device manufacturing processes
Tralee, Co. Kerry; Nationwide
Analyse food production workflows and support efficiency improvements on factory floor
Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork; Dublin; Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Support pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, safety checks, and quality problem resolution
Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
Prepare machinery layouts and support materials handling equipment manufacturing operations
Cork; Dublin
Carry out routine machinery checks and resolve equipment malfunctions in production
Limerick; Dublin; Nationwide
Support industrial engineers with production studies and engineering drawing interpretation
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary; Donegal; Galway
Identify quality problems and improve productivity across medical device manufacturing lines
Newbridge, Co. Kildare; Midlands
Support engineering operations, equipment maintenance checks, and manufacturing process improvements
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Analyse workflows and support crane manufacturing efficiency on the factory floor
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