Associate in Science
Robotics & Autonomous Engineering Technology
Associate in Science
Robotics & Autonomous Engineering Technology
Our new program is engineered for people who want to
make their mark in cutting-edge robotics and autonomous careers.
Robotics and related fields like autonomous driving are cutting-edge and yet are becoming more commonplace in all kinds of industries and consumer products—driverless cars and trucks, powerful drones making deliveries, huge robots that never need a break (but can break down) on assembly lines, robots performing surgery remotely, even Roomba® or the lawn mower bots sold everywhere.
Behind the scenes, engineers are envisioning and designing the technology but who’s ensuring that they’re operating like they should? Who’s customizing them based on the needs of industry? And who is so integrated into the team that they’re viewed as indispensable from engineering all the way to the manufacturing site?
Service Engineer Technicians, that’s who.
Become one of the doers.
Service Engineer Technicians (SETs) are the talented, skilled doers who maintain and customize robotic or autonomous systems.
Our one-of-a-kind program, designed in partnership with Aurora, a leading company in self-driving headquartered in Pittsburgh, prepares you for a career as a Service Engineer Technician. With a growing fleet of autonomous vehicles, Aurora came to Pittsburgh Technical College with the desire to help train the next generation of skilled SETs in the region.
Together, we built a cutting-edge program that’s a combination of our electronics, mechanical engineering, electrician, and information systems technology curriculum. It’s a whole new, multi-disciplinary take on the curriculum developed at PTC that focuses on what you need to succeed by drawing on the expertise of our faculty and the robotics, computer, electronics, and CAD technology.
Watch WTAE-TV’s feature story on our new program and partnership with Aurora.
Industry Days
An under-the-hood look at robotics careers
Talk about real-world, relevant education. You’ll be right in the middle of some of the most exciting technology and innovative teams in the world, but right here in Pittsburgh.
Throughout the program, every quarter, you will also be immersed in Industry Days to gain on-site experience and exposure to employers through field trips, guest speakers, job shadowing, and other activities that show you how the robotics and autonomous industry work, and your role in it.
What you’ll learn.
Where you could land.
Career Skills
- Set up, verify the proper operation of, and perform daily maintenance on equipment involving robotics and autonomous technology.
- Design, test, and troubleshoot elements in robotics and autonomous technology systems.
- Develop code for robotics and autonomous engineering technology systems.
- Effectively articulate system requirements, problems, and troubleshooting steps via multiple communications modes either individually or as a group.
Career Opportunities
You could be working in a variety of industries that have or are developing robotics and autonomous driving technology, including:
- Autonomous vehicle companies
- Robotics firms
- Transportation
- Medicine
- Defense and security firms
- Education, especially remote learning and other support systems
- Manufacturing
Employers of PTC Graduates
The Career Services staff at Pittsburgh Technical College will help you every step of the way as you get ready to launch your career. Our grads have the potential to find jobs with employers including:
- Aurora
- Carnegie Robotics
- Carnegie Robotics Institute
Program Courses
The Associate in Science, Robotics & Autonomous Engineering Technology consists of six quarters. For course descriptions, visit our catalog.
Quarter 1
- Engineering Graphics (Industry Days)
- AutoCAD
- Math for Engineering Technology
- Wellness and Resilience
- Blueprint Reading
- Steps to Career Success 1
Quarter 2
- Introduction to Electronics (Industry Days)
- Critical Thinking
- College Algebra
- Intro to Manufacturing
Quarter 3
- Robotics (Industry Days)
- Trigonometry
- English Composition 1
- Introduction to Parametric Modeling
Quarter 4
- Technical Report Writing
- Mechanical Application Software 2
- Network Operating Systems 3
- IT Project Management (Industry Days)
Quarter 5
- Effective Speech
- Introduction to Robotics and AI Programming
- Career Development
- Physics for Engineering Technology
- Motor Controls (Industry Days)
Quarter 6
- Leadership Principles
- Internship
What’s New(s)
Our new Robotics and Autonomous Engineering Technology program is getting a lot of attention from local and national media, and for good reason. Check out the coverage below for the full story.
Technical.ly
This degree could be Pittsburghers’ entry to the AV industry
On Wednesday, two months into the 13-student inaugural cohort, Aurora hosted some of the students at the company’s HQ so that they could ask questions and hear from Aurora’s employees about what the company does, and get advice for the future.
WESA
Pittsburgh robotics companies are trying to figure out who will keep the machines running
Pittsburgh Tech robotics student Andrew Pinkovsky is excited that he’ll have completed some of that training by the time he graduates.
“One of my main goals at the end of this degree is to eventually work with Aurora. … One of my favorite things about it is just how new it is, how innovative it is,” Pinkovsky said.
WTAE
Pittsburgh Technical College offering new degree in automation and robotics repair
Here’s the latest story by WTAE-TV you can watch to hear from Aurora and our academic team.
Click here to watch.