A complete example job ad for an automation engineer, with the tasks, the profile and the pay range the market pays. Fill in the parts in brackets, cut what does not fit and publish it.
The example text
Automation engineer PLC (m/f/x)
At [company] you write the software that controls our machines and production lines. You help shape the architecture of new projects, from the first design to commissioning.
What you will do
Design, program and test PLC software in TIA Portal, Step 7 or Studio 5000
Build HMI and SCADA screens operators use to run the installation
Commission machines in the workshop and at the customer, including abroad
Analyse faults in existing controls and optimise software
Implement and document safety functions to the machinery directive
Who you are
A bachelor or master in electromechanics, automation or electronics-ICT, or equivalent experience
PLC programming on at least one platform; Siemens TIA Portal is the most requested in Belgium
Insight into electrical schematics, fieldbuses (Profinet, EtherCAT) and drive technology
Structured testing and documentation, also under project pressure
Willingness to travel for commissioning
What we offer
A gross monthly salary between €3,400 and €5,200, depending on your experience as an automation engineer
Company car or mobility budget: to be discussed
Number of trips and nights away for commissioning: to be discussed
Interested? Apply via [email address or link].
You fill in what is "to be discussed" yourself. We add no benefits we do not know; the pay range is a market indication, not a pay scale.
Three tips for your automation engineer job ad
Name the PLC platform and the software you work with. Engineers search by brand, and someone at home in Siemens reads a vacancy for Rockwell or Beckhoff differently.
Be honest about travel: how much commissioning at customers, at home or abroad, and how many nights away. Vagueness on that point costs you candidates.
Show that the engineer has a say in the architecture rather than only solving faults. That difference makes a manufacturer attractive next to an integrator.
Is it a bottleneck profession?
Yes. VDAB lists "Ontwerper industriële automatisering" on the 2026 list of bottleneck professions. Cause according to VDAB: too few job seekers available on the labour market; candidates lack the right experience or training