CV Automation Engineer: Example and Template
A complete Swiss CV example for Automation Engineers with PLC programming, commissioning and standards knowledge - ready to use as a template.
Currently 24 open Automation Engineer positions in Switzerland, across 5 cantons, 3 of them from the last 7 days. Bachem advertises the most.
CV example — two-page template
This template is editable straight away — or upload your existing CV and it is carried into this layout automatically.
What qualification do you need as an Automation Engineer in Switzerland?
The classic path leads through an EFZ as an Automation Technician or Electronics Technician, followed by a degree from a university of applied sciences, an HF programme or an advanced federal diploma of higher education.
Swiss job postings most often require a BSc from a university of applied sciences in electrical engineering, systems engineering or mechanical engineering with a specialisation in automation (for example FHNW, ZHAW, HSLU, OST), or a Dipl. Techniker HF Systemtechnik qualification. An ETH master's degree in robotics or control engineering is also common, especially for research and special-purpose machinery projects. Write the qualification exactly as it appears on your diploma and add the school and year - HR staff check equivalence very closely.
If you come from a hands-on background, the EFZ as an Automation Technician, Electronics Technician or Polymechanic is not a disadvantage but a selling point: state it explicitly, since switch cabinet construction, wiring and NIN knowledge are in demand in engineering roles. Further training such as the Höhere Fachprüfung Elektro-Projektleiter, a CAS in Industry 4.0 or a postgraduate HF programme belongs in its own block directly below your education.
For foreign diplomas, two pieces of information belong in the CV: recognition or level assessment by SBFI/Swiss ENIC and your work permit status (C, B, G or EU/EFTA freedom of movement). Add manufacturer-specific certificates such as Siemens Certified Programmer, TÜV Functional Safety Engineer or Rockwell training - these often carry more weight with system integrators than an additional line about your studies.
How do you structure work experience and projects convincingly?
For each position, describe the type of plant, the control platform, the project size in I/O or CHF, and your measurable results.
For each role, state the technical context: industry (pharma, food, intralogistics, water, energy), plant type, control system and your role in the project cycle. A sentence like 'Programming of a filling line with S7-1500F, 1'200 I/O, PROFIsafe, 12 servo axes' says more than three generic task lines. Make clear whether you specified, programmed, commissioned or managed projects - these phases are paid very differently in Switzerland.
Quantify results with metrics that matter in operations: OEE, MTTR, MTBF, cycle time, scrap rate, changeover time, energy consumption, commissioning duration, project volume and schedule adherence. Examples: 'Reduced MTTR from 96 to 41 minutes' or 'Completed a project with a volume of CHF 1'250'000 three weeks ahead of schedule'. Without figures, any statement remains a generality.
Add a short list of three to five reference projects if you work as a system integrator, and state the standards and regulations you actually apply: Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, SN EN ISO 13849-1, IEC 61511, IEC 62443 for OT security, GAMP 5, ISA-88 for batch processing and ISA 18.2 for alarm management. Also note your willingness to travel, on-call duty and language skills for the Suisse Romande, as these points will come up in the interview anyway.
How long should the CV be - and does it need a photo?
Two pages are the Swiss standard; a professional photo is common but optional.
Keep to two pages; three pages are only acceptable with over ten years of project experience and an extensive project list, in which case the list belongs in a separate appendix. The first page must contain your profile, core competencies, control platforms and current position, since many recruiters only read this page. Submit your CV as a PDF and name the file following the pattern 'CV_Surname_AutomationEngineer.pdf'.
A neutral portrait photo is still common in Switzerland and is rarely viewed negatively; leave it out if you are applying to international corporate positions with an anonymised process. Also expected are place of residence, contact details, permit status and - for service roles - a category B driving licence. Date of birth and marital status are optional; leave out information on religion or denomination.
Your application file should include work references, diplomas and course certificates as separate PDFs. Adapt your vocabulary to the job posting: a pharmaceutical client looks for CSV, IQ/OQ and PCS 7, while a machine builder looks for servo technology, safety and willingness to travel. Only state your salary expectations in the cover letter or profile if requested - realistic ranges are roughly between CHF 85'000 and CHF 135'000 per year, depending on experience and region.
Where Automation Engineer are hired in Switzerland
How the 24 open positions are spread across the cantons.
Figures as a table
| Canton | postings |
|---|---|
| Basel-Stadt | 3 |
| Zürich | 2 |
| Thurgau | 1 |
| Genf | 1 |
| Waadt | 1 |
Which languages the postings require
Of 20 postings that state a language — in brackets, those requiring professional level.
Figures as a table
| Language | postings |
|---|---|
| German | 18 (17) |
| English | 10 (9) |
| French | 1 (1) |
Who hires Automation Engineer in Switzerland
Employers with the most open positions. Staffing agencies are excluded.
Figures as a table
| Employer | postings |
|---|---|
| Bachem | 3 |
| Bühler Group | 2 |
| Körber Pharma | 2 |
| Swisscom | 1 |
| Lengacher & Partner GmbH | 1 |
| Nietlispach Unternehmensberatung AG | 1 |
Full-time or part-time?
How the positions are advertised.
Figures as a table
| Workload | postings |
|---|---|
| Vollzeit / plein temps | 22 |
The CV in full
To read through and reuse.
Marc Bühlmann
Automation Engineer, BSc FHNW Electrical and Information Technology, specialisation in Automation
Automation Engineer with 9 years of experience in PLC and control system projects for packaging plants, pharmaceutical process plants and water treatment. Focus on Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1500, Safety), Rockwell Studio 5000 and SCADA migrations with WinCC Unified and PCS 7. Leads projects from requirements specification through FAT/SAT to GMP-compliant IQ/OQ documentation and supports risk assessment according to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and SN EN ISO 13849-1.
What sets me apart
Functional safety as part of programming: Develops safety concepts and safety programs (Safety Integrated, GuardLogix) including verification according to SN EN ISO 13849-1 - calculated PL-d proofs for 18 plants without objection from the Suva inspection.
Brownfield migration without production stoppage: Migration of S5 and S7-300 controllers to S7-1500 within planned weekend windows of maximum 36 hours; 12 conversions with an average of 4 hours of unplanned additional downtime.
GMP and CSV experience: Develops functional specifications (FS/DS), traceability matrix and test protocols according to GAMP 5; three audits (Swissmedic preparation, two client audits) without critical findings on automation.
Interface between operations and IT/OT: Connects field level and evaluation via OPC UA and SQL integration; introduced OEE reporting for 6 lines used by 45 shift-work employees.
Key achievements
OEE increase on filling line. Optimisation of cycle times, fault-message logic and format-change sequence increased overall equipment effectiveness from 68 to 81 percent within 7 months; additional output of around 1'900 pallets per year.
Control system migration on budget. Project management of a PCS 7 migration with 2'400 I/O and 14 operator stations; completed 3 weeks ahead of schedule with a project volume of CHF 1'250'000 and a cost deviation of under 2 percent.
Reduction of downtime through diagnostics. Introduction of structured alarm classes according to ISA 18.2 and remote diagnostics via VPN reduced mean time to repair (MTTR) from 96 to 41 minutes and on-site service call-outs by 35 percent.
Experience
Senior Automation Engineer — Helvetia Prozessautomation AG, Aarau, since 03/2020
System integrator with 60 employees, projects for pharma, food and water management; project volume CHF 200'000 to CHF 2'000'000.
- Responsible for 6 to 8 parallel projects per year with a total volume of around CHF 3'400'000 and a schedule adherence rate of 94 percent.
- Standardised a TIA Portal library with 85 reusable function blocks; engineering effort per new project reduced by 22 percent.
- Led FAT and SAT for 19 plants; average of 12 open points per acceptance, all closed within 10 working days.
- Provides technical leadership to 3 junior engineers and supervises 2 apprentice Automation Technicians EFZ during their practical rotation.
Automation Engineer — Sagenmatt Packaging Systems GmbH, Rothrist, 08/2016 - 02/2020
Machine builder for secondary packaging, 130 employees, export share 70 percent.
- Programmed 24 packaging machines with S7-1500, Sinamics servo drives and PROFINET/PROFIsafe, 9 of them with camera inspection.
- Reduced on-site commissioning time from 15 to 9 days through virtual pre-testing with SIMIT and PLCSIM Advanced.
- Prepared 24 CE documentation packages including risk assessment according to Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; no follow-up requests from clients or inspection bodies.
- Supported commissioning in 5 countries with around 55 travel days per year.
Automation Technician / Automation Service Technician — Jurawerk Antriebs- und Steuerungstechnik AG, Biel, 09/2013 - 07/2016
Switchgear construction and maintenance for regional industrial companies and wastewater treatment plants.
- Carried out around 180 service call-outs, on-call duty on a 1-in-4-week rotation.
- Modernised the control systems of 7 pumping stations to S7-1200 with remote monitoring connection; energy consumption reduced by 11 percent.
- Inspected and documented switchgear according to SN EN 61439 and NIN; 100 percent first-time approval rate at the inspection body.
Education
BSc, Electrical and Information Technology, specialisation in Automation — FHNW Windisch · 2016
Federal VET Diploma, Automation Technician EFZ — Berufsfachschule Biel · 2013
Siemens Certified Programmer TIA Portal (SIMATIC S7) · TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (Machinery) · Rockwell Studio 5000 Advanced Programming · IPMA Level D Project Management (spm)