Companies demand new professional profiles trained to research and develop more prototypes of connected devices
The rapid development of the Internet of Things is one of the most impressive phenomena in the world today. According to Statista, there will be 25.44 billion connected devices by 2030, showing that this trend is only just beginning.
Given this scenario, companies face the challenge of having professionals duly trained in new technologies and connectivity. It is a profession with great potential for the future for students of electronic, computer or mechanical engineering, who can easily learn to use platforms to implement prototypes that improve the business of a company.
Now, what does a professional trained in IoT Engineering do? What profile and skills should you have? To begin with, you must have advanced knowledge of all the technologies involved in an Internet of Things process to implement prototype solutions that generate impact and then scale to a productive environment.
Another important issue to consider is that it is a very flexible profession. You must be prepared to work in various activities, from research to projects, through data management and analysis.
Three functions of an IoT engineer
Now, if we talk about specific fields of work, we can divide the IoT engineering functions into three large groups:
1- Development and supervision of IoT devices
A typical task for a person with such training is, for example, working on developing prototypes of IoT devices. In general, these are projects that are not quick or easy to execute. For this reason, they require adequate planning and it is precisely the IoT engineer who must establish the guidelines and the necessary resources.
There is currently great potential for the development of prototypes of IoT devices with open hardware and software platforms such as Arduino or Raspberry. Although they are not the most recommended for production environments, they allow a very fast minimum viable product (MVP) to be achieved and thus validate the idea of the IoT device that is intended to be built for the market. An IoT engineer must be able to handle these tools and be prepared to monitor the process and find solutions in case of unforeseen events or errors that delay or compromise it.
2- Integration and analysis of devices and data
There are more and more things connected, but how can you have greater control over the information they provide?
An IoT engineer is in charge of seeking integration between devices. The goal is to get the most out of the connectivity and data it provides us, as well as better device management. For example, its objective may be to provide a client with remote management, from an application, of the operation of any asset connected to the network. For example, activate an irrigation system in a field or check the temperature and general conditions of a silo.
An IoT engineer must precisely be in charge of analyzing all the data produced by these devices. This is a fundamental task, since all the information needs to be interpreted to transform it into valuable knowledge and, eventually, implement improvements in the different processes.
In order to do so, it has resources to test hypotheses that later impact the business, such as the open platform Node-RED and standard protocols such as MQTT. Node-RED, a stream editor that allows nodes to be added or removed, connected and grouped into streams, is the standard platform for real-time data processing and management. It is a visual programming tool that simplifies the connectivity between hardware, APIs and online services in Industry 4.0 environments.
3- Research
Finally, another responsibility of an IoT engineer is to be at the forefront of innovation. This includes not only keeping informed of technological trends but proactively contributing to their development.
For this reason, many of these professionals are dedicated to researching and finding ways to create new devices that can be connected and thus improve and make some human activity or industrial process more efficient.
As we explained at the beginning, the Internet of Things is growing at an amazing rate and new products and interconnected systems are constantly emerging to facilitate tasks in different fields. Communication networks are constantly evolving. For this reason, being aware of social and organizational trends and finding ways to improve them with IoT is a task for these professionals.
An example is LPWAN networks and IIoT satellites, which will make it possible to facilitate and democratize IIoT in remote areas.
First of all, Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) are a wireless communication technology that is recognized today as one of the basic protocols for IoT deployment. This is demonstrated by the constant increase in connected LPWAN devices (some 3.5 billion currently according to Statista ).
IIoT satellites, meanwhile, make it possible to bring quick and easy connectivity to remote locations. They are devices that include IoT sensors that connect to a satellite network and can be used in various industries and activities for monitoring and critical communications.
Profile and knowledge
To begin with, an IoT engineer must be prepared to solve problems with analytical skills and creativity.
Regarding technical issues, you must have knowledge in electronic engineering, telecommunications, and software, in order to understand how devices connected to the network work and thus find new ways to solve business problems for your clients.
It is also important that you are familiar with:
- operating systems, especially Linux, since it is usually the base of many IoT projects,
- programming languages, such as JavaScript and Python,
- and computer security, since you must know about encryption of keys and devices to detect and evaluate vulnerabilities in a network.
The latter is a topic of special relevance today, since cyberattacks are commonplace. In Latin America 2021 alone, a Kaspersky report revealed that they increased 24 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.
Studies
There are several higher level careers that allow training in these skills. The most common is that these professionals have studies in computer engineering, mechanics or electronics.
Some foreign universities have degrees in IoT which, as its name indicates, is a career specifically designed for those who want to dedicate themselves to this. It is advisable to complement this degree with a master’s degree in network systems, security, hardware, data science or similar.
However, beyond any university degree, an IoT engineer can specialize through specific courses. He should never stop studying in order to keep up to date with the news of a constantly evolving discipline.
Finally, it is important that you know the value of sustainability, since it is a priority for more and more organizations that seek to carry out their activities in line with respect for the environment and communities. The IoT has the capacity to transform the sustainability paradigm thanks to greater efficiency and better use of resources. Therefore, you must assume how your work can not only improve the operation of various industries but also contribute to a sustainable future.
In summary, it is a key profession for today’s world and with great potential for the future for students of electronic, computer or mechanical engineering. As the development of connected devices continues to advance, the challenges for IoT engineers will increase while at the same time new possibilities to apply their knowledge will emerge.
