Starting salaries up to $50k per year with only a certificate, experienced technicians can earn $100k+
Earn an Automation Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Technology Certificate or a Degree in Mechatronics
Learn in QCC’s new, state-of-the-art QuEST center with cutting edge technology
Classes are free via the MassEducate program if you have been a resident for one year and do not already have a bachelor's degree. Some restrictions apply. Financial aid and scholarships also available if you don't meet these requirements.
You can earn while you learn. QCC has a robust Co-operative Work Experience Program: Engineering Technology students earn an average of $20 per hour, and many are hired after graduation.
QCC’s Mechatronics Program has a 90% job placement rate
No experience required. It’s time to boost your income and your career potential!
Stephanie Martinez
Engineering Technician,
Valmet
Stephanie, a first-generation American with Peruvian roots, went from being a renter to a homeowner at the age of 19, thanks to her job as an Engineering Technician at Valmet. She works in the Research & Development Department, specializing in product testing. Stephanie's work proved crucial when she discovered a flaw in a valve supplied by an external vendor, potentially saving lives as these valves were used by NASA and railroads. Stephanie earned four certifications while pursuing an AS degree in Electronic Engineering Technology - Mechatronics from QCC in 2023. These certifications include a FANUC Certification in Robotics. Having more certifications results in higher pay. Stephanie began her degree at QCC as a dual enrollment student in high school and continued after graduation. Her Cooperative Work Experience led her to a job at Valmet, where technicians typically start with salaries ranging from $20 to $30 per hour. Stephanie's advice to other women: “There aren’t a lot of women in this field, but when you have knowledge under your belt, you’re able to compete. I know I can’t be replaced easily. I encourage all women to pursue a higher education and go for it!”
Caroline Maciel
Student, Automation Engineer,
SMC Ltd
Caroline grew up in Brazil and came to the US as an adult, on her own. As an immigrant she knew education would be the ticket to making a new life in the US, so she enrolled in QCC’s Electronic Engineering - Mechatronics program. One of her QCC professors referred Caroline to a year-long paid internship at $20/hour working for a medical device manufacturer. That Co-op experience led to a fulltime job at the company as an Automation Engineer when she graduated with her Associates Degree in 2023, raising her salary to $60k per year and then eventually $70k with full benefits. And the work was meaningful: during the pandemic they manufactured Covid tests. Caroline’s role was to ensure the manufacturing machines were working properly and to fix it if there was a problem. About QCC’s program, “Professor Heffernan was one of the best professors I ever had. If I was struggling with something, he helped me right away. Being an immigrant I sometimes had difficulty with English, but not with Professor Heffernan who was really good at passing his knowledge on to his students.” Her advice to women considering the field? “Go for it, you will have a lot of opportunities!"
Anna Israelian
Engineering Technician, Martinez Measurements
Anna, a 2022 QCC graduate, is an Engineering Technician at a small firm that installs strain gauge sensors--which are used in everything from jet engines to seat belt sensors. She travels around the U.S. installing them onsite for companies. Anna always preferred hands-on learning to academics and she liked Legos and the outdoors. She got involved with her high school robotics club and it ignited her passion for robotics and automation; “it was so cool seeing a robot you built do something you were controlling it to do.” Following high school she originally planned on going to a 4-year College but she came to realize she could get an AS in Electronic Engineering - Mechatronics at QCC in only 2-years while gaining college credit and income in a cooperative work experience. Unlike many of her peers who completed 4-year colleges saddled with debt, Anna graduated with no debt and a job when her Co-op experience became a full-time job after graduation. Salaries can range widely, but an entry-level technician might earn $50k a year, moving up to $100k with time and experience. 85% of Anna’s tuition was covered by a scholarship she received from QCC.
College drop out to Robotics Technician III
Robotics Technician
Robotics Technician
Mom to Mechatronics & Robotics Junior Technician
MassRobotics Women and Women in Robotics Boston Chapter have joined to strengthen the robotics, AI and technology-focused female community. They are a powerful network of women in technology and robotics that includes industry leaders, entry-, mid-and senior-level employees and academia. Activities include local networking events, outreach, education, mentoring and the promotion of positive role models in robotics.
WIM has an active base of members in and around Massachusetts. Chapters provide excellent opportunities to expand your network, build valuable business relationships, and enjoy industry-related programming.
Women in Technology passionately supports women at every stage of their STEM careers—from the classroom to the boardroom. We do this by telling the stories of successful women and by helping more women write their own. This takes place in a wide variety of formats—from educating middle and high school girls about the opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), to providing networking and education for professionals.
Jim Heffernan
Professor, Coordinator of Electronics Engineering Technology,
jheffernan@qcc.mass.edu
508-854-2739
Peter Soucy
Admissions Recruitment Counselor
psoucy@qcc.mass.edu
508-854-4375
Recommended: Call to Register
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Stephanie Martinez - Full Bio
Engineering Technician, Valmet
Stephanie, a first-generation American with Peruvian roots, went from being a renter to a homeowner at the age of 19, thanks to her job as an Engineering Technician at Valmet. She works in the Research & Development Department,
specializing in product testing. Stephanie's work proved crucial when she discovered a flaw in a valve supplied by an external vendor, potentially saving lives as these valves were used by NASA and railroads. Working closely with engineers, Stephanie's job is diverse, ranging from wearing protective gear in a cleanroom to operating a forklift truck and using power tools. She values the teamwork and variety her job offers.
Stephanie earned four certifications while pursuing an AS degree in Electronic Engineering Technology - Mechatronics from QCC in 2023. These certifications include FANUC Certification in Robotics and Forklift Operator. Having more certifications results in higher pay. Stephanie began her degree at QCC as a dual enrollment student in high school and continued after graduation. Her Cooperative Work Experience led her to a job at Valmet, where technicians typically start with salaries ranging from $20 to $30 per hour. Technicians with a Bachelor's degree earn even more, which is why Stephanie is currently pursuing part-time studies in Engineering. Valmet offers benefits such as tuition assistance and flexibility for managing work and school. Stephanie works the night shift from 2:30 pm to 11:00 pm to accommodate her daytime classes.
Stephanie's advice to other women
“There aren’t a lot of women in this field, but when you have knowledge under your belt, you’re able to compete with men on a daily basis and advance in the field. I know I can’t be replaced easily. I encourage all women to pursue a higher education and go for it!”
Anna Israelian - Full Bio
Engineering Technician, Martinez Measurements
Anna, a 2022 QCC graduate, is an Engineering Technician at a small firm that installs strain gauge sensors, which are used in everything from jet engines to seat belt sensors. She travels around the U.S. installing them onsite for companies like Northrop Grumman, one of the largest defense contractors in
the world. She is also on the Executive Board of the Western Strain Gauge Committee. Anna always preferred hands-on learning to academics and she liked Legos and the outdoors. She got involved with her high school robotics club, which ignited her passion for robotics and automation: It was so cool seeing a robot you built do something you were controlling it to do.”
Following high school, she originally planned on going to a 4-year college, but she came to realize she could get an AS in Electronic Engineering - Mechatronics at QCC in only two years while gaining college credit and income in a cooperative work experience. Unlike many of her peers who completed 4-year colleges saddled with debt, Anna graduated with no debt and a job when her Co-op experience became a full-time job after graduation. Salaries can range widely, but an entry-level technician might earn $50k a year, moving up to $100k with time and experience.
Eighty-five percent of Anna’s tuition was covered by a scholarship she received from QCC. Anna’s education at QCC really prepared her for the workforce: “Professor Heffernan did a great job focusing on troubleshooting, which is something you can apply to any job. He would purposely break stuff, and we had to figure out how to fix it. It wasn’t just textbook knowledge.”
Anna says the opportunities in technology and engineering are constantly growing—so to anyone with an interest: “I would recommend enrolling in QCC’s Robotics Program 1,000%, not many people get to learn about Robots in a school environment.” And she adds that there’s a shortage of trained technicians that everyone talks about. It’s a great time to enter the field of robotics.
Caroline Maciel - Full Bio
Student, Automation Engineer, SMC Ltd
Caroline grew up in Brazil and came to the US as an adult, on her own. As an immigrant she knew education would be the ticket to making a new life in the US, so she enrolled in QCC’s Electronic Engineering - Mechatronics program. One of her QCC professors referred Caroline to a year-long paid internship at $20/hour working for a medical device manufacturer. That
Co-op experience led to a fulltime job at the company as an Automation Engineer when she graduated with her Associates Degree in 2023, raising her salary to $60k per year and then eventually $70k with full benefits.
Caroline greatly enjoyed working for SMC Ltd, “I had a really good boss, he was very patient teaching me, the company provided great opportunities to employees like myself who were without an engineering degree.” And the work was meaningful: during the pandemic they manufactured Covid tests. Caroline’s role was to ensure the manufacturing machines were working properly and to fix them if there was a problem. Caroline is currently studying for her Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering Technology at Fitchburg State. While Caroline is one of only a few women on the job, she says her work environment has always been good and her skills are respected. She was promoted to Engineer without having even finished her Bachelor’s Degree.
About QCC’s program
“Professor Heffernan was one of the best professors I ever had. If I was struggling with something, he helped me right away. Being an immigrant I sometimes had difficulty with English, but not with Professor Heffernan who was really good at passing his knowledge on to his students.” Her advice to women considering the field? “Go for it, you will have a lot of opportunities! The validation process is fun! The hands-on testing process with the machines is something I love to do!” She mentions that recruiters send her emails daily on Linked-in, and there are many jobs including with large companies like Amazon.