Interview: A Robotics Engineer on the Real Job (and the Classes That Helped Most)

Meet the Robotics Engineer: “It’s More Debugging Than People Expect”

Parents often ask us: what does a robotics engineer do all day? And teens ask: is it mostly coding, building, or math? To answer both, I interviewed Jordan Lee, a robotics engineer who works on warehouse robots that move, scan, and sort packages safely around people.

Jordan’s path wasn’t “robot prodigy → robotics job.” In fact, Jordan told me the most important ingredient was consistency:

• building small projects over time
• getting comfortable with troubleshooting
• learning enough math and physics to understand why something behaves the way it does

Jordan also reminded me of something I see with Intellect Council learners: robotics rewards curiosity.

Jordan: “The job looks like shiny robots, but most days are testing, debugging, and making sure the robot behaves safely in messy real life.”

If your child is exploring a robotics career path for teens, this interview breaks down what the work really looks like, what school helped (and what didn’t), and how to start now—without needing a lab at home.

What Does a Robotics Engineer Do? A Real Week, Not a Movie Version

I asked Jordan to describe a typical week. The main surprise: robotics engineering is not one job. It’s a team sport where different people specialize.

Here’s what Jordan actually does:

• Writes and tests code that helps the robot understand its environment (sensors), plan movement, and avoid collisions.
• Runs experiments: change one variable (a sensor setting, a wheel speed, a camera angle), then measure what happens.
• Analyzes logs and data: when the robot fails, the clues are in timestamps, sensor readings, and error messages.
• Collaborates across roles: mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, software engineers, product managers, and safety teams.
• Documents decisions so the next person can reproduce results and avoid repeating mistakes.

Jordan broke their work into three buckets that parents and teens can picture:

• Build: implement a new feature (like smoother turning).
• Test: run the robot in controlled scenarios (like different lighting or floor surfaces).
• Fix: debug failures (like “robot hesitates near reflective tape”).

Jordan: “A robot that works in one perfect hallway is easy. A robot that works at 7 p.m. on a crowded floor with glare and noise is hard.”

The skills that matter day-to-day

Jordan said the most valuable skills aren’t mysterious. They’re learnable:

• Debugging mindset: making a plan, testing one change at a time, and keeping notes.
• Comfort with math tools: algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry show up more than advanced calculus early on.
• Code fundamentals: loops, functions, data structures, and reading other people’s code.
• Communication: explaining what you tried, what failed, and what you’ll do next.

And yes—Jordan still searches documentation constantly.

Jordan: “Being good at robotics isn’t memorizing everything. It’s knowing how to find the right info fast and verify it.”

What They Learned in School (and What They Wish They’d Taken Earlier)

For families thinking ahead, this is where the interview becomes practical. Jordan shared which classes paid off later, and which were “nice but optional.”

Best classes for robotics in high school

If you’re looking for best classes for robotics in high school, Jordan recommends prioritizing these (in roughly this order):

• Algebra → Geometry → Trig/Pre-Calc: robotics is movement, angles, and measurement.
• Physics: forces, friction, motors, sensors, and why things slip or wobble.
• Computer Science / Programming: even one solid intro course helps.
• Engineering / Robotics elective (if available): especially if it includes building and iterating.
• Statistics (often overlooked): testing and comparing results is basically statistics in disguise.

Jordan’s “wish I did this sooner” list:

• joining a robotics team (even without being the “best coder”)
• learning how to use version control (like Git) early
• getting used to writing short lab notes and documenting experiments

A quick, actionable course roadmap (by grade)

Below is a parent-friendly guide you can adapt based on your child’s school options. The goal is not to overload—it’s to stack skills in a smart order.

Grade band	Best classes for robotics in high school (and middle school)	Skill it builds	Simple project idea (at home or club)
6–8	Pre-algebra, intro coding, basic physics concepts	Logic + confidence	Code a line-following simulation or a simple sensor game
9–10	Algebra I/II, Geometry, Intro CS, lab science	Measurement + problem solving	Build a “robot rules” game: if/then behaviors using sensors (virtual or kit)
11	Physics, Pre-Calc/Trig, Robotics/Engineering elective	Motion + control	Tune a PID-like behavior in a simulator (smooth speed/steering changes)
12	AP/IB CS (or advanced coding), Stats, Capstone/Independent study	Testing + communication	Do a final project with a write-up: goal, tests, results, next improvements

If your child is younger, that’s okay. Robotics starts with patterns, cause-and-effect, and patience—skills 5-year-olds can practice just as much as teens.

How to Become a Robotics Engineer: The Real Career Path (Teen Edition)

Jordan’s story is helpful because it’s realistic. They didn’t have a robotics lab at home. They built experience in layers.

Here’s a clear how to become a robotics engineer path that works for many teens:

Step 1: Try robotics in more than one format

Robotics can be hands-on or virtual. Both count.

• Clubs/teams: FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, VEX, school robotics clubs
• Personal projects: small builds, simple automations, sensor experiments
• Simulations: coding robots in virtual environments (great when budgets are tight)

Jordan: “I learned a ton from simulation because it made me explain the robot’s behavior in code. Then hardware felt less scary.”

Step 2: Pick a “home base” skill—but stay flexible

Robotics engineers often lean into one area first:

• Software-leaning: programming, algorithms, computer vision
• Hardware-leaning: mechanical design, motors, circuits
• Systems-leaning: integration, testing, reliability, safety

Jordan emphasized that early on, it’s fine to be a generalist.

Step 3: Build a portfolio that shows your thinking

A portfolio doesn’t have to be fancy. It just needs to show:

• the goal
• what you tried
• what broke
• how you fixed it
• what you’d improve next

Good portfolio evidence includes:

• short videos of a robot or simulation
• a GitHub repo (even for small projects)
• a one-page write-up with photos and results

Step 4: Understand the common degrees (and alternatives)

For many robotics roles, people come from:

• Computer Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Robotics Engineering (where available)

Jordan’s note for families: robotics is a field where internships, projects, and proof of skills can matter as much as the exact major.

Step 5: Learn the “unsexy” skills that get you hired

Jordan said interviews often test basics more than buzzwords:

• Can you explain your project clearly?
• Can you troubleshoot logically?
• Can you work with a team and accept feedback?

That’s great news for teens: these are trainable.

Next Steps: A 30-Day Plan for Teens (and a Simple Parent Checklist)

If your child is excited after reading this, you don’t need to wait for the “perfect” moment. Start small and build momentum.

A realistic 30-day robotics starter plan

Week 1: Pick a track and a time slot

• Choose one path: kit robotics, virtual robotics, or club/team
• Block 2 sessions per week (30–60 minutes)

Week 2: Build something that moves or reacts

• Goal: a robot (or simulated robot) that follows rules
• Examples:
  • move forward until a “sensor” triggers, then turn
  • follow a line (real or simulated)
  • avoid obstacles

Week 3: Break it on purpose (seriously)

• Change conditions and record what happens:
  • low light vs bright light
  • faster speed vs slower
  • different surfaces
• Write down 5 failures and what you think caused them

Week 4: Improve one thing and document it

• Pick one issue (wobble, overshoot, false sensor trigger)
• Make one improvement
• Create a mini “engineering report”:
  • what changed
  • before/after results
  • what you’d try next

Parent checklist (high impact, low stress)

• Help your child choose one commitment (club, class, or project time) instead of five.
• Encourage process praise: consistency, testing, and persistence.
• Ask useful questions:
  • “What did you expect to happen?”
  • “What actually happened?”
  • “What’s one variable you can change?”
• If they get stuck, don’t rescue immediately—help them make a debugging plan.

Robotics is one of the best “future-ready” pathways because it blends coding, problem-solving, and real-world systems thinking. And as Jordan made clear, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.

If your teen wants to explore more, start with one project, one class, or one club. That’s how real robotics engineers begin.