internet of things

The arena of IoT is vast and demands skill-sets according to the area of specialisation. On a whole, professionals must possess the following skills to make a career in IoT:

• Machine learning and artificial intelligence
• AutoCAD
• Programming languages – Node.js, Hadoop, Tableau
• Big data analysis
• Sensor data analysis
• Security infrastructure
• Security engineering
• Test automation
• Problem solving skills
• Curiosity
• Ability to work independently

At the entry-level, IoT jobs typically include responsibilities such as building IoT hardware, preparing algorithms, implementing codes, extracting data and modelling, server management, information security, UI/UX design, to name a few.

Following are some industries offering attractive IoT job openings at present:

• Manufacturing – Building connected factories and plants to improve efficiency, designing smart processes, installing sensors to collect real-time data for predicting issues and maintaining equipment, and employing software to collect operational data for hazard resolution
• Healthcare – Digitizing and streamlining data, employing sensors to reduce patient monitoring costs, storing patient data in the cloud and keeping it secure, developing smart medicines and devices to track medication, treatment effectiveness, and disease symptoms. The future scope of IoT in healthcare is undoubtedly bright
• Transportation – Using IoT devices for fleet management, improving end-to-end visibility in logistics, manufacturing smart and connected cars, designing autonomous vehicles

IoT, by itself, is a vast industry where the career path depends on one’s area of specialisation. Professionals can forge a career in the following roles:

• Hardware Engineer – Responsible for putting various sensors and transmitters together to manufacture a device, designing new and more efficient sensors, and implementing Wi-Fi and other connectivity solutions
• IoT Architect – Responsible for handling large-scale traffic between connected devices, designing and implementing the architecture of an IoT network, converting ideas into design and functional code, and mapping business needs to system requirements
• IoT Developer – Responsible for building a responsive and consistent user experience, creating and implementing code, supervising the software of an IoT stack, and working with programming libraries for connected devices and apps
• Data Scientist – Responsible for organising and analysing structured and unstructured data, analysing big data and extracting insights, and employing predictive analytics
• Security Specialist – Responsible for ensuring robust security implementation of connected devices, securing confidential data against hacking, performing risk identification and vulnerability analysis 

To secure IoT jobs, a degree in Engineering (Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology) with a focus on electronics and microprocessors is ideal. Professionals must also enrol for certifications and online courses in data science, cyber security, product design, networking, agile testing, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

The most exciting aspect of a career in IoT is the sheer number of possibilities and future scope of IoT. Since it is a fairly new technology, the standards in the domain are still evolving and will continue to do so. In the near future, industries hitherto untouched by IoT will embrace its many applications. This means that new IoT jobs and career paths will emerge. No matter the area of specialisation you choose in IoT, success and professional growth are guaranteed. The scope of IoT in future is only going to expand as the business world becomes increasingly technology-driven.