Must-Have Skills for Jobs in Life Sciences and Engineering
How are innovation and technology driving growth in the Life Sciences and Engineering market in 2026?
A recent Deloitte report notes that biopharma and medtech leaders expect AI to play a major role in improving organisational efficiency this year, with 78% saying it will be central to driving major change.
Insights from our Ireland Salary Guide reflect the same trend. Our experts report that automation is a key driver of hiring as manufacturing and production environments become increasingly automated.
This is creating strong demand for Automation Engineers with expertise in robotics and programmable logic controller (PLC) programming.
Let’s take a look at the key skills needed for Life Sciences and Engineering jobs in 2026.
Key Skills for Jobs in Life Sciences and Engineering
1. PLC Programming
Manufacturing and production environments in the Life Sciences sector are becoming increasingly automated. As a result, automation remains a major driver of hiring, with strong demand for engineers who have PLC programming experience, particularly with platforms such as Allen-Bradley and Siemens.
These professionals are essential for improving production efficiency, reducing downtime, and supporting reliable, high-quality output in regulated environments.
2. Robotics and Automation Experience
Driven by the shift towards increasingly automated manufacturing and production facilities, professionals with robotics and automation experience are highly sought after to help deliver large-scale capital investment projects across the biopharma and medtech sectors.
3. Process Validation and New Product Introduction (NPI)
In the Life Sciences sector, particularly noted in Ireland, professionals with biopharmaceutical experience are in acute short supply. This has resulted in intense competition, lengthy recruitment processes, and frequent counter-offers.
The strong demand for skills like process validation, tech transfer, and equipment qualification is heavily driven by large-scale capital investment projects across the biopharma and medtech industries. Because of this, organisations are relying heavily on these specialists to deliver critical project-based expertise while maintaining agility.
4. Regulatory and Compliance Expertise
This capability is in high demand due to external influences shaping the Life Sciences market, including sustained mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, increased collaboration with overseas headquarters, and an environment of continued regulatory complexity.
5. Embedded C / C++ and AUTOSAR Experience
In the Industrial & Automotive engineering sectors, hiring is being heavily driven by innovations in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), software-defined vehicles, semiconductors, and factory automation.
This rapid technological advancement has created persistent talent shortages for professionals with specialised software, electronics, and systems engineering expertise, such as Embedded C / C++ and AUTOSAR.
6. Research, Learning, and Collaboration
The competition for engineering and supply chain talent is increasingly focused on multi-disciplinary professionals who combine technical depth with leadership or cross-border programme management experience.
Employers are looking for people who can quickly learn new technologies, apply research effectively, and translate change into measurable improvements in throughput, yield, and cost. Strong collaboration skills are also essential for managing complex multi-site and multi-country projects.
To learn more about the skills in demand for professionals in the Life Sciences and Engineering industry, download your local 2026 salary guide. In it, you’ll find expert insights on your market, salary trends, and roles and skills in demand.
For support with your unique hiring needs in Life Sciences and Engineering, get in touch with our expert consultants.
