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Guide to IoT jobs

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Introduction

Welcome to a guide to IoT jobs, created within the Erasmus+ project Internet of Tricks. This guide is meant as a helping resource for anyone looking to learn more about the IoT sector and its jobs.

So whether you are an educator looking for fun ways to incorporate tech into your lesson plan, a student counsellor wanting to inform your students about future job opportunities and skills, or just someone looking to learn a little more - welcome!  

The guide is available for download in the following languages:

Some information before we begin: 

  • Internet of Things (IoT) refers to devices, large and small, that are connected to the internet in order to collect data. It can be everything from your smart phone or watch, or lighting, to cars, a house robot vacuum cleaner, and industrial machinery.

    Every minute, 7620 connected objects are produced. That's 4 005 072 in a year!

    Some of the risks with this is someone accessing your data without your concent (hacking), and using it to track or spy on you.

    This also comes with possabilities and opportunities such as connecting with people, fun games, help with everyday tasks, and more.

  • Quoted from: Understanding the Internet of Things (IoT) and Its Connection to Automation Automation Anywhere

    IoT has many uses; however, it depends on key technologies and components to connect devices to the internet, such as:

    Sensors to collect the data from the environment for the IoT system to process it

    Connection and identification from the device to the IoT system through an IP address

    Actuators that allow the devices to take action based on data from their own sensors and network feedback

    IoT gateway to bridge data from the different devices to reach the cloud. It also translates the devices’ protocols into one standard protocol and filters out unnecessary data from the devices.

    The cloud, where all data from the IoT devices is gathered and processed by software

    User interface, from where users get the data from the devices so that they can make the required commands that the devices need to execute

    Automation ties all these components together and ensures that processes work smoothly without the involvement of a human being.

  • Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer, while software consists of the programs and instructions that run on that hardware. Hardware is the tangible machinery, and software is the intangible set of instructions governing its operation.

  • A device is a physical or virtual tool, machine, or instrument.

  • Quote from: Data vs Information - Difference and Comparison

    There is a subtle difference between data and information. Data are the facts or details from which information is derived. Individual pieces of data are rarely useful alone. For data to become information, data needs to be put into context.

How to start:

Step 1

Start by doing our interactive quiz. This is meant to give you a fun taste of the different IoT jobs and which one you might like.

Step 2

Scroll through to read more in depth about the different roles, what kind of responsibilities and tasks are associated with each job.

Step 3

Watch the video of our experts and what they think will be important skills for young people who will be entering the job market. 

Step 4

Check out our recommendations for free, online courses for IoT. 

Step 1

Quiz: which IoT job might

interest you

Step 2

Lean more about IoT jobs and what they entail

IoT Expert

An Internet of Things (IoT) expert has a very important role in designing, implementing, and managing IoT systems and solutions. They have knowledge of the different aspects of IoT technology and applications.

Example of skills that can be useful:

  • creative

  • problemsolver

  • enjoy finding problems you think tech can help solve

  • big picture thinking 

  • good at thinking about people’s needs and habits

  • interest in tech and basic programming


Here are examples of job roles, responsibilities and tasks within this field:

IoT Strategy Development: 

Develop and articulate an organization's IoT strategy, outlining how IoT technology can address specific business needs and objectives.

Device Management: 

Oversee the making and management of IoT devices. 

Ensuring the devices are properly configured, updated, and maintained to function reliably.

Making sure that the power consumption and energy management for IoT devices are sustainable, especially for battery-operated sensors and devices.

Project Management: 

Manage IoT projects from conception to deployment, coordinating teams, timelines, and budgets.

Customer Engagement: 

Collaborate with customers and stakeholders to understand their IoT requirements and provide tailored solutions.

System Design and User Experience: 

Architect IoT solutions by selecting appropriate hardware, sensors, and cloud platforms for data collection, processing, and management.

Basic understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, so that using the IoT device is as easy and intuitive as possible. 

Connectivity: 

Use communication technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, LPWAN) so devices can transmit data efficiently and reliably. 

In summary:

Overall, an IoT expert combines technical knowledge with strategic thinking to create and manage IoT solutions that address real-world challenges and opportunities. They bridge the gap between IoT technology and its practical application, helping organizations realize the full potential of IoT.

Paolo’s tips to students:

- Study
- Have an open mind
- Pursue what you like to do
- Join an open scource project
- Gain understanding of another language

IoT Security Specialist
 

A security specialist in the field of Internet of Things (IoT) focuses on keeping IoT systems and devices safe from various cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. This security is critical because connected devices often collect and transmit sensitive data, and a breach can have significant consequences. 

Example of skills that can be useful:

  • Good communication skills

  • Interested in keeping up to date with security trends and vulnerabilities

  • Understanding of "how a hacker thinks"

  • interested in broad technical skills (e.g. network, coding)

  • enjoys risk analysis (searching for potential problems/weaknesses/flaws) 


Here are examples of job roles, responsibilities and tasks within this field:

Threat Assessment and Risk Analysis: 

Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities in IoT systems by conducting risk assessments.

Evaluate the security of devices, networks, and data flows.

Security Monitoring: 

Continuous monitoring of IoT systems for suspicious activities and anomalies. Use security information and event management (SIEM) solutions for real-time threat detection.

Testing: 

Conduct regular testing and vulnerability assessments to identify weaknesses in IoT systems proactively.

Device, Network and Data Security:

Ensure that IoT devices are designed and configured with strong security measures.

Implement robust network security measures, including encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to protect data in transit.

Encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. 

Implement data integrity checks to detect tampering or data corruption.

Authentication and Authorization: 

Establish strong authentication mechanisms for devices and users. Define and enforce access control policies to limit unauthorized access to IoT systems and data.

In summary:

IoT security specialists are critical in protecting IoT data, devices and systems against cyberattacks. They play a crucial role in finding, analyzing and solving security risks associated with the rapid production and development of connected devices.

“It is fun to work in [the security] field, we are trying to involve new things. In addition, AI related security is already incorporated into our field.”

IoT Data Scientist

A data scientist working within the field of Internet of Things (IoT) harnesses the power of IoT data in order to extract insights and create further value. This role requires knowledge in eg. data analytics, machine learning, and real-time data processing.

Example of skills that can be useful:

  • analytic

  • enjoy working with computers 

  • enjoy working with information

  • enjoy working with statistics


Here are examples of job roles, responsibilities and tasks within this field:

Data Collection and Integration:

Design and implement data collection strategies to gather data from IoT devices, sensors, and other sources.


Data Preprocessing:

Process and transform raw data to make it easier to analyze, as well as handling missing data.


Data Analysis and Modeling:

Apply statistical and machine learning techniques to gain insights from IoT data.
Develop models to try and find or predict future events or anomalies, identify patterns, trends, and correlations in the data. 


Scalability and Efficiency:

Optimize data storage, processing, and analysis techniques to handle large volumes of IoT data. 


Integration with Business Processes:

Align IoT data insights with business goals and processes. 

Work with cross-functional teams to integrate IoT analytics into decision-making and operations.


In summary:

A data scientist in the IoT field is responsible for collecting and reading data from connected devices and sensors, so that they can then make informed decisions, optimize operations, and create value for businesses and organisations. 

IoT Developer
 

The developer is the person who makes and develops the programming which runs the devices and/or the systems that communicate with the devices. They can also be the person who continues to work with, develop and implement changes coming from the data that the Data Scientist works with. This role is usually very technical.


Example of skills that can be useful: 

  • enjoys working with code

  • creative

  • problem solving

  • likes to focus on the details

  • likes teamwork 


Here are examples of job roles, responsibilities and tasks within this field:

Programming:

Often works in programming languages such as C, C++, Java, Python, or JavaScript to write code for the IoT systems or devices.

Cloud Computing:

Know how to operate via cloud computing, which makes it easier to store and retrieve data, as well as using the devices. This helps companies to cope without having to manage and maintain a complex IT infrastructure.

Hardware Knowledge:

Familiarity with hardware components, such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and other development boards.

User Experience:

Basic understanding of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design, so that using the IoT device is as easy and intuitive as possible. 

Troubleshooting and Debugging:

Troubleshoot (to analyse and solve problems) and debug issues in both hardware and software components.

In summary:

A developer is responsible for creating and advancing the software that operates devices and/or systems. They can also work to incorporate modifications based on information from the data processed by a Data Scientist. 

“Internet of things doesn't replace work or jobs in the future. If you understand the computional thinking about IoT, you can create devices to help.“

Step 3

Our experts talk about what jobs

will be important in the future, and which skills will be important

For young people who are entering the job market, which skills are important? Which jobs are the future?

Check out the broadcast with english subtitles (just don’t forget to press the subtitle button).

Step 4

If you want to explore IoT further, here are some free, online resources and courses to do so.

Good luck!

Introduction to Internet of Things and Cloud. Learn the basics of the IoT and Cloud Systems

Internet of things IoT- in Action (The software stack). Quickly learn the complete technology stack for implementing IoT applications.


IoT - Turn a light on with your iPhone. IoT course providing students required knowledge to create BLE / iOS 9 apps using XCode and the Swift programming

Internet of things development for C# programmers. The best course for C# IoT development. Learn how to craft with raspberry pi 2 or 3. The BEST way to code for fun!

Internet Of Things For Beginners - The ABC Guide. Future, home automation, how IOF will change the job market, security, and much more.

Internet das Coisas (IoT) com Bluetooth 4.0. Aprenda a projetar dispositivos para Internet das Coisas (IoT) utilizando o Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy)

Experto en Thinger .io. Aprende a prototipar, escalar y crear productos conectados empleando la plataforma IoT más avanzada.

Internet das Coisas - As mudanças profissionais e pessoais. Aprenda mais sobre o novo mundo digital e como ele vai mudar sua vida pessoal e profissional.

The Past, Present and Future of The Internet. How Internet can transform our lives.

Pengenalan Dasar dan Pemanfaatan IoT. Dasar-Dasar IoT, Cara Kerja dan Penerapan IoT.

Implementasi Sistem Tertanam dengan memanfaatkan IoT. Embedded System, Internet of Things (IoT), Arduino, Raspberry, AWS.

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.