Will AI replace Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians?
AI reaches some of this job’s work, but most of it stays with people.
35/100
Moderate exposure
More exposed to AI than 52% of US workers.
- AI already used in
- 0% of the work
- As AI tools mature: up to
- 54% of the work
What the job involves
Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.
Where AI reaches the work
The job’s main tasks, heaviest first, by how far AI reaches them.
Within reach(14)
- Produce images or measurements, using tools or techniques such as atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, particle size analysis, or zeta potential analysis.
- Collaborate with scientists or engineers to design or conduct experiments for the development of nanotechnology materials, components, devices, or systems.
- Monitor hazardous waste cleanup procedures to ensure proper application of nanocomposites or accomplishment of objectives.
- Prepare detailed verbal or written presentations for scientists, engineers, project managers, or upper management.
- Contribute written material or data for grant or patent applications.
and 9 more
Out of reach(11)
- Repair nanotechnology processing or testing equipment or submit work orders for equipment repair.
- Calibrate nanotechnology equipment, such as weighing, testing, or production equipment.
- Operate nanotechnology compounding, testing, processing, or production equipment in accordance with appropriate standard operating procedures, good manufacturing practices, hazardous material restrictions, or health and safety requirements.
- Maintain work area according to cleanroom or other processing standards.
- Inspect or measure thin films of carbon nanotubes, polymers, or inorganic coatings, using a variety of techniques or analytical tools.
and 6 more
Also called
Engineering Technician (Engineering Tech) · Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician) · Nanofabrication Specialist · Process Engineering Technician (Process Engineering Tech) · R and D Engineer (Research and Development Engineer) · Research Lab Associate (Research Laboratory Associate) · Research Scientist · Research Specialist
Related jobs
What these numbers mean
The score is the share of this job’s work, weighted by how important and frequent each task is, that AI could do in half the time: tasks an AI model could do alone count in full, tasks that need software built on AI count half.
“AI already used” is the share of the work in tasks where people are recorded using AI today. “As AI tools mature” counts every task AI could halve, with or without extra software.
The percentile compares the score with every job’s, weighted by how many people in the US do each one. Exposure means AI could change how the work is done, not that the job goes away. These are estimates for the typical job, not predictions.
Sources
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs (task labels), Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), OpenAI and University of Pennsylvania
- Anthropic Economic Index: labor market impacts (task penetration), Anthropic
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national and metropolitan areas), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics