<figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/767_753623b562.jpg"></figure><h3>The 3 Pillars of Johor's New Economy</h3>To understand where the jobs are, you must look at where the money is flowing.<h4>1. The Data Centre Capital of ASEAN</h4>Sedenak Tech Park (STeP) is now home to hyperscale data centres from giants like NVIDIA, YTL, and ByteDance.The Job: These facilities need 24/7 uptime. They don't just need security guards; they need Critical Facilities Engineers who understand high-voltage power cooling systems and Network Operations Centre (NOC) Engineers.<h4>2. Smart Manufacturing (The "Lights-Out" Factory)</h4>Companies like Dyson, Insulet, and VS Industry have upgraded to "smart lines" where machines talk to each other.The Job: The demand has shifted from "operators" to "Automation Technicians" and "Robotics Engineers" who can programme the robotic arms that do the assembly.<h4>3. The JS-SEZ Connectivity</h4>With the RTS Link (Rapid Transit System) between Johor Bahru and Singapore fully operational in 2026, cross-border mobility is seamless. This has led to Singaporean firms setting up "twin" R&amp;D centres in Johor.The Job: Singapore-based tech firms hiring Malaysian talent to work in Johor Bahru at Singapore-competitive salaries (the "Earn SGD, Spend MYR" model is evolving into "High MYR" roles locally).<hr><h3>Top 4 In-Demand Careers in Johor (2026)</h3>The following roles are seeing the fastest salary growth in the region.<h4>1. Robotics &amp; Automation Engineer</h4>The Role: Designing and maintaining the robotic cells that assemble products. You are not building the robot; you are programming it (using PLC/SCADA) to perform specific tasks efficiently.Key Skills: PLC Programming (Siemens/Omron), Python, and Mechatronics.Target Companies: Greatech, Pentamaster, Dyson.<h4>2. Data Centre Facility Engineer</h4>The Role: Keeping the servers cool and powered. A data centre is essentially a massive heat-management engine.Key Skills: HVAC systems, High Voltage Electrical Engineering, and Crisis Management.Target Companies: YTL Data Center, Equinix, Bridge Data Centres.<h4>3. IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) Specialist</h4>The Role: Connecting old factory machines to the cloud so managers can see real-time production data on an iPad.Key Skills: Sensor integration, Cloud Computing (AWS/Azure), and Data Analytics.Target Companies: Flextronics, Benchmark Electronics.<h4>4. Solar &amp; Renewable Energy Engineer</h4>The Role: Powering these massive factories and data centres sustainably. Johor is aggressively rolling out solar farms under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).Key Skills: PV System Design, Energy Auditing.Target Companies: Gentari, Solarvest.<hr><figure class="image"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/120484_2c42a71034.jpg"></figure><h3>Salary Outlook: The "Johor Premium"</h3>Historically, Johor salaries were lower than Kuala Lumpur. In 2026, the gap has closed, particularly for technical roles, due to competition from Singapore.<figure class="table"><table><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Role</th><th style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Junior (1-3 Years)</th><th style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Senior (5+ Years)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Robotics Engineer</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 4,500 – RM 6,000</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 9,000 – RM 14,000</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Data Centre Technician</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 3,500 – RM 5,000</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 7,000 – RM 10,000</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">PLC Programmer</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 4,000 – RM 5,500</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 8,000 – RM 12,000</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">Facility Manager</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 6,000 – RM 8,000</td><td style="border-style:solid;border-width:1px;">RM 12,000 – RM 18,000</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><hr><h3>How to Pivot Your Career to Johor</h3>If you are currently in KL or working in a traditional low-tech factory, here is how to move:Get "Smart" Certified: A degree in Mechanical Engineering is good, but a certification in Siemens PLC or Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) makes you instantly hireable.Look Beyond JB: The opportunities are not just in the city centre. Look at Kulai (Data Centres), Senai (Airport &amp; High-Tech), and Pasir Gudang (Heavy Industry).Update Your Location Preference: Update your Hiredly profile to include "Johor" as a preferred location. Recruiters are actively searching for candidates willing to relocate.<h3>Conclusion</h3>Johor is no longer the "second choice" to KL. With the JS-SEZ and the data centre boom, it has arguably become the most exciting technical job market in Malaysia. For engineers and tech professionals, the South is rising—and it is time to look South for your next big break.<figure class="image"><a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=hiredly_career_advice_blog&amp;utm_campaign=industry_4.0_in_johor:_careers_in_smart_factories_and_robotics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/Email_8_Job_Recommender_You_Could_Be_Missing_Out_on_a_Dream_Job_bd02f05642.jpg"></a></figure>Whether it will be your first job or a <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/successful-career-switch" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">career change</a>, make sure your resume is up-to-date with the help of our <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/advice/perfect-resume-checklist" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">resume checklist</a>.When you’re ready, kickstart your career with jobs on <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=hiredly_career_advice_blog&amp;utm_campaign=industry_4.0_in_johor:_careers_in_smart_factories_and_robotics" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hiredly</a> today!

Johor is booming in 2026. Discover high-paying careers in Data Centres, Robotics, and the Johor-Singapore SEZ. See top roles and salary guides.