Qualifications
It's tough to become a true robot jockey without a degree, but even tougher without the chops and experience to actually build machines. If you're a high school hobbyist who can't afford college, but you have a garage full of innovative projects you've completed and a killer entrepreneurial instinct, you still have got a good shot at this job.
If you're a Dean's List MIT graduate who can barely handle a soldering iron...eh, not so much. Competence matters more than what kind of degree you earn. Of course, a degree in some form of mechanical engineering is still probably your best bet.
In addition to having the tinkering curiosity and mechanical know-how, you'll need to keep up with the latest in materials and technology innovations. It'll be important to always be thinking of how new tools can be incorporated into new robot tasks.
You can also opt for a certification from the National Robotics Training Center, which will show any potential employer that you do, in fact, know how to handle a soldering iron.