Whilst I agree that most of the human element will be removed in the future, I don't believe that the engineers will be totally immune from automation.
I could argue i've yet to see a system that can separate traffic, deal with pilot requests/decision make/problem solve as well as human input can. The day this is implemented will be the day the engineers, engineer ways of making these computers be built/installed by robots, fix themselves etc etc. Only design and spec will be left. Unless engineers are clever at looking after their own.... Look at EFD at PC E and the years worth of delays with iFACTS....