Automotive Engineers - MehtA+ Tutoring

Career Overview

Develop new or improved designs for vehicle structural members, engines, transmissions, or other vehicle systems, using computer-assisted design technology. Direct building, modification, or testing of vehicle or components.

Also Known As

Engineer
Product Engineer
Project Engineer
Research Engineer

Alternate Job Titles

Automotive Designer
Automotive Engineer
Automotive Power Electronics Engineer
Automotive Project Engineer
Automotive Quality Engineer
Automotive Systems Engineer
Chassis Engineer
Customer Quality Engineer
Design Release Engineer
Design Support Engineer
Dimensional Integration Engineer
Engineer
Engineering Designer
Fuel-Efficient Automobile Designer
Hybrid Powertrain Development Engineer

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
Calibrate vehicle systems, including control algorithms or other software systems.
Design or analyze automobile systems in areas such as aerodynamics, alternate fuels, ergonomics, hybrid power, brakes, transmissions, steering, calibration, safety, or diagnostics.
Prepare or present technical or project status reports.
Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

Engineering and Technology
Physics
Mathematics
Mechanical
Design
Computers and Electronics
Transportation
English Language

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Speaking
Mathematics
Judgment and Decision Making
Active Listening
Operations Analysis
Systems Analysis

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Oral Comprehension
Oral Expression
Problem Sensitivity
Deductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning
Written Comprehension
Written Expression
Fluency of Ideas
Originality
Mathematical Reasoning

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Attention to Detail
Innovation
Dependability
Intellectual Curiosity
Adaptability

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Achievement
Working Conditions
Recognition
Independence
Support

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

Adobe Photoshop
Atlassian Confluence
Atlassian JIRA
Autodesk AutoCAD
C
C#
C++
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Extensible markup language XML
Git

Tools & Equipment

Air compressors
Anechoic chambers
Bench drill presses
Bench grinders
Carbon dioxide analyzers
Climate test chambers
Computerized numerical control CNC lathes
Digital cameras
Disc finishing machines
Engine test dynamometers
Five-axis machining centers
Floor drill presses
Gas analyzers
Horizontal band saws
Hydraulic hoists

Work Environment

E-Mail
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Telephone Conversations
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Salary & Job Market

Wages reported for the broader Mechanical Engineers occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Automotive Engineers.

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$68,740
Median	$102,320
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$161,240

Workers Employed Nationally: 286,760