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Automotive Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

Automotive engineer
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$102,320
Job Growth
Job Growth
9.10%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
319,600

What Do They Do?

An automotive engineer could...

 
Dirtbike
Create a new dirt bike model with faster speeds and a better suspension.
Computer simulation of test dummy sitting in a car
Use computer simulations to help create cars that protect passengers during a crash.
Hybrid car on display
Design and test a new generation of hybrid cars with the latest fuel-efficiency technology.
LED car lights
Incorporate new technologies, like LED lights, into a car's design.
 
Dirtbike Computer simulation of test dummy sitting in a car Hybrid car on display LED car lights

Overview Listen to this section

Cars are an important part of our daily lives. We depend on them to perform everyday tasks—getting to and from school and work, sports practice, grocery shopping, and various errands—and also to keep us safe while doing so. Our cars can keep us cool or warm while we drive them, and they even help us find our way. The automobile is made up of complicated braking, steering, and electrical systems, in addition to the engine and drive train. All of these systems require a tremendous amount of engineering, which is the responsibility of automotive engineers. They develop the components and systems that make our vehicles efficient and safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq6vHmP6uCg

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Automotive Engineer?


  1. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Reading Comprehension: ?
  4. Writing: ?
  5. Judgment and Decision Making: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Automotive Engineer might do:
  • 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.
  • Establish production or quality control standards.
  • Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.
  • Research or implement green automotive technologies involving alternative fuels, electric or hybrid cars, or lighter or more fuel-efficient vehicles.
  • Create design alternatives for vehicle components, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative air-conditioning systems, to increase fuel efficiency.
  • Develop calibration methodologies, test methodologies, or tools.
  • Develop or implement operating methods or procedures.
  • Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.
  • Conduct automotive design reviews.
  • Design vehicles that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic, to improve fuel efficiency.
  • Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
  • Develop specifications for vehicles powered by alternative fuels or alternative power methods.
  • Build models for algorithm or control feature verification testing.
  • Coordinate production activities with other functional units, such as procurement, maintenance, or quality control.
  • Design control systems or algorithms for purposes such as automotive energy management, emissions management, or increased operational safety or performance.
  • Develop or integrate control feature requirements.
  • Research computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
  • Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new automotive technology or competitive products.
  • Design vehicles for increased recyclability or use of natural, renewable, or recycled materials in vehicle construction.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Automotive Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Automotive Engineer jobs (9.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Automotive Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

The minimum degree required for an entry-level position as an automotive engineer is a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering field. However, due to the complexity of the various electrical systems of cars, many employers prefer applicants with a master's degree. Applicants with a PhD teach at the university level or conduct high-level research.

Most engineering programs involve a concentration of study in an engineering specialty, along with courses in both mathematics and the physical and life sciences. Many programs also include courses in general engineering. A design course, sometimes accompanied by a computer or laboratory class or both, is part of the curriculum of most programs. Often, general courses not directly related to engineering, such as those in the social sciences or humanities, also are required.

Admissions requirements for undergraduate engineering schools include a solid background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, and physics), in addition to courses in English, social studies, and humanities. Bachelor's degree programs in engineering typically are designed to last four years, but many students find that it takes between four and five years to complete their studies. In a typical four-year college curriculum, the first two years are spent studying mathematics, basic sciences, introductory engineering, humanities, and social sciences. In the last two years, most courses are in engineering, usually with a concentration in one specialty. Some programs offer a general engineering curriculum; students then specialize on the job or in graduate school.

Companies That Hire Automotive Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

The Tesla Motors Model S is an all-electric luxury sports sedan. This vehicle has the capability to go up to 300 miles per charge. Read this interview with Peter Rawlinson, Tesla Motors' chief engineer, in which he discusses the design and engineering of the Model S.
We wanted to show that the vehicle engineers at Tesla are capable of designing & engineering a world-class car from a clean sheet of paper...in-house, no carryover component assemblies, doing the entire platform, suspension, & body structure ourselves. 
Peter Rawlinson, Chief Motor Engineer
Read about 14 automotive engineers who are leading the way in innovative design, including Don Federico of Toyota, who is enhancing safety in automated vehicles.
The other [manufacturers] were focused on the convenience of automation–tilting the seat rearward and having the car take you to your cabin in Minnesota. But we don’t see it as a convenience factor. We see it as providing an extra layer of safety. 
Don Federico, Executive Manager, Vehicle Performance and Development

Nature of the Work

The automobile, or any motorized vehicle, is such a fixture in most of our lives that we take for granted that someone designed it for maximum efficiency and minimum cost. Automotive engineers develop components and systems for vehicles (cars, motorcycles, and heavy vehicles) that provide great customer value and satisfaction at an affordable price while increasing their employers' profitability. Automotive engineers create new or improved designs for all parts of a vehicle using computer-aided design technology. They are responsible for analyzing and providing creative and technically-feasible solutions to all problems that are encountered during the production of the vehicle.

Automotive engineers can be involved in the entire process of creating a car, from initial concept to testing of the finished product. They are concerned with the safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort of their designs. Automotive engineers can specialize in a particular area, such as structural design, exhaust systems, and engines, and they can also work with focus groups and market specialists to determine what customers would like in their vehicles.

If customers return cars or motorcycles due to some kind of failure, automotive engineers work on failure-analysis teams to figure out the root cause of the problem and develop solutions. Some engineers work exclusively on testing vehicles and components to ensure safety and efficiency.

Work Environment

Automotive engineers work for engineering consulting firms, automobile companies, and in the manufacturing and transportation industries. The average workweek for an automotive engineer is between 40 and 55 hours, but it can be longer as deadlines approach.

Automotive engineers generally work in offices on computers, but they also travel to manufacturing plants to conduct experiments or collect data.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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