Automotive Engineers

Overview

Automotive Engineers has a national median salary of $104,110 per year, with +11.2% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Achievement
• Working Conditions
• Recognition

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Analyzing Data or Information
• Getting Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Processing Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Detailed Work Activities

• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a master's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Master's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Automotive Engineers:

Video Resources