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Automotive Engineers

$99,510 Median Wage (2023)

19,800 Projected job openings (2023-2033)

11.0% Projected growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
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.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

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

Detailed Work Activities

Update technical knowledge.
Determine operational criteria or specifications.
Prepare operational reports.
Implement design or process improvements.
Develop technical methods or processes.
Prepare technical reports for internal use.
Maintain operational records or records systems.
Research advanced engineering designs or applications.
Coordinate activities with suppliers, contractors, clients, or other departments.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.
Determine design criteria or specifications.
Estimate operational costs.
Devise research or testing protocols.
Evaluate technical data to determine effect on designs or plans.
Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Design electromechanical equipment or systems.
Evaluate characteristics of equipment or systems.
Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Direct design or development activities.
Design control systems for mechanical or other equipment.
Design energy-efficient vehicles or vehicle components.
Research design or application of green technologies.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.
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.
Develop calibration methodologies, test methodologies, or tools.
Create design alternatives for vehicle components, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative air-conditioning systems, to increase fuel efficiency.
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.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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