My day is mainly spent sending emails, giving and receiving phone calls, guiding our staff to ensure they have all of the resources they need to do their work, and working on big-picture projects that will continue to move the ball forward.
CAREER
Automotive Engineers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$95,300
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+2.2% (slower than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Automotive Engineers Do
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.
Other Job Titles Automotive Engineers May Have
Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer, Research Engineer
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
My day is spent working with customers to complete unique designs and custom off-road and 4-wheel-drive builds for City, County, State rescue operations, as well as custom builds for the television and movie industry.
Tasks & Responsibilities May 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.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Automotive Engineers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Bachelor's degree (71%)
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Post-secondary certificate
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
High School
Bachelor
Business/Commerce, General
Bachelor
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
You can't be shy. This industry is welcoming and excited to see the next generation come in, but you have to get out of your comfort zone and embrace that. You have to engage with the industry in order to learn all that you can and outwork the person next to you. Learn about business, finance, and mechanics.
You need passion, drive, intelligence, good character, and to apply yourself.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
High School Students
There are two sides to this business: repair and maintenance or custom work. Decide which side you want to get into. If you are creative, go the custom route, but focus on a specialty that will help you stand out.
If cars are your passion, read and learn all that you can and stick with it. Always strive to be the best in your field.
College Students
Everyone
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
