Occupation

Automotive Engineers

Human Advantage 72%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

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: Automotive Designer, Automotive Engineer, Automotive Power Electronics Engineer, Automotive Project Engineer, Automotive Quality Engineer, Automotive Systems Engineer, Customer Quality Engineer, Design Release Engineer +15 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
  2. Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
  3. Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
  4. Calibrate vehicle systems, including control algorithms or other software systems.
  5. Design or analyze automobile systems in areas such as aerodynamics, alternate fuels, ergonomics, hybrid power, brakes, transmissions, steering, calibration, safety, or diagnostics.
  6. Prepare or present technical or project status reports.
  7. Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.
  8. Establish production or quality control standards.
  9. Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.
  10. Research or implement green automotive technologies involving alternative fuels, electric or hybrid cars, or lighter or more fuel-efficient vehicles.
  11. Develop calibration methodologies, test methodologies, or tools.
  12. Create design alternatives for vehicle components, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative air-conditioning systems, to increase fuel efficiency.
  13. Develop or implement operating methods or procedures.
  14. Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.
  15. Conduct automotive design reviews.
  16. Design vehicles that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic, to improve fuel efficiency.
  17. Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
  18. Develop specifications for vehicles powered by alternative fuels or alternative power methods.
  19. Build models for algorithm or control feature verification testing.
  20. Coordinate production activities with other functional units, such as procurement, maintenance, or quality control.
  21. Design control systems or algorithms for purposes such as automotive energy management, emissions management, or increased operational safety or performance.
  22. Develop or integrate control feature requirements.
  23. Research computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
  24. Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new automotive technology or competitive products.
  25. Design vehicles for increased recyclability or use of natural, renewable, or recycled materials in vehicle construction.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: 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.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
71%
Master's Degree
14%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
5%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
5%
Doctoral Degree
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Atlassian Bamboo
  • Atlassian Confluence
  • Atlassian JIRA
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Git
  • JUnit
  • JavaScript
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSON
  • Jenkins CI
  • Linux
  • Microsoft .NET Framework
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Visual Studio
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
  • Node.js
  • Oracle Java
  • Perl
  • Python
  • SAP software
  • Salesforce software
  • Selenium
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Swift
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
  • UNIX

Software (86)

  • 1CadCam Unigraphics
  • ANSYS simulation software
  • AVL AVL CRUISE
  • Altair Engineering MotionSolve
  • Ambient Design ArtRage
  • Ansys Fluent
  • Apache Groovy
  • Ashlar-Vellum Graphite
  • Autodesk Alias Automotive
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
  • Autodesk Inventor
  • Autodesk SketchBook Pro
  • CADRE Analytic
  • CNC Mastercam
  • Computer aided design CAD software
  • Corel Painter
  • Corel Painter Sketch Pad
  • Dassault Systemes CATIA
  • Dassault Systemes Simulia Abaqus FEA
  • Data acquisition systems
  • Debugging software
  • Digital Equipment Corporation DIGITAL Fortran 90
  • GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP
  • Gamma Technologies GT-SUITE
  • Hardware-in-the-loop HIL simulation software
  • IBM Notes
  • International Material Data System IMDS
  • IronCAD
  • LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim
  • MAHLE Powertrain
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Maplesoft Maple
  • Maplesoft MapleSim
  • MathWorks Simulink
  • Mentor Graphics Flowmaster
  • Metrologic Group Metrolog XG
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript
  • Minitab
  • Object oriented development environment software
  • PTC Creo Parametric
  • Portalgraphics openCanvas
  • Siemens NX
  • Siemens Solid Edge
  • Somat eDAQ
  • Statistical analysis software
  • SystemVerilog
  • TestNG
  • Think3 ThinkDesign Engineering
  • Very high-speed integrated circuit VHSIC hardware description language VHDL
  • Xcode

Tools & Equipment (42)

  • 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
  • Hydraulic presses
  • Hydraulic winches
  • Hydrogen analyzers
  • Laminar flow elements
  • Metal inert gas MIG welders
  • Miliohm meters
  • Multitasking lathes
  • Overhead cranes
  • Oxygen analyzers
  • Plasma cutters
  • Pressure gauges
  • Pressure indicators
  • Pressure transducers
  • Rotary vehicle lifts
  • Sand blasters
  • Spectrometers
  • Spectroscopes
  • Strain gauges
  • Thermocouples
  • Three-axis vertical mills
  • Three-dimensional prototyping printer
  • Torque gauges
  • Transmission dynamometers
  • Vertical bandsaws
  • Welders
  • Wind tunnels
  • Workshop cranes

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Engineering Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Automotive Engineers You are here

Production & Automation Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Automotive Engineers You are here

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Real Talk

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