Automotive Engineer
Quick Facts
Median Salary$101,256
Most Common EducationBachelor's degree
Projected 10-Year Growth+4.85%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
An Automotive Engineer creates and improves mechanisms for automotive components.
Core Tasks:
- Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
- Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
- 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.
- Establish production or quality control standards.
- Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.
- Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.
- Develop or implement operating methods or procedures.
- 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.
- Research or implement green automotive technologies involving alternative fuels, electric or hybrid cars, or lighter or more fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.
- Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
- Conduct automotive design reviews.
- Design vehicles that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic, to improve fuel efficiency.
- Build models for algorithm or control feature verification testing.
- Develop specifications for vehicles powered by alternative fuels or alternative power methods.
- 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.
What to expect as an Automotive Engineer
1Earn a Bachelor's degree
76% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Automotive Engineer related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
1002 openings for Automotive Engineers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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