Automotive engineers work as part of a team responsible for vehicle design, development, manufacture and testing. You will need to have a combination of engineering and commercial skills to be able to deliver projects within budget. Once you’ve built up experience, it’s likely you will specialize in a particular area, for example, structural design, exhaust systems or engines.
Types of Automotive Engineer
- design;
- production;
- research and development.
Employers of Automotive Engineer
- Tyre manufacturers
- Specialist vehicle design companies
- Research/test laboratories
- Oil and fuel companies
- Suppliers
Duties
- assessing project requirements
- agreeing and negotiating project budgets, timescales and specifications with clients and managers
- developing and implementing test procedures
- building prototypes of components to carry out tests on
- organizing and carrying out tests, eg to check whether engines will work in different conditions, such as high temperatures
- interpreting and analyzing results and data
- sourcing vehicle components and selecting the best materials to use
- providing technical advice and answering queries from clients
- using specialist computer modelling software to produce designs
- making improvements to vehicles in response to customer feedback
- investigating and solving problems, eg mechanical failures
- working closely with suppliers
- writing reports and documentation
- giving presentations
- undertaking relevant research
- supervising junior staff.
Qualifications
You usually need to have a minimum of a diploma or a degree to become an automotive engineer and relevant subjects include:
- automotive engineering;
- electrical/electronic engineering;
- mechanical engineering;
- production and manufacturing engineering.
Skills
- an interest in motor vehicle engineering and design;
- a high level of numeracy and technical competency, with an understanding of the applications used within design and production;
- the ability to analyze and interpret data to help with problem-solving;
- effective communication and presentation skills, both with colleagues and clients;
- the ability to work effectively in teams but also independently, and to take responsibility;
- good time management and organizational skills to make sure design projects and production run to schedule;
- the ability to work within cost constraints;
- a commitment to keep up to date with design and engineering technology;
- commercial and industry awareness.