Automotive engineer

Automotive engineers design and oversee the manufacturing process and operation of motor vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses and their respective engineering systems. They design new vehicles or mechanical parts, supervise modifications and resolve technical problems. They make sure the designs comply with cost specifications and other constraints. They also conduct research studying environmental, energy and safety aspects.

The main duties of an Automotive Engineer include:

• Designing and developing vehicle systems such as engines, chassis, brakes, and transmission components.
• Conducting simulations, tests, and analyses to optimize vehicle performance, safety, and durability.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams in design, electronics, software, and manufacturing.
• Integrating emerging technologies such as electric powertrains, autonomous driving, and lightweight materials.
• Ensuring compliance with safety, emissions, and quality regulations across different markets.
• Overseeing prototype development, road testing, and validation of new models or components.
• Analyzing failures or performance issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Working with suppliers and production teams to ensure manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.
• Applying design tools such as CAD, CAE, and finite element analysis (FEA) software.
• Contributing to sustainability initiatives, including eco-design, recycling, and lifecycle analysis.

The following job titles also refer to automotive engineer:

motorcycle designer
vehicle production designer
bus designer
bus production process engineer
motor vehicle designer
automotive design specialist
lorry designer
auto engineer
lorry production process engineer
motor vehicle engineer
truck production process engineer
car production process engineer
coach production process engineer
coach designer
motorcycle production process engineer
automotive design expert
vehicle production production process engineer
automotive designer

Automotive Engineers work in design studios, research and development centers, and manufacturing facilities. Their work involves both office-based design and analysis as well as on-site testing and production supervision. They may also travel to test tracks, supplier locations, or international development sites. Standard working hours are typical, though tight deadlines during testing or launch phases can require overtime. The role involves collaboration with engineers, designers, suppliers, and regulatory experts in a fast-paced and highly competitive industry.

A bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, or mechatronics is required. Strong knowledge of vehicle dynamics, thermodynamics, materials science, and electronics is essential. Practical experience gained through internships or cooperative programs with automotive manufacturers or suppliers provides a strong foundation. Proficiency in CAD and simulation tools such as CATIA, MATLAB, and ANSYS is highly desirable. Advanced qualifications, such as a master’s degree in automotive or electrical systems engineering, can open opportunities in specialized areas like electric vehicles (EVs) or autonomous systems. Professional certification (PE or CEng) and familiarity with ISO/SAE automotive standards enhance career prospects. Analytical ability, innovation, and teamwork are key attributes for success in this field.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Automotive engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to automotive engineer.

rolling stock engineer
aerospace engineer
satellite engineer
naval architect
precision engineer

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of automotive engineer.

• Production processes: Materials and techniques required in the production and distribution processes.
• Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
• Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
• Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
• Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Industrial engineering: The field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.

These skills are necessary for the role of automotive engineer.

• Automotive engineering: The discipline of engineering that combines mechanical, electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering to design motor vehicles such as trucks, vans and automobiles.
• Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
• Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
• Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
• Execute feasibility study: Perform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a project, plan, proposition or new idea. Realise a standardised study which is based on extensive investigation and research to support the process of decision making.
• Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.
• Analyse production processes for improvement: Analyse production processes leading toward improvement. Analyse in order to reduce production losses and overall manufacturing costs.
• Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.
• Control production: Plan, coordinate, and direct all production activities to insure the goods are made on time, in correct order, of adequate quality and composition, starting from intake goods up to shipping.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of automotive engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Electromechanics: The engineering processes that combine electrical and mechanical engineering in the application of electromechanics in devices that need electricity to create mechanical movement or devices that create electricity by mechanical movement.
• Precision mechanics: Precision or fine mechanics is a subdiscipline in engineering that focuses on the design and development of smaller precision machines.
• Design principles: The elements used in design such as unity, scale, proportion, balance, symmetry, space, form, texture, colour, light, shade and congruence and their application into practice.
• Mechanics of motor vehicles: The way energy forces interact and affect components in motor vehicles such as cars, buses, invalid carriages and other motorised vehicles.
• CAE software: The software to perform computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis tasks such as Finite Element Analysis and Computional Fluid Dynamics.
• Electronics: The functioning of electronic circuit boards, processors, chips, and computer hardware and software, including programming and applications. Apply this knowledge to ensure electronic equipment runs smoothly.
• Mechanical engineering: Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.
• Guidance, navigation and control: The engineering discipline that deals with the design and development of systems that can control the motion of automobiles, ships, space- and aircraft. It includes control over vehicle’s trajectory from its present location to a designated target and vehicle’s speed and altitude.
• Defense system: The various weapons and weapon systems used to protect citizens and to harm or shield incoming enemies and enemy weapons.
• Synthetic natural environment: The simulation and representation of components of physical world such as climate, wheather and space where military systems exist in order to obtain information and perform tests.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of automotive engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Record test data: Record data that has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
• Apply advanced manufacturing: Improve production rates, efficiencies, yields, costs, and changeovers of products and processes by using relevant advanced, innovative, and cutting-edge technology.
• Create a product’s virtual model: Create a mathematical or three-dimensional computer graphic model of the product by using a CAE system or a calculator.
• Build a product’s physical model: Build a model of the product out of wood, clay or other materials by using hand or electrical tools.
• Use CAM software: Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
• Draft design specifications: List the design specifications such as materials and parts to be used and a cost estimate.
• Use CAD software: Use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation of a design.
• Manage product testing: Oversee the testing procedures to ensure that the end-product complies with the quality and safety requirements.
• Design prototypes: Design prototypes of products or components of products by applying design and engineering principles.
• Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
• Design electromechanical systems: Draft sketches and design electromechanical systems, products, and components using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software and equipment.
• Develop test procedures: Develop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of products, systems, and components.

2144 – Mechanical engineers 

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 References

1. Automotive engineer – ESCO
2. Automotive engineer job profile | Prospects.ac.uk
3. Automotive Engineer Job Description – diversityjobs.com
4. Automotive Engineer in Canada | Job Description – Job Bank
5. Featured image: Image by This_is_Engineering from Pixabay