Automotive engineering entry-level jobs are great for people who want to work in the automotive industry. The automotive industry is one of the largest and most influential industries in the world, with over 6 million employees worldwide. It’s a growing field, too—the United Nations predicts that by 2030, there will be over 8 million people working in the automotive sector.
Automotive engineering entry-level jobs involve working on cars and trucks that have been built by other companies or in factories owned by large corporations such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Toyota Motors Corporation. You’ll be helping these companies manufacture their products more efficiently so they can meet customer demand more effectively.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the things you can expect from an automotive engineering entry-level job: what kind of tasks you’ll be doing on a daily basis; some of the skills you should have before applying for one; what kind of experience you need before applying; what kind of education is required; how much money you can expect to make; and how much time off you get during each year’s vacation period (if any).
Automotive Engineering Entry Level Jobs
1. Pursue relevant education.
Look for programs aligned with mechanical engineering. There aren’t many schools that offer automotive engineering as a degree, but the education you get as a mechanical engineering major gives you a better chance at earning an entry-level position as an automotive engineer. Also, you should consider graduate school or a Ph.D. program if you’re interested in research and development opportunities or teaching.
3. Obtain relevant field experience.
Internships are a great way for you to get introduced to the engineering field and learn transferable skills that can be applied to automotive engineering positions. Also, if you’re in high school, you can attend engineering summer camps to shadow them and study their field of work.
4. Earn a Fundamentals of Engineering License (FE).
This step lays the foundation for you to begin your engineering career. Once you pass the exam, you can begin working as a mechanical engineer. Professional experience as a mechanical engineer can position you to apply to an automotive engineer position when it becomes available.
5. Earn a Professional Engineering License (PE).
After gaining four years of work experience and obtaining your FE, consider obtaining this license to gain more training that you can put on your resume. An engineer willing to take a leadership role is critical to the success of your team.
6. Prepare your resume.
Include the highest level of education you have in addition to your Fundamentals of Engineering license. Meeting qualifications for posted jobs make you stand out when applying for these positions. For past internships or other work opportunities, know where you worked, your achievements and the dates you worked there.
7. Apply to automotive engineering positions.
Select positions that are relevant to your career goals. You should understand that starting as a mechanical engineer is a likely starting point before working in automotive engineering. Consider your years of experience and duties performed to see if you’re looking to move into this field or branch off into a different industry.
Automotive engineer job description example
Quigley Vehicles is searching for an automotive engineer to help create, design and roll out a new product line of vehicles. Engineers will be primarily responsible for outlining the presentation and testing the vehicles’ performance upon creation. You will report to a senior automotive engineer, and will also assist in determining if vehicles comply with federal environmental regulations on vehicles and cost estimates for customers purchasing vehicles at local dealerships. Engineers must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university and a previous internship. Professional experience in mechanical engineering is preferred. Additionally, they must exhibit impeccable time management skills, have the ability to multi-task and possess a working knowledge of project management to streamline the production of department projects.
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