How To Become Automobile Engineer
Step 1: Get an education
An auto engineer needs a background in math, science and engineering. You should study these subjects in high school, college and even graduate school. Many universities offer special programs that focus on the design, production and testing of cars. These programs usually take five to seven years to complete.
Step 2: Work in the industry
Automotive companies need engineers who can work with teams to create new products or improve existing ones. You’ll need experience in areas like manufacturing, marketing and sales if you want to become an automobile engineer.
Step 3: Build your skillset
Auto engineers need strong problem-solving skills and creativity to succeed in the field. They also must be able to communicate effectively with others so they can collaborate effectively on projects.
How To Become Automobile Engineer
Automobile engineers oversee the overall production process of vehicles and other automotive systems. The profession is a mechanical engineering speciality that involves ensuring that car designs and mechanisms meet specific safety, performance and functional requirements. If you’re interested in choosing this career path, it’s important to know the qualification requirements and the duties and responsibilities of the role to determine whether the profession aligns with your goals. In this article, we discuss how to become an automobile engineer, the functions of the role, the essential skills to perform functions effectively and the salary.
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How to become an automobile engineer
Follow these steps to learn how to become an automobile engineer:
1. Get relevant education
The first step to becoming an automobile engineer is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. Earning a mechanical engineering degree is a good way to get a foundational education in this field. Some mechanical engineering programmes may offer automotive engineering as a speciality.
If you intend to work in research and development or academia, consider investing in a master’s or doctorate in mechanical engineering in an area applicable to automotive engineering, such as powertrain dynamics, fuel cells and automobile dynamics. When choosing a programme, consider accredited ones as these can make you more attractive to employers and ease professional qualification requirements.
2. Complete an internship
You can gain industry experience through internships during and after your studies. Internships offer the opportunity to work on real-life projects and may also help you identify your area of speciality. You can also gain access to a professional network and even get mentorship opportunities.
3. Get into an entry role
An entry mechanical engineer role can offer even more opportunities to improve your industry knowledge and gain valuable insights into the automotive industry. Areas you can specialise in as an automobile engineer include robotics, simulation, automation and control, thermal engineering and fluid mechanics.
As an entry-level mechanical engineer, you can work on computer-aided design projects, test car components and features, improve fuel system and powertrain performance and develop safer, lighter and more environmentally friendly materials to reduce cost and pollution. These experiences can prepare you to register for your engineering licence.
4. Get a licence
To be a full-fledge automobile engineer, you require an engineering licence. Registering for a licence requires having a four-year engineering degree from an accredited institution. To apply to become a professional engineer, the Professional Engineers Board (PEB) requires candidates to have at least four years of practical experience. Thereafter, applicants sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FEE), the Practice of Professional Engineering Examination (PPE) and attend an interview.
The board also requires applicants to attend a professional interview before they can obtain their licence as a professional engineer. As a licenced automobile engineer, you have more access to consulting and fieldwork and government contracts. The licence can also qualify you for leadership and management roles and allow you to charge higher fees.
5. Invest in professional development
There are several professional and traditional career development options you can use to upgrade your skills and employability. You can pursue advanced degrees in specific aspects of automotive engineering, such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and electric propulsion systems. Professional certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) and other industry-standard credentials can also provide opportunities for career growth.
Related: How to Become a Robotics Engineer (With Steps and Salary)
What does an automotive engineer do?
An automobile engineer is a professional who designs and creates technologies used in cars. The automobile engineer takes part in the designing, testing, prototyping and mass production of components and systems for vehicles. They apply mathematical and physical principles to the structural and performance aspects of automobiles to deliver vehicles that meet the performance, cost and safety requirements of manufacturers and buyers.
These mechanical engineers also oversee the production process of different vehicles, including motorcycles, SUVs, sedans, trucks, tractors and heavy construction and farming machinery. As an automobile engineer, you can work in research and development, product design, manufacturing and every other area in the vehicle manufacturing value chain. Besides having a foundation in engineering, most of the work of an automobile engineer takes place on the computer and in a factory environment. Here are some duties of the automobile engineer:
- Using computer-aided design software tools to create designs and simulations
- Working with other professionals to choose the most appropriate production materials to achieve optimal cost and efficiency
- Building prototypes of components and testing for weaknesses, safety, performance and aerodynamics
- Investigating accidents to identify design flaws and recommend improved production processes and procedures
- Enforcing environmental, safety and regulatory provisions during the design and production stages
- Using mathematical and physical principles to solve engineering problems and improve products
- Overseeing the entire production process of vehicles
- Training crews and performing project management functions
- Liaising with stakeholders, including management, engineering teams, marketing and sales teams and design teams to determine product specifications
- Managing the supply chain and working with vendors and suppliers to ensure smooth manufacturing processes
- Inspecting and test driving vehicles after production to verify performance metrics and identify factory defects
- Creating reports and making presentations to stakeholders
- Performing research and sharing findings with industry experts at conferences and in publications.
Related: What Is a Mechanical Engineer? (With Duties and Salary)
What is the salary of an automobile engineer?
Like other mechanical engineers, an automobile engineer can make an average base salary of $3,675 per month. Salary can depend on the employer, experience, education, speciality and specific job duties and responsibilities. Having an advanced degree in areas such as electric propulsion and other emerging technologies and a strong profile may improve your earning ability.
Important skills to excel as an automobile engineer
Here are essential skills that can help automobile engineers perform their duties more effectively:
Computer literacy
Automobile engineers perform a considerable amount of their work on computer software. The job involves heavy use of computer-aided design tools, simulation software and other proprietary applications. Whether they’re testing the thermodynamic properties of a component or improving the aerodynamics of a design, automobile engineers require proficiency in the industry’s computer tools to work effectively.
Technical knowledge
Designing and producing cars means you may work with tools and machines. As an automobile engineer, your work may involve leading teams fabricating components or even creating the prototypes yourself. These activities require being adept at tasks like welding, tooling and calibration.
Creativity
Automobile engineering requires creativity, as the work involves designing and developing parts and systems for vehicles. Besides ensuring that products meet performance, safety and emissions requirements, these professionals also create aesthetically appealing designs customers would love to own. The ability to combine the visual and technical qualities of a vehicle to make it appealing to the buying public is a desirable attribute in an automobile engineer.
Numeracy skills
Automotive engineers apply mathematical and physical principles in every aspect of their work. Even though the software tools that perform these complex calculations automate the process, it’s still important for engineers to understand the fundamentals of those equations. That way, they can better apply their knowledge to solve real-life problems that arise during and after production.
Project management
Automotive engineers oversee every aspect of the car manufacturing process. They hire and train crews, select vendors and vet components. These engineers also create and implement budgets, monitor crew performance and project progress and ensure that factories run efficiently. These functions require excellent project management skills for optimal results.
Organisation
The job of an automotive engineer requires excellent organisational skills. Whether they’re working on research and development, manufacturing, product release or testing, there are usually time and budget constraints. Successful automobile engineers know how to manage their teams effectively to ensure they produce desired results within budget and according to the schedule.
Leadership
Automobile engineer is a senior role that often requires managerial experience. In this role, you may lead a multidisciplinary team of engineers and designers on a wide range of projects. Knowing the right leadership style to use for each team and project can help you galvanise the skills and experience of each individual and motivate them towards achieving goals.
Problem-solving skills
Problems can arise during the design, prototyping, manufacturing and testing phases. Effective automotive engineers know how to diagnose problems and proffer solutions. They also have excellent investigative skills which they use to identify flaws and correct errors during the production process and when customers encounter issues with their vehicles.
Related: What Is Material Engineering and Why Is It Important?
What is the work environment of automobile engineers?
Automobile engineers typically work in the office, where they design and develop products and new processes on computer applications. They can work in a laboratory setting, the factory or in the field, depending on whether they’re into research and development, product design or manufacturing. You can also find automobile engineers in academia and research agencies as faculty and in government for policy formulation work.
Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate’s experience, academic background and location. Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.
