Automotive Engineers

Develop new or improved designs for vehicle structural members, engines, transmissions, or other vehicle systems, using computer-assisted design technology. Direct building, modification, or testing of vehicle or components.

SOC: 17-2141.02

Common Job Titles

Engineer
Product Engineer
Project Engineer
Research Engineer

What You'll Need to Succeed

AI-generated

Key competencies for this occupation at a glance

KnowledgeDesign vehicle structural members, engines, transmissions, and integrated systems using computer-assisted design technology and applying principles of physics and mechanical engineering.
Advanced
KnowledgeFormulate solutions to complex automotive engineering problems involving multiple system interactions integrating mechanical, electrical, and software considerations under project constraints.
Advanced
KnowledgeSynthesize mathematical models and engineering principles to predict vehicle behavior applying advanced mathematics, physics, and computational methods.
Advanced
KnowledgeAnalyze vehicle system performance data and test results using simulation software and analytical tools to optimize design parameters.
Proficient
KnowledgeEvaluate vehicle component designs for compliance with safety, environmental, and performance standards in collaborative engineering environments following regulatory requirements.
Proficient
Hands-onOperate computer-aided design software and engineering simulation tools to create detailed technical drawings and conduct virtual testing of vehicle components.
Proficient
MindsetIntegrate technical requirements with stakeholder needs and project objectives when coordinating with interdisciplinary teams including manufacturing, quality, and product management.
Proficient
KnowledgeAssess vehicle prototype performance and identify areas for design improvement through systematic testing, data collection, and comparative analysis.
Proficient
MindsetAdvocate innovative engineering approaches and emerging automotive technologies when presenting technical recommendations to management and external stakeholders.
Proficient
Hands-onExecute vehicle component testing protocols using dynamometers, climate chambers, and diagnostic equipment in laboratory and proving ground settings following established procedures.
Developing

Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Annual wage data for Automotive Engineers (2024)

Region

Compare with Region

Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)

286,760

Wage Distribution by Percentile

U.S.

Metric	U.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less	$68,740
10% of workers earn the following or more	$161,240
Workers on average earn	$110,080

+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)

Skills & Requirements

Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance

Engineering and Technology4.7/5
Physics4.3/5
Mathematics4.3/5
Mechanical4.1/5
Design3.9/5

Tools & Technology

Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation

In-Demand Technology

Frequently requested by employers in job postings

Adobe Photoshop
Atlassian Confluence
Atlassian JIRA
Autodesk AutoCAD
C
C#
C++
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Extensible markup language XML
Git
JUnit
JavaScript
JavaScript Object Notation JSON
Jenkins CI
Linux
Microsoft .NET Framework
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Word
Node.js
Oracle Java
Perl
Python
SAP software
Salesforce software
Selenium
Structured query language SQL
Swift
The MathWorks MATLAB
UNIX

Technology Skills

1CadCam Unigraphics
ANSYS simulation software
AVL AVL CRUISE
Altair Engineering MotionSolve
Ambient Design ArtRage
Ansys Fluent
Apache Groovy
Ashlar-Vellum Graphite

Tools & Equipment

Air compressors
Anechoic chambers
Bench drill presses
Bench grinders
Carbon dioxide analyzers
Climate test chambers
Computerized numerical control CNC lathes
Digital cameras