What Do Automotive Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.

Other tasks include:

• Conduct automotive design reviews.
• Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.
• Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
• Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
• Establish production or quality control standards.
• Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.

We asked Automotive Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Automotive Engineers develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts. They provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.

A typical day for an Automotive Engineer will also include:

• Coordinate production activities with other functional units, such as procurement, maintenance, or quality control.
• Write, review, or maintain engineering documentation.
• Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
• Design vehicles that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic, to improve fuel efficiency.
• Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.

We asked some Automotive Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	64% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	35% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Automotive Engineers also conduct or direct system-level automotive testing. They may also prepare or present technical or project status reports.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Automotive Engineers Develop or integrate control feature requirements. They might also Develop engineering specifications or cost estimates for automotive design concepts.

In addition, they Coordinate production activities with other functional units, such as procurement, maintenance, or quality control.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.

To some Automotive Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new automotive technology or competitive products.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Automotive Engineer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm

http://www.sae.org/