Occupation · SOC 17-2141.02
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.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
278 mapped
Core skills
Complex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingSpeakingWritingMathematicsActive Listening
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyPhysicsMathematicsMechanicalDesign
Technology & tools
Computer aided manufacturing CAM softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareObject or component oriented development softwareComputer aided design CAD software
Representative tasks
Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Vehicle subsystem test procedures — execute under direct supervision using established protocols on an automotive engineering test bench.Engineering drawings and technical specifications — read and interpret to support design review tasks in a structured team environment.CAD software tools — apply to create or modify basic component models under guidance within an automotive design department.Failure mode data — collect and document systematically to assist senior engineers conducting root cause analyses on vehicle components.Vehicle control algorithms — assist in calibration activities by inputting parameters and recording outputs under direct technical oversight.Technical status reports — draft preliminary sections summarizing test results for review by a supervising automotive engineer.Mathematical and physics principles — apply to perform basic load, stress, or force calculations supporting vehicle system design tasks.Quality control standards — follow established procedures to inspect components and flag nonconformances on an automotive production line.Engineering and scientific software — operate with guidance to run simulations or process data sets within a supervised research environment.Safety and diagnostic system specifications — review and summarize relevant requirements under supervision to support an ongoing vehicle engineering project.
developing
System-level automotive tests — plan and conduct with limited oversight, interpreting results against defined acceptance criteria in a test facility.Root cause and variation analyses — perform independently on recurring vehicle subsystem failures, applying structured problem-solving methodologies.Aerodynamic, brake, or transmission system designs — analyze using CAD and simulation software to evaluate performance against engineering targets.Vehicle control software calibration — execute and validate calibration sequences for powertrain or chassis systems in a dynamometer environment.Technical project status reports — prepare and deliver to internal stakeholders, accurately conveying engineering progress and risk items.Production quality control standards — contribute to the development and documentation of standards for a specific vehicle component or assembly process.Junior engineering personnel — coordinate task assignments and provide technical guidance during routine design or testing activities.Alternate fuel or hybrid powertrain concepts — evaluate technical feasibility by reviewing literature and applying established engineering analysis methods.Systems analysis techniques — use to assess interactions among vehicle subsystems and identify performance trade-offs in familiar engineering contexts.Project management software — use to track milestones, manage engineering deliverables, and communicate schedule status within a multi-disciplinary team.
proficient
Full-scope vehicle system testing programs — direct from planning through execution and reporting, resolving non-routine technical issues autonomously.Complex failure and root cause analyses — lead across multiple subsystems using advanced statistical and analytical tools to determine corrective actions.Novel automotive system designs — develop and optimize across domains including aerodynamics, ergonomics, safety, and diagnostics using integrated CAE methods.Advanced vehicle calibration strategies — independently develop and refine control algorithms for hybrid or electrified powertrains in a vehicle integration environment.Engineering research studies — conceive and conduct to develop new automotive concepts, producing findings suitable for internal publication or standards contribution.Technical direction — provide autonomously to engineering teams and support personnel, resolving complex cross-functional technical conflicts in program execution.Production and quality control standards — establish and validate at the system level, ensuring compliance with regulatory and customer requirements.Comprehensive technical reports and presentations — author and deliver to senior management or external customers, clearly communicating complex engineering trade-offs.Systems evaluation — perform on full vehicle architectures to assess whether design intent is met under real-world operating conditions and edge cases.Cross-domain engineering trade-off decisions — execute with sound judgment, balancing safety, cost, performance, and manufacturability across a vehicle development program.
advanced
Automotive engineering technical strategy — define and champion at the organizational level, aligning R&D investments with long-term product and industry trends.Engineering department capability development — lead by mentoring senior engineers, establishing competency frameworks, and building technical talent pipelines.System-level vehicle architecture decisions — govern across programs, setting design and performance standards that shape multiple vehicle platforms simultaneously.Cross-functional quality and production standards — establish organization-wide policies integrating engineering, manufacturing, and supplier quality systems.Innovation culture — cultivate by directing research initiatives into emerging technologies such as electrification, autonomy, and alternative fuels at enterprise scale.Executive and regulatory technical communications — represent the organization authoritatively before senior leadership, government bodies, and industry consortia.Engineering risk governance — oversee systematic failure analysis and design robustness processes across all programs, ensuring organizational learning and accountability.Strategic partnerships and technology roadmaps — develop with external research institutions, suppliers, and standards bodies to advance automotive engineering practice.Multi-program engineering resource allocation — direct at the portfolio level, applying judgment to balance competing technical priorities and organizational constraints.Principal technical guidance — provide as the highest internal authority on vehicle systems engineering, resolving escalated cross-disciplinary technical disputes and setting precedent.
Also known as
29 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Automotive Quality EngineerAutomotive EngineerVehicle Controls EngineerAutomotive Project EngineerQuality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer)Design Support EngineerQuality EngineerEngineerAutomotive Systems EngineerProject EngineerHybrid Powertrain Development EngineerAutomotive DesignerSystems Design EngineerResearch EngineerDimensional Integration EngineerDesign Release EngineerCustomer Quality EngineerChassis EngineerEngineering DesignerLow-Emission Automobile DesignerFuel-Efficient Automobile DesignerAutomotive Power Electronics EngineerPowertrain EngineerTransportation Design EngineerWire Harness Design EngineerRelay EngineerPowertrain Control Systems EngineerSolutions Design EngineerProduct Engineer