Automotive Engineering Technicians

Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.

Median wage

$68,730

$46,940–$100,890

Projected growth

—

Annual openings

—

per year

Employed (US)

37,450

Job Zone 3

Typical preparation

Medium preparation

Stackable credential programs

127 mapped

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Core skills

Reading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningWriting

Knowledge areas

Engineering and TechnologyMechanicalComputers and ElectronicsMathematicsEnglish Language

Technology & tools

Analytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareComputer aided manufacturing CAM softwareElectronic mail softwareSpreadsheet software

Representative tasks

Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specificatioRead and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.

Competency framework

Skill expectations by proficiency level.

emerging

Test documentation tools such as cameras and spreadsheets — apply under direct supervision to record baseline test results in a structured automotive lab environment.Mechanical and hydraulic test equipment — set up following step-by-step engineering specifications under technician guidance on a supervised test bench.Engineering blueprints and wiring schematics — read and identify major components with instructor or senior technician support in a vocational or entry-level shop setting.Automotive parts and subassemblies — inspect visually for obvious defects or physical damage following a standardized checklist on the shop floor.Computer-controlled test equipment — monitor displays and alert a supervisor when readings fall outside prescribed ranges per written operating instructions.Basic test data outputs — organize into spreadsheet templates under direction for review by engineering staff in an automotive testing facility.Instrumentation and test sensors — assist in installation on vehicle test fixtures following labeled diagrams and verbal instructions from senior technicians.Manual functional tests on individual automotive components — perform following prescribed test scripts and safety protocols in a controlled lab environment.Office suite and word processing software — use to draft simple test observation logs and submit them to the engineering team at the end of each shift.Standard measurement tools and near-vision inspection tasks — execute accurately to confirm dimensional tolerances on parts received at an automotive assembly or test facility.

developing

Test result datasets — compile and organize using spreadsheet and analytical software with limited oversight, ensuring accuracy for engineering review in a production test environment.Mechanical, hydraulic, and electric test equipment — configure independently according to engineering specifications for routine test procedures on automotive subsystems.Blueprints, schematics, and technical drawings — interpret to identify interface requirements and flag discrepancies before equipment installation in a mid-level automotive lab.Defective or malfunctioning automotive parts — inspect and test systematically, applying deductive reasoning to narrow probable causes within familiar failure categories.Computer-controlled dynamometers and data acquisition systems — monitor during extended durability runs, adjusting parameters within authorized limits based on real-time readings.Automotive system test data — analyze trends and anomalies using standard analytical software, summarizing findings in written technical reports for engineering staff.Engines, aftermarket components, and test instrumentation — install and verify interface integrity on vehicle test platforms with routine checks against engineering drawings.Automated and manual performance, efficiency, and durability tests — execute on full automotive systems, coordinating timing and sequencing without continuous supervision.Equipment maintenance and minor repair tasks — perform on test rigs and electronic monitoring hardware to minimize downtime in a fast-paced automotive development facility.Technical findings and test status — communicate clearly in team meetings and written updates, adapting language for both engineering colleagues and non-specialist stakeholders.

proficient

Comprehensive test documentation packages — produce independently using cameras, CAD-linked files, and spreadsheet models that meet engineering release standards across multiple automotive programs.Complex multi-channel test equipment configurations — design and validate for non-routine test scenarios, ensuring compliance with engineering specifications in a full-scale automotive validation lab.Advanced schematics, multi-system wiring diagrams, and performance drawings — interpret autonomously to resolve integration conflicts and guide junior technicians during build and setup phases.Root cause of intermittent or complex automotive defects — determine through systematic inspection, analytical software review, and cross-referencing subsystem data in a development test environment.Automated test cell operations including computer-controlled environmental and load systems — oversee continuously, applying inductive reasoning to diagnose deviations and implement corrective actions.Full automotive system and subsystem test datasets — analyze statistically, identify performance trends, and present actionable engineering recommendations to program teams.Complete instrumentation suites and aftermarket integration assemblies — install and commission on prototype vehicles, verifying signal integrity and calibration against engineering targets.End-to-end performance, efficiency, and durability test campaigns — plan and execute across automotive systems, adapting procedures when non-standard conditions arise in the test facility.ERP and development environment software — use proficiently to manage test scheduling, track component status, and integrate test records into engineering change workflows.Complex problem resolution strategies — apply independently when test failures challenge standard protocols, drawing on physics and mechanical knowledge to propose validated engineering solutions.

advanced

Automotive testing competency frameworks and documentation standards — establish and continuously improve to align lab output with organizational quality and engineering excellence goals.Test equipment procurement, calibration programs, and facility capability roadmaps — lead to ensure the organization maintains state-of-the-art mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic testing infrastructure.Cross-functional technical reviews of blueprints, schematics, and design specifications — lead to identify systemic integration risks early in the automotive product development lifecycle.Organizational defect analysis and quality control processes — direct across multiple vehicle programs, setting methodological standards that reduce field failures and accelerate root-cause resolution.Enterprise-wide test monitoring strategies and automated test cell policies — develop and govern, ensuring consistent application of operations monitoring best practices across all automotive programs.Strategic test data analysis frameworks — architect using advanced analytical and statistical tools, enabling engineering leadership to make data-driven decisions on vehicle system performance.Installation and integration standards for complex instrumentation and powertrain test systems — author and enforce, mentoring technicians and engineers in proper interface and calibration methodology.Multi-year durability, performance, and efficiency validation program strategies — design and oversee, balancing resource constraints with regulatory and customer requirements at the organizational level.Technical talent development pipelines — build by designing training curricula, apprenticeship structures, and on-the-job coaching programs that advance automotive engineering technician capabilities organization-wide.Stakeholder communication at executive and customer levels — lead by synthesizing complex test outcomes, risk assessments, and program recommendations into clear, decision-ready engineering briefings.

Also known as

10 alternate job titles map to this occupation.

Research TechnicianAuto-Design CheckerPerformance TechnicianAutomotive Test Technician (Auto Test Technician)Automotive Design Checker (Auto Design Checker)Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician)Durability TechnicianAutomotive Technician (Auto Technician)Transportation Engineering TechnicianAutomotive Engineering Technician

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