Automotive engineer
Also known as: automotive designer, vehicle production designer, motorcycle production process engineer, motor vehicle engineer, coach designer, lorry designer
About this occupation
Automotive engineers design and oversee the manufacturing process and operation of motor vehicles such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses and their respective engineering systems. They design new vehicles or mechanical parts, supervise modifications and resolve technical problems. They make sure the designs comply with cost specifications and other constraints. They also conduct research studying environmental, energy and safety aspects.
A specialisation of mechanical engineer.
Essential skills and knowledge
- production processes
- analyse production processes for improvement
- use technical drawing software
- approve engineering design
- industrial engineering
- engineering processes
- execute feasibility study
- engineering principles
- technical drawings
- control production
- manufacturing processes
- automotive engineering
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Automotive Engineers (O*NET 17-2141.02). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.
- Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.
- Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.
- Calibrate vehicle systems, including control algorithms or other software systems.
- Design or analyze automobile systems in areas such as aerodynamics, alternate fuels, ergonomics, hybrid power, brakes, transmissions, steering, calibration, safety, or diagnostics.
- Prepare or present technical or project status reports.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Critical Thinking, Complex Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics
US median pay: US$104,110 a year (2025), 296,810 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsVery important (4.3)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.3)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyVery important (4.3)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (4.1)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignVery important (3.9)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.9)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.7)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Mechanical Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Aerospace Engineers
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Mechatronics Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Validation Engineers
- Robotics Engineers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.