An integral part of the automobile sector is automotive engineering. Automotive engineers contribute to developing new vehicles and maintaining and improving current vehicles to meet standards and maximize efficiency. Experts in automotive engineering must be well-versed in their fields and dedicated to doing extensive research because of the research-heavy nature of this engineering discipline. Learn about the typical responsibilities of an automotive engineer, how to become one, and the best ways to break into the field.
How to Become an Automotive Engineer
Automotive engineering is a type of vehicle engineering that studies how different kinds of cars are used, designed, and built. The direct use of mathematics in creating and producing vehicles is part of this engineering field.
Safety engineering, vehicle electronics, quality management, fuel economy, and emissions are some engineering fields that can be used in this area. The name “automobile engineering” can also be used for automotive engineering.
The automotive industry is vast and is now one of the most essential parts of the business world because it’s crucial for getting around. As technology improves, a new automotive product hits the market almost daily. Because of this, people who study Automotive/Automobile engineering need to stay updated on the latest rules in the field.
Automobile engineering is one of the most advanced engineering courses. It involves designing, building, modifying, and maintaining cars, buses, trucks, and other types of vehicles.
What are the responsibilities of an automotive engineer?
Responsibilities of automotive engineering include the following:
- Create, build, and make vehicles
- Improve any parts that have to do with cars.
- Check the project’s needs.
- Make test methods and follow them.
- Use AutoCAD to create and print drawings.
- Make models of the different parts.
- Figure out what things are needed to make the parts.
- Fix any issues with engineering.
- Look into technical problems.
- Read and understand the facts and results.
- Plan and carry out tests.
- Respond to customer input by making changes to vehicles.
- Take care of supply management problems.
- Give your customers technical advice.
- Supervise junior staff
Types of Automotive Engineering
Different kinds of automobile engineers focus on different parts of designing, developing, and making cars. To give you an idea of what some popular types of automotive engineers do, here they are:
Manufacturing Engineer
Automotive manufacturing experts work on the process of making cars. They work hard to devise efficient ways to make things, put them together, and check the quality of the finished products. They work with production teams to ensure that operations run smoothly and that vehicles are built to meet standards and specs set by the designers.
Design Engineer
The engineers are responsible for ensuring that cars look good and work well. They use CAD software to make detailed drawings and lists of requirements for parts, systems, and the general look of the vehicle. They think about aerodynamics, ergonomics, and styling to make plans for cars that look good and work well.
Electrical Engineer
These are experts in the computer and electrical parts of cars. They plan and put together complicated control systems, sensors, electronic modules, and wire harnesses. They also make software for car control units and make it work with high-tech gadgets like infotainment systems and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
Safety Engineer
Their main job is ensuring that cars and their passengers are safe. They do risk surveys, crash tests, and data analysis to find possible safety risks and develop ways to reduce them. They work on making cars safer by improving crashworthiness, occupant protection systems, and safety measures.
Quality Engineer
Standard engineers are in charge of keeping the standard of vehicles high and making them even better while they are being made. They make plans for quality control, set standards for quality, and do checks and audits to ensure the rules are followed. To find and fix quality problems, they work closely with providers, manufacturing teams, and other important people.
Vehicle Dynamics Engineer
They work to make cars handle better, move more comfortably, and perform better. They work on suspension systems, chassis design, and tire properties to get the desired car dynamics. To fine-tune how the vehicles behave and respond, they use modeling tools and test them in the real world.
Research and Development Engineer
Engineers who work in research and development look into new technologies, materials, and ideas to help make car design and performance better. They look into whether new ideas and technologies will work, build prototypes, and test how well they work. They are significant in pushing the limits of car engineering.
Mechanical Engineer
They study how things work and what parts of cars are made of metal. This group of people designed and improved engines, gears, suspension systems, and other mechanical parts. They ensure these systems are reliable, work well, and meet performance standards.
Eligibility to Get into Automotive Engineering
Getting a degree in automotive engineering takes four years. Students who want to take this course must have a background in science (PCM) and have passed their 10+2 or a test from a recognized board that is equal to it.
They must have studied Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics as their main subjects. Any student who wants to go to college must have gotten at least 50% on their board tests. Students with a mechanical engineering diploma or a similar field can enter the second year of B.Tech Automotive Engineering immediately (lateral entry).
How to Become an Automotive Engineer
If you’re interested in becoming an automobile engineer, here are some steps you might want to take:
1. Get The Required Degree
For mechanical engineering, look for schools that fit your needs. There aren’t many schools that offer a degree in automotive engineering, but if you major in mechanical engineering, you have a better chance of getting a job as an automotive engineer right out of school. Also, if you want to study, develop, or teach, you might want to consider graduate school or a Ph.D. program.
2. Get Relevant Experience
Internships are a great way to learn about engineering and gain skills that can be used in automobile engineering jobs following your internship. If you are in high school, you can also go to engineering summer camps to learn more about the field by working with engineers.
3. Get A License In The Basics Of Engineering (FE)
This step gives you the tools you need to start your job as an engineer. You can start working as a mechanical engineer after you pass the test. If you have worked as a mechanical engineer, you may be able to apply for a job as an automobile engineer when one opens up.
4. Get A License To Be A Professional Engineer (PE)
After working for four years and getting your FE, you might want to get this license to show you have more training on your resume. It would be best if you had an engineer willing to take the lead for your team to succeed.
5. Create Your CV
List the highest level of schooling you’ve earned along with your Fundamentals of Engineering license. When you apply for work, you will stand out if you meet the requirements listed. For internships or other jobs you’ve had in the past, remember where you worked, what you did, and when you worked there.
6. Apply To Automotive Engineering Positions.
Choose jobs that will help you reach your work goals. Before working as an automobile engineer, you should know that you will likely start as a mechanical engineer. Think about how many years of experience you have and the tasks you’ve already done to decide if you want to move into this area or try something else.
Requirements of Automotive Engineering
Getting a job as an automotive engineer might require certain things, based on the jobs you’re applying for, such as:
Education
Automotive experts starting should have at least a bachelor’s degree. However, there aren’t many organizations that offer undergraduate programs in automotive engineering. Because of this, most students choose to major in mechanical engineering, which includes automobile engineering, and the courses are the same at this level.
Some mechanical engineering schools include classes on cars. Life and physical science, robotics, industrial processes, environmental science, thermodynamics, and heat transfer are some of the subjects that students can expect to learn.
If people want to become automotive engineers and specialize in something more advanced, like learning how mechanical engineering works or working with hybrid vehicles, they should get a graduate degree.
Coach Training
Automotive engineers who are just starting usually learn on the job from more experienced workers in their own company. To become Engineers in Training (EIT), another name for a job in this field, they’ll need to earn a Fundamentals of Engineering license first.
Certifications
As an entry-level automotive mechanic, you don’t have to get certified, but there are a few that they can get to make themselves more marketable:
License for Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)
You’ll get this license once you pass an exam that qualifies you for an internship or Engineer-in-Training program. So, getting a job in engineering is not the same as getting a job in other fields, where you usually don’t need a certificate to do an internship.
License to practice engineering (PE)
In this field, getting this license opens up more possibilities for you to move up in your career and become a manager. To get this license, you’ll need to have worked for at least four years, which the state requires. If you have a PE license, you can oversee other engineers, give projects the green light, and provide services that directly affect the public.
Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
Professionals who know how to evaluate performance in this area can get this certification. Professionals with this license can also guess how safe mechanical parts are and determine how to keep them in good shape over time. You must have worked before and passed a written or oral test to get this certification.
Skills Required for Automotive Engineering
To be successful, automotive engineers need to have some skills, such as:
Creativity
Automotive engineers are in charge of planning and building the mechanical parts of cars. Because of this, the company values creative people who can come up with new ideas to help their sales staff explain each model to customers.
Getting Organized and Managing Your Time
Engineers work on many projects simultaneously and juggle tasks based on their importance. To ensure they finish their work correctly and on time, they must learn essential habits like using a project management system, organizing their calendar, and taking good notes. It’s more likely that you’ll be able to focus on the planning and technical parts of the job if you are good at managing your time.
Mathematics Skills
Engineers need to use the math and science skills they learn in school, like calculus, statistics, and other math ideas, to help them plan projects and solve problems that come up.
Solving problems
When making and testing cars, engineers need to be able to figure out how to fix problems that come up. Because they know how engineering works, they should be able to make and build products that fix problems with older models.
Mechanical Skills
Automotive engineers can work together on projects with other engineers more quickly if they understand how mechanical processes work. For example, they can help each other make test features and determine why products fail or meet staff standards.
Conclusion
As the world proliferates, the car is essential to that growth. People have found ways to get around to cover both short and long stretches. As an automobile engineer, you plan, create, build, and improve cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, scooters, and other vehicles.
Automobile tech is essential. It lets people get where they need to go on time. People can now use it from one city, state, country, or region to another. Because of this, the branch pays the most, is always in style, and has excellent job prospects.
When you study automobile engineering, you can work in many different fields. You can work for an IT company, become an academic, attend college, work in sales and marketing, be a consultant, and more.
