Architecture & Engineering
Automotive Engineers
Also called: Dimensional Integration Engineer, Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer
US median pay
$104,110
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+11.2%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
17,800
298,500 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.
- Establish production or quality control standards.
- Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.
- Research or implement green automotive technologies involving alternative fuels, electric or hybrid cars, or lighter or more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Complex Problem Solving4.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Systems Evaluation3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.8/5
- Operations Analysis3.8/5
- Coordination3.5/5
- Time Management3.2/5
- Technology Design3.1/5
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology4.7/5
- Physics4.3/5
- Mathematics4.3/5
- Mechanical4.1/5
- Design3.9/5
- Computers and Electronics3.9/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree71%
- Master's degree14%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.