How to become an Automotive Engineer
Official title: Automotive Engineers
Also called: Dimensional Integration Engineer, Engineer, Product Engineer, Project Engineer, Research Engineer
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.
Main 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.
- 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.
How to become one
Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. All states and the District of Columbia require mechanical engineers who sell services to the public to be licensed.
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Engineering degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
- Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $104,110 a year The middle half earn $84,130 to $132,590.
- About 298,500 people work in this job now, and about 332,000 are projected by 2035. (+11.2%)
- People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Related jobs
- Mechanical Engineers
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Transportation Engineers
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Automotive Engineer?
Mechanical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or mechanical engineering technology. All states and the District of Columbia require mechanical engineers who sell services to the public to be licensed.
How much does an Automotive Engineer earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $104,110 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $84,130 to $132,590.
Is an Automotive Engineer a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 298,500 to about 332,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become an Automotive Engineer?
Usually. 83% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of an Automotive Engineer?
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
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.