Over the last few decades, the automobile and automotive industry has provided some of the most interesting and promising career options, and has attracted youth and experience in equal measure. From convenient hatchbacks to supercars, from fuel cells to ultra-lightweight materials, the coolest, most advanced technology is tested and deployed first in the automotive engineering field, and they keep humanity moving, literally.
Why should I become an automotive engineer?
An automotive engineer designs the mechanisms and various systems to be deployed in cars. From using latest technology and ergonomics, to ensuring that the designs conform to all cost and quality limitations, they do it all. Automotive engineering is a specialised offspring of mechanical engineering.
Automotive engineers develop system designs, analyse for potential issues and then work to improve them. They build and test prototypes of car parts and the car too and eventually oversee the manufacturing aspect. Computers have also grown to be an integral part of the job. Most engineers work full-time, more than forty hours every week. Automotive engineers work in groups, and usually in offices, but they are often needed to visit and oversee the factory proceedings.
What they do
As discussed, din layman’s terms, automotive engineers design, develop and test vehicles and their components or systems, and are involved in every step of the process from conceptualisation to production. Several specialist engineers are employed on the same project, with fields of expertise ranging from alternative fuels, aerodynamics, materials and manufacturing, to chassis, emissions, and prototyping and supply chain management. An amalgamation of old methods and cutting-edge technology is used to ensure the highest standards of manufacturing, design and safety.
Here are some basic activities which automotive engineer might have to perform:
- Applying the principles of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic and thermodynamic disciplines to find solutions to issues and design new systems.
- Building prototypes and designing the test procedures for the same using software and physical testing.
- Deciding on materials and components.
- Producing models and visual interpretations through CAD packages.
- Coming up with more efficient methods for designing and implementing components and procedures to use less material, less energy and come up with better products for consumers.
- Test driving and inspecting cars for faults.
- Investigating breakdowns or unexpected failures, and fixing the same.
- Preparing material and cost estimates alongside time estimates and periodic reports, blueprints and design specifications.
- Understanding and studying safety, pollution, emission and particulate outputs.
- Supervising product line processes like installation or modification of systems in factories.
- Instructing or supervising technicians and junior engineers, reviewing designs and prototypes and approving or modifying calculations and estimates.
Get a degree
Several places offer degrees in automobile or automotive engineering. You may also choose a degree in mechanical engineering, as you will be presented with opportunities to specialise in automotive engineering in the future. You could then cover engine parts, automobile dynamics, energy sources, fuel systems and other aspects.
Also, consider a master’s degree. While it is not imperative, it will equip you with a much more advanced skill set and knowledge. You will have more research opportunities and scope for better jobs. Internships are always a great idea as they will allow you to gain firsthand knowledge before finishing your course itself, and allow you to apply your knowledge in the field.
You could also go for professional licensing and certification through a series of accredited institutes or examinations. The scope for an automotive engineer is huge, and you don’t have to be tied down to any particular type of job. Hence, you should conduct some research and look for the job opportunities which are provided by several manufacturers and R&D firms. You can always share your knowledge on various online sites.
Would you consider automotive engineering as a career option? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo: Farhad Sadykov / Flickr
Tim Bartlett is a professor of automotive engineering at a reputed institute. He has taught several batches of aspiring engineers and knows the field inside-out. He also enjoys blogging and reading articles on sites like www.leasequit.com.
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