You need to consider about automotive engineer salary if you want to become professional auto engineer. Most people think that auto engineer and technician (or mechanics) are the same, but they are different in nature, implementation, and mechanism. In fact, when you work as an engineer, you won’t be dealing with repair as this field work requires sophisticated skills and improved ability.
The Workload
The main job of auto engineer is to design, create, develop, build, and test domestic motorized vehicles, racing cars, and also motorbikes. As it was mentioned before, you aren’t a mechanic, so you won’t be dealing with checking or repairing any vehicles parts. In fact, you will be responsible in improving vehicle components and parts like the aerodynamics, the electronics, or the engines. You can say that you are the master of creation when choosing this path of career. It requires good and balanced combination of deep love and passion on cars as well as practical skills. If you are into design and engineering so much – not to mention good and solid foundation in IT skills, math, and team work – this is the right career for you. It would be handy if you have previous experience in engineering or qualifications in engineering related subjects.
The Main Work
Engineering is a wide and big subject, so you need to take specialization in more detailed subjects. Nevertheless, you will be responsible in the overall process, from the initial designing to the final stage of the production. It is possible that you will work on:
- Electronic devices as well as the electric parts, including the control system
- Fuel technology as well as the emission
- Chassis, body, and engine
- Aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics
There are three major areas within this engineering job:
- Design. You will be responsible into blueprint production, as well as development and testing. You will be responsible for cost effective arrangement, safety concern, reliability factor, and also environmental effect
- Development. You are responsible in building and then testing the prototypes with physical models and computer simulations so you can generate ideas about the weakness, strength, safety, and performance
- Production. You are planning the production, covering redesigning equipment, machine tools, and also overall process. You should monitoring cost, make new parts, oversee quality control, and maintain production schedules
If you have been a senior engineer, you will be responsible in supervising and monitoring technical teams, managing projects, negotiating with clients, and also writing reports.
Salary and Working Condition
It is possible that you work in shifts if you are a production engineer. The work hour is from 9 to 5, from Mondays to Fridays. You can work in manufacturing plant, research facility, or at based office. The average salary is around $45,000 per year to $108,000 – depending on your skills, experience, education, and place of work. if you have a related degree or certificates qualifying your technical ability, the possibility of you getting hired will be bigger – as well as determining how much automotive engineer salary you can get.