Occupations · Architecture and Engineering

Automotive Engineers

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 17-2141.02

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Establish production or quality control standards.
Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.
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.
Create design alternatives for vehicle components, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative air-conditioning systems, to increase fuel efficiency.
Develop calibration methodologies, test methodologies, or tools.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking4.1

Reading Comprehension4.0

Writing3.9

Speaking3.9

Mathematics3.9

Active Listening3.8

Active Learning3.4

Science3.2

Monitoring3.1

Learning Strategies2.9

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Photoshop●Atlassian Confluence●Atlassian JIRA●Autodesk AutoCAD●C●C#●C++●Dassault Systemes SolidWorks●Extensible markup language XML●Git●JUnit●JavaScript●JavaScript Object Notation JSON●Jenkins CI●Linux●Microsoft .NET Framework●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft Visio●Microsoft Visual Studio●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●Node.js●Oracle Java●Perl●

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.3 below average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.0 below average

Spend Time Sitting+0.8 above average

In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment+0.8 above average

Exposed to Disease or Infections−0.8 below average

Spend Time Standing−0.7 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2022-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree71%

Master's Degree14%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)5%

Doctoral Degree5%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2022-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic6.2

Investigative5.7

Conventional4.1

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving4.1

Judgment and Decision Making3.9

Systems Analysis3.8

Systems Evaluation3.8

Operations Analysis3.8

Coordination3.5

Time Management3.2

Persuasion3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Engineering and TechnologyPhysicsMathematicsMechanicalDesignComputers and Electronics

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ExpressionProblem SensitivityDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningOral Comprehension

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

EngineerRelay EngineerChassis EngineerProduct EngineerProject EngineerQuality EngineerResearch EngineerAutomotive EngineerAutomotive DesignerPowertrain EngineerEngineering DesignerDesign Release EngineerDesign Support EngineerSystems Design Engineer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 4 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 52

+Mentor Graphics Flowmaster+Adobe Photoshop+Atlassian Bamboo+Minitab+ANSYS simulation software+Oracle Java+International Material Data System IMDS+Magellan Firmware+Xcode+Microsoft Visual Studio+PTC Creo Parametric+The MathWorks MATLAB+Structured query language SQL+Selenium

No longer listed 10

−Computer aided design CAD software−Flowmaster software−Siemens PLM Software Solid Edge−The MathWorks Simulink−Ansoft software−Vector CANtech software−Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software−Ride simulators−Microsoft Visual C#−Siemens PLM Software NX

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

EngineerChief EngineerRelay EngineerQuality EngineerChassis EngineerProduct EngineerSystems EngineerProject EngineerResearch EngineerPowertrain EngineerAutomotive EngineerEngineering Manager

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
automotive engineer	2144.1.3	exact
aerodynamics engineer	2144.1.1.1	close
automotive designer	2163.1.1	close

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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