Specializations

While passenger cars and their systems make up a large share of the automotive engineering market, the industry also includes a wide variety of trucks and other recreational, motor-sport, commercial, and agricultural vehicles. Engineers may be found working both at the manufacturers of these vehicles as well as at the suppliers to the major manufacturers. The job possibilities include a variety of options and may focus on individual components or complex systems.

Some typical engineering roles might involve:

• Developing computer-models and test procedures to assess and improve materials and material behavior under a variety of conditions.

• Assessing various crash scenarios and testing new designs against stringent governmental regulations. Assessments done using computer crash simulations, crash test dummies, partial-system-sled, and full-vehicle crashes determine seat belt and air bag functionality, as well as front- and side-crash stability.
   
• Measuring and modifying the noise and vibration characteristics of vehicles, ultimately working to eliminate as much of these distractions as possible to create a smoother, quieter, more stable ride.
   
• Working on ergonomics with interior designers, analyzing the vehicle's occupant accommodations (seat roominess); occupant's access to the steering wheel, pedals, and other controls; ingress/egress points of the vehicle; and the driver's field of vision (gauges and windows).
   
• Working on packaging issues and component placement (e.g. placing components in the tightly packed engine compartment).
   
• Designing manufacturing facilities and production processes that maximize efficiency, limit environmental impact, and maintain consistent production levels over long-term production runs.
   
• Maintaining quality control over a vehicle. Vehicles must continually be checked and assessed to ensure they continue to meet the standards of the manufacturer and the expectations of the marketplace.

There are even automotive engineering careers outside the automotive industry itself. At the Environmental Protection Agency engineers certify the compliance of vehicles with government emissions and fuel economy standards, as well as develop new pollution control techniques to enhance those standards. The Department of Energy's FreedomCAR/Vehicle Technologies Program and Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives also offer career paths to engineers with an interest in automotive technologies. These programs are seeking to develop advanced combustion technologies like clean diesel and low temperature combustion (LTC), along with fuel cells and advanced hybrid propulsion systems - transportation technologies that will significantly increase vehicle fuel efficiency and lessen our dependence on oil.

As you can see, there are a variety of possible career roles for engineers with an interest in the automotive industry and automotive technologies.