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Automotive engineer

Alternative titles for this job include

Automotive engineers design, develop, test and build cars and motorbikes.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

39 to 41 a week

You could work

evenings on shifts

How to become an automotive engineer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship

University

You’ll usually need a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree, before joining a company training scheme.

Relevant subjects include:

  • mechanical engineering
  • electrical or electronic engineering
  • design engineering
  • manufacturing engineering
  • automotive engineering

A course with a work placement or an internship will be especially useful.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
  • between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree

More Information

Apprenticeship

The following apprenticeships may be relevant:

  • Manufacturing engineer degree apprenticeship
  • Product design and development engineer degree apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship

More Information

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about careers in the automotive industry through Autocity and Your Future in Automotive and The IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry).

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • maths knowledge
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • design skills and knowledge
  • knowledge of physics
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • analytical thinking skills
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You might work on:

  • body, chassis and engine systems
  • electrical and electronic instrumentation and control systems
  • thermodynamics, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • fuel technology and emissions

You could work in:

  • design, to turn ideas into blueprints for development and testing, taking into account safety, cost-effectiveness, environmental impact and look
  • development to build and test prototypes using computer simulations and physical models to assess components' strengths, weaknesses, performance and safety
  • production to plan the production run, including redesigning machine tools, equipment and processes to make new parts, monitoring costs and production schedules, and overseeing quality control

Working environment

You could work in an office, at a research facility or at a manufacturing plant.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to senior engineer roles, project team management, general management, automotive insurance damage assessment or consultancy.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Manufacturing Management Degree Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £163.40 Weekly
  • Location: Wimborne

Design and Development Engineer Degree Apprentice

  • Wage: £172.00 Weekly
  • Location: Sheffield
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Automotive and Motorsport Engineering Technology - Foundation Degree

  • Provider: BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE
  • Start date: 14 September 2021
  • Location: Blackpool

L1 Automotive

  • Provider: TEIGN SCHOOL
  • Start date: 06 September 2021
  • Location: Newton Abbot
Find courses near you

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