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Posts Tagged ‘automotive engineers’

Would you like to make “I’m a rambling wreck from Georgia Tech and a heck of a heck of an engineer” a reality in your life? Have you always enjoyed tinkering around with cars and figuring out what made stuff work? Does being a team player developing products that are the cutting edge of technology appeal to you? Then automotive engineering might be the career for you.

Generally, an automotive engineer is one who works on the design or manufacture of automobiles. The word design is slightly misleading since an automotive designer is a stylist basically concerned with the appearance of the automobile while the engineer specializes in the performance of the automobile and its components.

The engineer works on developing new or improved structural parts, engines, transmissions and suspension systems. The engineer is involved in production cost estimation, reduction of production costs and implementing cost/quality control improvements. The engineer must be sure that the product meets all federal regulations. In the case of new designs, it is the engineer who determines driveability.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Dictionary of Occupational Titles, automotive engineering is a sub-specialty of mechanical engineering.

Even though the automotive manufacturing industry is in a slump at this time, there is still a demand for engineers due to the current focus on fuel economy and alternate fueled vehicles. The field is expected to grow as fast as average through 2014.

While there are global opportunities for automotive engineers in countries as far flung as Malaysia and the United Kingdom, most jobs within the US are centered in the Midwest since that is the major location of the auto industry. The big three employers in the United States are Ford, General Motors and Daimler-Chrysler.

The working environment is a combination of office and on site. The entry-level salary starts at around $48,000 annually and a Bachelor of Science degree is required. In addition to the degree, the engineer should have excellent communication skills, strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to work as part of a team.

As with any engineering degree, the choice of a college is crucial. While all engineering colleges are selective, the better and the best are even more so.

One characteristic you need to look for in a college is the quality of instruction. Are all the classes taught by professional teachers and not graduate assistants? Do these teachers have industry connections? Is simulation and hands-on an integral part of the program?

Does the college offer internships or work study opportunities? Internships and work-study are very important as they offer a path to instant employment upon graduation. The same is true of having instructors with industry connections. It also doesn’t hurt to consider a college that offers advanced degrees in the event you decide to go further than a bachelor’s degree.

To ensure admission to the college of choice, a high school graduate should have a high GPA with a strong background in calculus, advanced math, statistics, physics, chemistry and geometry. Vocational classes in automotive mechanics are also helpful. It will also be necessary to score high on whatever college admissions test the school requires as the admissions committee will base their decision on both your high school record and admissions test scores.

Today’s automotive engineers are focusing their attention on improving the way we drive — and the way we live. Some automotive improvements make life easier to navigate, like GPS systems with visual and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions. Other innovations help protect vehicle occupants and save lives, such as “active safety” technologies, which warn drivers so they can take action to avoid an accident. Of course, yet another focus of automotive engineers, garnering much attention today, is improved fuel efficiency. Green vehicles are catching the attention of consumers rapidly. To meet this demand, nearly every automaker in the world is expanding with clean, fuel-efficient models in their lineup.

Automotive engineering today focuses on utilizing a range of technologies to improve fuel economy. Not a day goes by when automotive engineers are not working toward the development of new and improved fuel technologies. As part of the quest for fuel-efficient technology, current hybrid vehicle systems are constantly being evaluated and expanded. For example, many automakers are now creating integrated high-tech hybrids.

The concept of the high-tech hybrid vehicle makes more sense if we consider the challenges faced by automotive engineers. Automotive engineers must find creative and cost-effective ways to integrate hybrid systems, helping original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) increase efficiency and provide value to the consumer. For example, cars do not need to use combustion engines; it is just that — at least in the mass market — they always have used them. In the face of new technologies, the classic combustion engine seems poised for change — especially when we realize that automotive engineers are successfully expanding hybrid technology. It is this new technology that increases the feasibility of mass manufacturing hybrids for the general public. When designing the new high-tech hybrid models, automotive engineers depend on the best thermal management components, electronic/electrical powertrain systems and wiring architecture. The key is to leverage industry leaders with the extensiveness and depth of systems integration and power electronics proficiency to provide this advanced technology.

With rising oil prices, power electronics awareness is gaining popularity with both consumers and vehicle manufacturers. Hybrid vehicles are hitting the streets in North America, helping drivers save money on the cost of operating vehicles. Consumers understand that hybrids offer significant advantages, such as fuel efficiency and low cost per mile in addition to environmental benefits. If nothing else, high-tech hybrid technology — and the willingness to liberate it — may reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and ozone precursors.

As if this were not enough motivation, there are a variety of mechanisms and sources at work to excite the green car industry even further. In one example, an organization is on the hunt for a car that achieves fuel economy in excess of 100 miles per gallon without sacrificing key capabilities. The fuel-efficient prototype must be able to carry four passengers on varying terrain, pass federal crash and emissions guidelines and yield sales profitability in a volume of 10,000 units or more.

Indeed, there is plenty of encouragement in today’s society for increased fuel efficiency and green cars. Consumers, environmentalists, economists and technologists are all eager for new automotive technology. Thankfully, some of our best and brightest automotive engineers are working to answer the call successfully. After all, improving the way we drive and live today is only part of the equation. These new technologies will also serve future generations.