Automotive engineer
Automotive engineers design, test and build cars, vans, lorries, buses and motorbikes.
- Potential salary
- £26,000 starter to £48,000 experienced per year
- Typical hours
- 38 to 42 a week. Working pattern: evenings on shifts.
- Career area
- Engineering
- Where they might work
- You could work in an office, at a research facility or at a manufacturing plant.
- A typical task
- body, chassis and engine systems
- Subjects that may help
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- Typical route
- You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in automotive engineering.
- Interest area used here
- Making, fixing and working outdoors, Asking questions and research
What you might do
- body, chassis and engine systems
- electrical and electronic instrumentation and controls
- thermodynamics, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
- zero emission fuel technologies
- develop new exterior and interior design concepts
- test ideas using simulations, virtual reality (VR) and physical models
More tasks (4)
- research the environmental impact of different designs
- modify machine tools and processes to improve production
- assess components' strengths, weaknesses, performance and safety
- monitor quality, costs and production schedules
Could this suit me?
Consider which of these skills and ways of working appeal to you.
- maths knowledge
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- design skills and knowledge
- knowledge of physics
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- complex problem-solving skills
More skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- the ability to work well with others
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
Routes into this career
University route
- You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in automotive engineering.
- Employers will often accept related subjects, such as:
- manufacturing engineering
- mechanical engineering
- electrical or electronic engineering
- design engineering
- software engineering
- sustainable automotive engineering
- Many universities offer courses that combine a degree with a postgraduate master's engineering (MEng) qualification.
- Choosing a course that includes an internship or industry placement can give you an advantage when looking for jobs. It can also help if you want to join a company's graduate training scheme.
- You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
University courses that could lead to this career
These are course families, not published offers. A link does not mean the degree is sufficient on its own.
- Mechanical engineering
Common route. A usual route. A dedicated automotive degree is an alternative, not a requirement.
Apprenticeship or vocational route
- You could apply for a place on a degree apprenticeship scheme, with a vehicle manufacturer, for example:
- Manufacturing Engineer Level 6
- Product Design and Development Engineer Level 6
- These take around 4 to 5 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with university study.
- If you already have a degree in a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subject, you may be able to do a Postgraduate Engineer Level 7 Apprenticeship with an automotive employer.
- 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
- a degree in a relevant subject
- equivalent entry requirements
- guide to apprenticeships
Career progression
- With experience, you could move into:
- lead engineer roles
- project team management
- safety and legal compliance
- crash investigation
- consultancy work
- motorsport
Subjects that may help
Subject guidance
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
- a degree in a relevant subject