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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Automotive Engineer

💰 $75,000 - $130,000

EngineeringAutomotiveR&DVehicle Development

🎯 Role Definition

As an Automotive Engineer you will lead and execute system- and component-level engineering activities across the vehicle development lifecycle. The role requires hands-on design, simulation, testing, and validation experience with vehicle systems (powertrain, chassis, electrical/electronics, thermal, NVH or body), plus strong supplier management, problem-solving and compliance knowledge (IATF 16949, FMVSS/UNECE, ISO 26262). You will collaborate with cross-functional teams (design, manufacturing, calibration, quality, procurement) to deliver robust, cost-effective, and manufacturable solutions that meet performance, safety, regulatory and customer requirements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, or Systems Engineer (entry / junior level)
  • Test Engineer or Validation Engineer
  • Supplier Development Engineer or Project Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Automotive Engineer / Lead Engineer
  • Systems Engineering Manager or Vehicle Program Manager
  • Engineering Manager / Director of Vehicle Development

Lateral Moves:

  • Controls Engineer (Powertrain/Electric)
  • NVH / Durability Specialist
  • Supplier Quality or Manufacturing Engineering

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead end-to-end development of vehicle systems or components (e.g., powertrain, chassis, BMS/e-mobility systems, thermal management, braking, steering) from concept through validation, ensuring requirements traceability and alignment with program targets for cost, weight, reliability, and performance.
  • Develop detailed system architecture, define requirements and specifications, and generate interface control documents (ICDs) to coordinate hardware, software, and electrical/electronic integration across subsystems and suppliers.
  • Create, review and maintain engineering models and simulations (CAD, FEA, CFD, multibody dynamics) to validate structural integrity, thermal behavior, NVH characteristics and aerodynamic performance prior to prototype fabrication.
  • Author and execute detailed test plans for component, subsystem and vehicle-level validation (functional, durability, environmental, EMC/EMI, thermal, NVH), and lead lab, bench, HIL and vehicle testing to verify requirements and sign-off on design readiness.
  • Develop control algorithms and vehicle models using MATLAB/Simulink and support calibration and ECU integration activities including HIL, SIL testing and model-based design workflows.
  • Drive reliability and durability engineering tasks, including life-cycle testing, accelerated stress testing, root cause analysis of failures, and implementation of corrective actions to improve long-term product robustness.
  • Implement functional safety practices in accordance with ISO 26262: perform hazard analysis, define ASIL requirements, create safety plans, and support development of safety cases and related documentation for safety-critical systems.
  • Lead DFMEA/ PFMEA sessions to identify failure modes and design mitigation, translate FMEA outcomes into verification and validation activities, and ensure closure of actions through design updates or quality controls.
  • Manage supplier technical development and integration: set technical expectations, review supplier designs, conduct supplier audits, control build activities, and escalate issues to ensure on-time delivery and quality compliance.
  • Define and manage product specifications to meet regulatory standards (FMVSS, UNECE/ECE, EPA/ICCT emission regulations where applicable) and support homologation, certification and field approvals.
  • Collaborate with manufacturing and industrialization teams to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturing, assembly, serviceability and cost targets; create DFx reviews and production readiness packages.
  • Lead cross-functional issue resolution during prototyping and launch phases: prioritize problem tickets, coordinate root cause analysis, containment, corrective actions, and customer-facing communications as needed.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives using structured problem solving (8D, DMAIC) to reduce warranty exposure, lower cost-of-quality and improve production uptime.
  • Prepare engineering change requests (ECRs/ECOs), evaluate impacts across BOM, tooling, suppliers and production processes, and manage change implementation through production.
  • Mentor and develop junior engineers, conduct technical reviews, and contribute to hiring and capability-building activities within the engineering organization.
  • Support requirements management and configuration control, maintaining traceability between customer requirements, system requirements, verification plans and test evidence in PLM/ALM tools.
  • Coordinate and participate in design reviews (conceptual, detailed design, DFMEA, pre-production and production readiness reviews) to ensure designs meet safety, performance and cost targets.
  • Specify and oversee validation of electrical and electronic systems, harness design and routing constraints, connector and ECU selection, and oversee EMI/EMC troubleshooting and mitigation.
  • Lead thermal management and HVAC system development for ICE, hybrid and battery electric vehicles including simulation, component selection, and integration to meet packaging and performance constraints.
  • Conduct vehicle-level integration and calibration activities to tune drivability, NVH, braking and stability characteristics in collaboration with test drivers, controls, and calibration teams.
  • Drive data-driven decisions by analyzing test, field and telemetry data to identify trends, prioritize design changes and quantify improvements for energy consumption, emissions and overall vehicle efficiency.
  • Support cost-down initiatives and value engineering exercises to achieve program targets while maintaining reliability and performance through material selection, supplier negotiations and design simplification.

Secondary Functions

  • Support production launch activities including trial builds, line-side troubleshooting, and ramp support to ensure quality and schedule targets are met.
  • Assist cross-functional teams with warranty investigations, customer concerns and field quality reports, translating field data into actionable engineering improvements.
  • Contribute to technical proposals, bid packages, and supplier selection processes by providing engineering estimates, risk assessments, and manufacturability reviews.
  • Participate in continuous improvement programs for test processes, lab instrumentation, data acquisition and test automation to increase test throughput and repeatability.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends in electrification, autonomous systems, lightweight materials and regulatory changes to influence technical roadmaps.
  • Support ad-hoc engineering analyses, feasibility studies, and prototype builds requested by program management or product planning teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Vehicle systems engineering and architecture definition (powertrain, chassis, body, thermal, EV systems).
  • Strong CAD proficiency (CATIA, NX, SolidWorks) and experience with PLM tools (Teamcenter, Windchill).
  • CAE analysis skills: FEA (ABAQUS, ANSYS), CFD (STAR-CCM+, Fluent) and multibody dynamics (MSC Adams).
  • Model-based design and controls development using MATLAB/Simulink and Real-Time Workshop; HIL/SIL test experience.
  • Safety standards and compliance: ISO 26262 functional safety processes, FMVSS/UNECE regulations, and homologation practices.
  • Durability, fatigue and NVH testing and analysis; experience with sound package, modal analysis and vibration testing.
  • Diagnostics, calibration and ECU integration experience, including CAN/CAN-FD, LIN, Ethernet and vehicle bus diagnostics.
  • Manufacturing and production readiness: DFMEA/PFMEA, APQP, PPAP, IATF 16949 quality system knowledge.
  • Root-cause analysis and corrective action methodologies (8D, Ishikawa, DMAIC) with strong warranty reduction orientation.
  • Experience with battery systems and BMS development for electrified vehicles (cell testing, thermal runaway mitigation, state-of-charge models).
  • Test planning and lab instrumentation expertise (data acquisition systems, environmental chambers, dynamometers).
  • Cost modeling, DFM/DFMA, and supplier technical management including technical negotiations and contract-to-deliver oversight.
  • Proficient with requirements management and ALM/PLM traceability tools (JIRA, Polarion, DOORS).

Soft Skills

  • Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder management with suppliers, manufacturing, quality and program teams.
  • Strategic problem solving with pragmatic decision making under schedule and cost constraints.
  • Leadership and mentorship: able to guide junior engineers and run technical teams or workstreams.
  • Project and time management with the ability to prioritize competing engineering deliverables.
  • Detail-oriented with rigorous documentation habits and the ability to present technical results to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to stay current with fast-evolving automotive technologies.
  • Customer-focused orientation with the ability to translate market and user requirements into engineering specifications.
  • Negotiation skills to balance technical trade-offs with procurement and supplier constraints.
  • Clear technical writing for test reports, safety cases, requirement specifications and engineering change documentation.
  • Collaborative mindset and conflict resolution skills to drive consensus across geographically distributed teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics or equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Automotive Engineering, Vehicle Systems, Controls, or Mechanical Engineering.
  • Certifications in ISO 26262 functional safety, Six Sigma, or professional engineering (PE) registration are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Automotive Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronics Engineering
  • Mechatronics / Controls Engineering
  • Materials Science (for lightweight structures and composites)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–8 years for mid-level Automotive Engineer roles; 8+ years for senior/lead positions.

Preferred:

  • Hands-on experience with vehicle programs from concept to production launch.
  • Demonstrated track record in at least two of the following domains: powertrain/electrification, chassis and dynamics, NVH/durability, thermal management, or ECU controls and calibration.
  • Experience working with cross-continental suppliers and vehicle homologation processes in target markets (North America, Europe, Asia).
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