What do they do?

An automobile engineer works in the vehicle manufacturing industry. Engineers hired by reputed auto companies go through a year’s training, where they are trained in various aspects of making a car. While the biggest percentage of automobile engineers still have a background in mechanical engineering, the growing trend of using electronic components in the manufacturing process may increase the demand for electronics engineers as well.

A typical professional in this field spends a lot of time on researching and designing both systems and machines for automobiles. The designs are initially done in the form of drawings and blueprints. Automobile engineers then apply physical and mathematical principles to these plans to make sure they are viable. The planning is done after considerable research, and then altered again after linking the plans to the available research.

Once the planning process is done, the designing begins. Automobile engineers are responsible for transforming their plans and research into a viable end product. They must oversee the entire process of manufacturing, with meticulous attention to detail.

Skills Needed

• A passion for cars
•  Aptitude for mathematics
•  Fast learning curve
•  Good reflexes
•  Automotive engineers should have a keen interest for mechanics, cars, mathematics and electronics
• One must be well-organised and methodical in their working habits
• Automotive engineers must be able to communicate ideas and give orders in a clear, concise fashion

How do I get there?

After completing Class 12 from the science stream, a student interested in automobile engineering can opt for a  BE or BTech in automobile engineering. To hire engineers, companies would first look at the IITs and the NITs (National Institutes of Technology). The Madras Institute of Technology in Chennai stands out among the many institutes in the south. A number of smaller institutions offer BE/BTech degrees in automobile engineering as well. An aspirant needs to use some filters to decide which one to go for. A student should look up the institute website - if it doesn’t have one, that’s a bad sign - and see if it has the required information about the course and admission criteria. Does it list the faculty members and their qualifications, does the college have publications, projects, collaborative projects, funding from the government? Cross-check the reputation of college, find out how the alumni are doing. Do some research before taking admission in these institutes.

Pros & Cons about this career