Automotive Engineering Technicians
Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
Tasks Include:
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
- Recommend product or component design improvements based on data and observations.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Calibrate test equipment.
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Fabricate prototype components or fixtures, or modify existing prototypes.
- Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
- Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
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The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0; US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Projections Quick View:
Virginia: + 3.5%
National: + 3.9%
Education
No Data
Job Zone:
Income Range:
Highest ($50,000 and up)
Average Earnings:
National
$51,450.00
State
$53,730.00
Regional
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Description
| Career Cluster: | Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
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Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Tasks
Tasks Include:
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
- Recommend product or component design improvements based on data and observations.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Calibrate test equipment.
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Fabricate prototype components or fixtures, or modify existing prototypes.
- Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
- Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
- Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity.
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Develop instrumentation and laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
- Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
- Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems.
- Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic.
- Participate in research or testing of computerized automotive applications, such as telemetrics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, or automatic control.
- Test performance of vehicles that use alternative fuels, such as alcohol blends, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biodiesel, nanodiesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Tools and Technology
Tools Include:
- Calipers
- Dynamometers (Chassis dynamometers)
- Compression testers
- Milling cutters (Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines)
- Turning machines (Computerized numerical control CNC turning centers)
- Tension testers (Crack detection equipment)
- Digital testers (Electronic engine analyzers)
- Lathes (Engine lathes)
- Refrigerated and heated walk in environmental or growth chambers (Environmental chambers)
- Chemical absorption gas analyzers (Exhaust gas analyzers)
- Flowmeters (Flow benches)
- Force or torque sensors (Force gauges)
- Frequency counters or timer or dividers (Frequency counters)
- Signal generators (Function generators)
- Tension testers (High-vacuum tensile testing chambers)
- Oscilloscopes (Ignition oscilloscopes)
- Leak testing equipment (Leakage testers)
- Metal inert gas MIG welding machinery (Metal inert gas MIG welders)
- Multimeters
- Oscilloscopes
- Gauges or inspection fixtures (Pin gauges)
- Plasma welding machinery (Plasma cutters)
- Speed sensors (Timing lights)
- Tungsten inert gas TIG welding machinery (Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment)
- Vibration testers
Technologies Include:
- Analytical or scientific software
- Data acquisition software
- Road simulators
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
- Autodesk Inventor
- Computer aided design CAD software
- PTC Pro/ENGINEER software
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
- Development environment software
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- Electronic mail software
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Word
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Special Requirements
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Although employers usually do not require engineering technicians to be certified, such certification may provide jobseekers a competitive advantage. The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) has established voluntary certification programs for several engineering technology specialties. Certification is available at various levels, each level combining a written examination in a specialty with a certain amount of job-related experience, a supervisory evaluation, and a recommendation.
You take your first steps on the path towards certification when you complete and submit your application and fee payment to NICET. After that, the process varies depending on the certification that you are seeking. Currently, most NICET programs (in the "work element" or "general knowledge" format) use paper-and-pencil tests, normally administered at NICET test centers four times a year. A few programs use computer-based testing administered through a non-NICET network of computer-based testing centers.
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Certification:
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After you have passed the tests required for a certification, the Institute will evaluate your work history against the experience required for that level of certification. Evaluators will also check experience verifications:
If you are applying for Level III or Level IV certification, you must have a current personal recommendation on file.
After confirming that you meet all the requirements for certification, the Institute will mail you a certificate and a wallet card. Your name will then appear in NICET's directories, and you will receive the Institute's newsletter.
For more information on specific engineering technician programs, see Certification Program Information.
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Required Fees:
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Examination Fee:
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$205.00
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Exam Rescheduling Fee:
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$100.00
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Hand Scoring Of Exam:
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$50.00
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Application Review Fee:
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$100.00
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Certification Reinstatement Fees:
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$50.00
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The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Career VIEW Research.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Earnings Benefits
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $32,930.00 | $52,810.00 | $75,110.00 |
| Virginia | $35,690.00 | $53,730.00 | $72,570.00 |
| Region | Entry Level | Average | Experienced |
| Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | $37,619.31 | $56,856.42 | $78,928.04 |
| Central VA/Region2000 | $27,065.22 | $50,638.77 | $76,288.25 |
| Crater Area | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Greater Peninsula | $38,309.94 | $50,334.53 | $70,806.86 |
| Hampton Roads | $34,212.83 | $53,478.34 | $76,576.27 |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | $35,562.65 | $47,320.52 | $60,881.52 |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | $32,746.40 | $54,021.92 | $74,040.93 |
| Piedmont Workforce | $30,955.43 | $50,600.23 | $83,880.06 |
| Shenandoah Valley | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| South Central | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Southwestern Virginia | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| West Piedmont | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Western Virginia | $26,195.09 | $43,533.74 | $65,952.19 |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: US Department of Labor (BLS); Virginia Workforce Connection.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Employment Projections
| National | 2010 | 2020 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 44,900 | 46,700 | + 3.9% |
| State | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Virginia | 1,267 | 1,311 | + 3.5% |
| Region | 2008 | 2018 | % Change |
| Bay Consortium | No Data | No Data | No Data |
| Capital Region Workforce Partnership | 108 | 111 | + 2.8% |
| Central VA/Region2000 | 101 | 92 | - 8.9% |
| Crater Area | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Greater Peninsula | 224 | 213 | - 4.9% |
| Hampton Roads | 108 | 126 | + 16.7% |
| New River/Mt. Rogers | 134 | 124 | - 7.5% |
| Northern Virginia and Alexandria/Arlington | 372 | 411 | + 10.5% |
| Piedmont Workforce | 25 | 25 | + 0.0% |
| Shenandoah Valley | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| South Central | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| Southwestern Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
| West Piedmont | 11 | 12 | + 9.1% |
| Western Virginia | 0 | 0 | + 0.0% |
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Virginia Workforce Connection.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
View Videos
The following videos are available for this occupation:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (4.20 Mb)
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians (2.50 Mb)
Macromedia Flash is required for viewing the videos. If you do not have the Flash plugin, it is freely available for download.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: New York State Department of Labor; New Jersey Department of Labor; California Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Military Training
There are no related military occupations for this occupation.
The data sources for the information displayed here include: Defense Manpower Data Center.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Titles
- Auto Design Checker
- Automotive Engineering Technician
The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™ 16.0.
Automotive Engineering Technicians
Related Schools
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Danville Community College
- John Tyler Community College
- Norfolk State University
- Rappahannock Community College
- Thomas Nelson Community College
- Tidewater Community College
- Virginia State University
- Virginia Western Community College