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Career Details

17-3027.01 - 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.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
48,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
49,300
Estimate
Change in Employment
900.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+2%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
  • Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
  • Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
  • Recommend tests or testing conditions in accordance with designs, customer requirements, or industry standards to ensure test validity.
  • Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
  • Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
  • Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
  • Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
  • Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
  • Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
  • Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.
  • Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
  • Recommend product or component design improvements, based on test data or observations.
  • Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
  • 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, nano diesel, or alternative power methods, such as solar energy or hydrogen fuel cells.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 90%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Mechanical
  • 84%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 82%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Mathematics
  • 79%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 76%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Physics
  • 73%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Transportation
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Design
  • 62%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 61%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Education and Training
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Production and Processing
  • 59%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Chemistry
  • 58%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Clerical
  • 56%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Administration and Management
  • 53%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Mechanical instruments
  • Chassis dynamometers
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Compression testers
  • Crack detection equipment
  • High-vacuum tensile testing chambers
  • Vibration testers
 Metal milling machines
  • Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines
 Machinery for working wood and stone and ceramic and the like
  • Computerized numerical control CNC turning centers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Electronic engine analyzers
  • Force gauges
  • Timing lights
 Gas analyzers and monitors
  • Exhaust gas analyzers
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Frequency counters
  • Function generators
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Ignition oscilloscopes
  • Multimeters
  • Oscilloscopes
 Welding machinery
  • Metal inert gas MIG welders
  • Plasma cutters
  • Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • A&D Technology iTest
  • Autodesk AutoCAD MechanicalHOT
  • Autodesk InventorHOT
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Data acquisition software
  • PTC Creo ParametricHOT
  • Road simulators
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Development software
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
A program directly related to this occupation is currently not offered by any of our partner institutions. You should contact the Institution(s) you are considering to discuss other options that may meet your needs and background.