Automotive Engineers

Develop new or improved designs for vehicle structural members, engines, transmissions, or other vehicle systems, using computer-assisted design technology. Direct building, modification, or testing of vehicle or components.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Conduct or direct system-level automotive testing.

Provide technical direction to other engineers or engineering support personnel.

Perform failure, variation, or root cause analyses.

Calibrate vehicle systems, including control algorithms or other software systems.

Design or analyze automobile systems in areas such as aerodynamics, alternate fuels, ergonomics, hybrid power, brakes, transmissions, steering, calibration, safety, or diagnostics.

Prepare or present technical or project status reports.

Conduct research studies to develop new concepts in the field of automotive engineering.

Establish production or quality control standards.

Alter or modify designs to obtain specified functional or operational performance.

Research or implement green automotive technologies involving alternative fuels, electric or hybrid cars, or lighter or more fuel-efficient vehicles.

MathWorks Simulink

Minitab

Somat eDAQ

The MathWorks MATLAB

Microsoft PowerPoint

Autodesk AutoCAD

Dassault Systemes CATIA

Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

Think3 ThinkDesign Engineering

Oracle Java

Perl

Swift

Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop

Corel Painter

GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP

Portalgraphics openCanvas

Microsoft .NET Framework

Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript

Microsoft Visual Studio

Linux

Magellan Firmware

Microsoft Windows

UNIX

Debugging software

JUnit

Selenium

TestNG

Atlassian Bamboo

Extensible markup language XML

Jenkins CI

Atlassian Confluence

Atlassian JIRA

Microsoft Project

Engine test dynamometers

Transmission dynamometers

Bench drill presses

Floor drill presses

Gas analyzers

Hydrogen analyzers

Five-axis machining centers

Three-axis vertical mills

Bench grinders

Disc finishing machines

Oxygen analyzers

Overhead cranes

Vertical bandsaws

Laminar flow elements

Miliohm meters

Take the industry seriously and don't waste people's time. If you ask, you can learn a lot from more senior technicians and mechanics that have been in the business a long time, but they won't waste their time on you if they think that you aren't serious. 

Founder

John Hennessey Highlight

Changing Gears

Auto and diesel technician careers

INSIGHTS FROM THE FILM

Hitchhike along for a supercharged adventure as Alexandra, Dylan, and Michael—three aspiring auto and diesel technicians—go from monster truck rallies to high-tech labs to discover the growing possibilities in automotive and diesel tech. As they speak to gearheads in every corner of the field—from tractor builders, to Porsche collectors, Fast and the Furious technicians, and more—they learn that the stereotype of the grease monkey mechanic is outdated. Being a technician means being on the frontlines of technology, racing towards the future.

Auto and diesel technicians hold the keys to the future of human movement. We set out to see where the industry is going—and the people who are driving it forward.

Our cars and trucks are high-powered and high-tech—and they need an elite workforce to keep them running. That’s why we’re sending three aspiring auto and diesel technicians on a road trip that will give them an exclusive look at what’s happening under the hood of their industry. They’ll meet with professional technicians, hear candid stories of struggle and success, and of course, check out a ton of cool cars along the way. Ride along with the crew as they explore this rapidly accelerating field—and see if this turns out to be the spark that ignites their future.

We’re not just showing auto and diesel technicians what’s on the road ahead—we’re putting them in the driver’s seat.

FUELED BY:

Tech Force Foundation

SEMA Garage

Technicians Roadtrip

So this Spring I'm traveling with two other students. >> A little over two weeks, we're gonna be living in a RV. >> With two people that I have never met, but I know that they share a passion that I have in cars and automobiles. We're gonna be going to a bunch of different places. >> And we're gonna go talk to people who work in the auto or diesel industry. Kind of get some advice from them. >> Ask them what they did with their lives, and how they got there. >> [NOISE] >> The automotive field is a legitimate field with a lot of opportunity and worthy of respect. The people in it are incredibly intelligent and have to be to work on today's rocket ship car. And today's cars have more control modules than the first space shuttle. >> [NOISE] >> That car is insane. >> [SOUND] >> If you're interested in mechanics right now, I will guarantee you that in another 40 years down the road, you're still gonna be interested. You don't outgrow it. >> People do it as a pastime and I get to get paid for it. >> Actually, just happy to go to work every day. I never thought it would be like that. >> Some of these people are living my dream. [LAUGH] And I'd like to know how they got to where they're at. >> Nice to meet you. >> I can remember taking bicycles apart and then motorcycles and then cars. >> From the moment I bought my first car, I was just out in the driveway wrenching on it and trying to do stuff to it. >> [NOISE] >> For every one thing that I learned that worked I'd do ten other things that failed, that broke, that caught on fire. So it was a hobby that got out of control, continued to feed my need for speed. >> When I found out that something like this was available to me, it was a dream. I wanted to fix cars and have fun. >> I really want to figure out what I wanna do next. >> You guys are the future, because you know those old-timers are not gonna be around forever. Whether you're a Sport import to in a guy, a American muscle car guy, a European sports car guy, or a truck off road playing around in the dirt type of person. I think what connects all true car enthusiasts together is the thrill of the drive, the build, the chase. And I think we all speak the same language. It doesn't matter what you drive. You share that same passion. [MUSIC] >> We're pretty much gonna get in an RV and go interview some pretty crazy people. >> Kind of trying to find myself a little bit more from this. >> Get insight on where we're gonna go from here. Cuz right now, I'm just kinda lost and we need guidance on where to go. Kinda like a GPS on what we should do with our lives. [MUSIC] 

John Hennessey

Founder

Videos

John Hennessey

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Action Sports

Engineering

Learning / Being Challenged

Advice for Getting Started

Interviewed By

Changing Gears

John Hennessey

Founder

Videos

John Hennessey

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Action Sports

Engineering

Learning / Being Challenged

Advice for Getting Started

Interviewed By

Changing Gears

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