What are the job prospects for Automotive Engineering?

[Yadash]

Is automotive engineering a good field for employment? I'm hoping to study automotive engineering next year and should be done in 5 years but I was just wondering, is it a hard field to get a job in? I've only thought about what I really want to work with, not about how I'll be able to get a job. Also, and I know this is very shallow, but I hope to be able to make a good amount of money once I gain experience and was wondering what would be considered high pay in this field?

[Ron98]

I started there then ended up some how fixing aircraft! and now oil rigs. skip all that get a HNC in some thing technical then go in to the power / oil / wind sectors. what do you get fixing cars? 25k???? Aircraft industry is 35-37k powers station 45K you pick m8.

[blank]

At the moment, yes! Lots of jobs around and lots of companies doing well. In the future, who knows.

The money isn't great considering the work that goes into getting the qualifications, but it could be considered pretty good when you are genuinely enjoying your job and getting to play with cars some of the time!


Have a look on the JLR careers website for an idea of pay but expect something like:

Graduate - £25-£30k
Engineer with a couple of years experience - £35-£40k
Senior engineer - £40-£50k
Principal / manager £50k and so on...


For contracting you can probably shift the pay up a band or 2 for the same role.

[Yadash]

Thank you very much Ron and Blank for the replies. It's about on par with "normal" mechanical engineering then, and it's not bad considering that I get paid for something I have a huge interest in.

Can I go into other fields of mechanical engineering with an Automotive engineering degree?

[crosseyedlion]

If it helps, I graduated from a motorsports technology degree this year - with additional experience as a mechanic. My first job out of uni is contracting for a large automotive manufacturer, taking home as much in a week as I used to in a month. A massive amount of alternative positions available too right now.

I wholeheartedly recommend getting into engineering.

And never get confused between being a technician (fixing and assembling things) and actual engineering (applying deeper thought to the process to do things without instructions)

Edited by crosseyedlion on Saturday 30th November 19:14

[Ron98]

Mate, try Oil and Gas 2 Weeks on £ Weeks of for over 60k its good crack out there to, thats at HNC or for a Degree dude

[crosseyedlion]

Ron98 said:

Mate, try Oil and Gas 2 Weeks on £ Weeks of for over 60k its good crack out there to, thats at HNC or for a Degree dude

Nahhhh, I like playing with cars- to be honest id do this for minimum wage but I'd have a hard time realistically spending my income now if I wanted to, as a 20 something with no commitments. Oil and gas has never been a passion, although I wouldn't mind trying it for a few years down the line.

[Yadash]

Ron98 said:

Mate, try Oil and Gas 2 Weeks on £ Weeks of for over 60k its good crack out there to, thats at HNC or for a Degree dude

So I'd be able to go on to do Oil and Gas with my automotive engineering degree?

[Ron98]

I started as a car mechanic, then a Aircraft Technician then to oil and gas my military background was prob the key. but there is a skill shortage in the North sea if there was a time to swop now would be it.

[iacabu]

A good mate of mine got a 1st in Motorsport Engineering and has just got a graduate job at Lotus. Another guy I know with the same qualification started his own tuning/track support company

[New POD]

iacabu said:

A good mate of mine got a 1st in Motorsport Engineering and has just got a graduate job at Lotus. Another guy I know with the same qualification started his own tuning/track support company

Mate of Mine (Welsh Matty) did Motorsport and is now doing a PHD at Swansea sponsored by Rolls Royce PLC looking at aerospace crack prediction.

Anyway. I digress. Assuming the OP ends up in automotive, gets some experience, and then decides to go ltd company contracting, he can look forward to a weekly email like this (by the way if anyone wants to apply let me know and we can split the referral fee 50:50) :


FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS DETAILED BELOW
If you are interested in any of the posts listed below email with the reference numbers and we will forward on the full details to you:-


[e-mail]


Alternatively you could visit our web-site at www.engineering-production.co.uk and view the job details and apply directly if you wish.




MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

25443 CMM / Metrology Engineer - Wolverhampton - £20.54 p/hr

25364 Manufacturing Engineer - press shop / conveyor installation - Halewood - £19.57 p/hr

25286 Process Engineer - launch support - Solihull - £24.62 p/hr

25207 Dimensional Control Media Engineer - BIW - Castle Bromwich - £20.54 p/hr

25096 Process Engineer - trim & final - Gaydon - £20.34 p/hr

25228 Body in White (BIW) Virtual Manufacturing Engineer - Gaydon - £34.23 p/hr

25215 Process Engineer - BIW - Midlands sites - £30.08 p/hr

25168 Process Improvement Development Engineer - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

25121 Industrial Engineer - MOST - Solihull - £20.02 p/hr

24310 Dimensional Engineer - control & build integrity - Solihull - £31.90 p/hr

24281 MOST Industrial Engineer - Whitley - £20.03 p/hr

23886 Paint AME - Facilities Engineer - Castle Bromwich - £24.51 p/hr

23845 Process Leader - optical quality - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

EP1100 Process Planner - Automotive Assembly Technology - Fees to be negotiated

EP1106 Industrial Engineer/Lean manufacturing Engineer - OXFORD - Rate to be negotiated

EP1120 Process Planning Engineer - SAP - Coleshill, West Midlands - £ to be negotiated



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25505 Project Engineer - BIW Mechanisms (side glass & regs) - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25501 Project Engineer - body engineering / structures - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25061 Project Engineer - cycle plan actions - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25482 Project Engineer / Financial Analyst - business planning - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

25446 Project Engineer - body complete - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25428 Project Engineer - warranty reductions - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25145 Project Engineer - cooling or fuel systems - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

25003 Project Engineer - programme delivery - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25001 Programme - timing & commodity planning - Whitley - £19.80 p/hr

25276 Project Engineer - vehicle allocating plans - Midlands locations - £open bids p/hr

25368 Engineering Project Manager - manufacturing - Gaydon - £26.18 p/hr

25360 Project Engineer - engineering to order / interior trim - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25047 Project Engineer - powertrain integration - Whitley/Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

24526 Systems Project Engineer - telematics - Gaydon - £30.19 p/hr

25311 Project Engineer - engineering to order - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25288 Project Manager - engineering to order - Gaydon - £28.23 p/hr

25038 Project Engineer - powertrain advanced engineering - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

25259 Project Engineer - cross car line petrol engine - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25240 Project Planner - programme management - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25239 Process Analyst - improvement - Whitley - £23.93 p/hr

25222 Project Engineer - processes, methods, tools & information - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

24618 Lead Engineer - suspension systems architecture - Gaydon - £19.57 p/hr

24521 Lead Engineer - foundation brakes - Gaydon - £21.72 p/hr

25186 Project Engineer - body cost management - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25180 Project Engineer - bumper systems - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

25179 Project Engineer - tailgate systems - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

25162 Project Engineer - exterior ornamentation - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

25104 Project Engineer - vehicle rig properties - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25074 Facilities Project Engineer - facility upgrade - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

25079 Project Engineer - product development - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

24390 Project Engineer - product creation - Whitley - £23.93 p/hr

25021 Project Engineer - engineering to order - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

24898 NVH Project Engineer - NVH technologies - Coventry - £25.64 p/hr

24999 Project Engineer - engineering to order - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

25000 Project Engineer - lighting / exterior systems - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

24947 Project Manager - manufacturing feasibility - Gaydon - £26.18 p/hr

24442 Vehicle Integration Engineer - vehicle development - Gaydon - £24.60 p/hr

24867 Team Leader - outsource / value for money - Whitley and others - £25.62 p/hr

24661 Project Engineer - base engine programme management - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

24875 Project Engineer - metal structure / plastic mouldings - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

24874 Project Engineer - metal structure / plastic mouldings - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

24838 Project Engineer - cockpit/climate systems - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

24832 Project Engineer - body engineering TVM - Gaydon - £25.62 p/hr

24831 Project Leader - powertrain - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

24744 Project Engineer - HMI daily life usage - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

24740 TVM Engineer - material cost reduction - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

24686 Project Engineer - engine management development - Whitley - £22.34 p/hr

24776 Project Engineer - ETO PVT (current engineering) - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

24560 Project Engineer - fuel system components - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

23408 Project Planner - programme management - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

24237 Project Engineer - warranty / quality - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

24011 Project Manager - CAE Analysis - Gaydon - £open bids

23921 Project Lead Engineer - Product Cycle Plan Programmes - Gaydon - £23.94 p/hr

EP 1105 Project support Engineer - Oxford - Rate to be confirmed

25401 Programme Project Planning Engineer - Gaydon - £25.63 p/hr



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25418 CAE Analyst - cost optimisation - Gaydon - £23.65 p/hr

25417 CAE Analyst - design efficiency & vehicle cost & weight - Gaydon - £30.17 p/hr

25388 Cad Engineer - Catia V5 - cockpit / climate control - Gaydon - £26.06 p/hr

25383 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - cabin design - Gaydon - £26.06 p/hr

25380 Artistic Creation - product design - Gaydon - £22.02 p/hr

25013 Axle Systems CAE Performance Engineer - Gaydon - £28.02 p/hr

25099 CAE Analyst - tool & process development - Whitley - £28.02 p/hr

24837 CAE Analyst - powertrain / vehicle analysis - Whitley - £28.02 p/hr

25129 CAE Analyst - body structures - Gaydon - £30.17 p/hr

25105 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - fuel systems - Gaydon - £27.48 p/hr

24927 Senior CAD Mechanical Design Engineer - Whitley - £25.33 p/hr

24326 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 and Teamcentre TCE - Gaydon - £27.44 p/hr

25007 Component Engineer - ETO Accessories - Gaydon - £27.44 p/hr

24796 Senior CAD Engineer - vehicle & package integration - Gaydon - £25.33 p/hr

24614 P&E Engineer - testing for concept engine - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

24284 CAD / Virtual Simulation Engineer - Whitley - £22.67 p/hr

24873 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - metal structure / plastic mouldings - Gaydon - £26.06 p/hr

24715 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - metal structure / plastic mouldings - Gaydon - £27.44 p/hr

24592 Senior CAD Engineer - base engine engineering - Catia V5 - Whitley - £30.14 p/hr

22628 CAE Project Planner - Whitley - £28.02 p/hr

24405 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - base engine systems - Whitley - £26.06 p/hr

24233 FE Analyst - NVH - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

24013 Powertrain CAE Analyst - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

24443 Hybrid Package Leader - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

24333 Power Electronics & Machines Design & Development Engineer - Gaydon - £27.77 p/hr

24246 CAD Engineer - Catia V5 - hybrid vehicle build - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

24260 CAE Analyst - diesel & gasoline performance - Whitley - £30.17 p/hr

24299 CAE Analyst - after treatment emissions - Gaydon - £30.19 p/hr

24016 CAE Analyst - powertrain - Whitley - £open bids Ltd Co

24012 Finite Element Analyst - powertrain development - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

24041 CAE Analyst - Gaydon - £30.19 p/hr



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25298 Product Definition EOC Modellor - Midlands - £18.13 p/hr

25330 Programme / Project Planning Engineer - West Midlands - £23.93 p/hr

25318 Technical Analyst - interior & exterior systems - Gaydon - £18.13 p/hr

25314 Programme Timing Planner - Gaydon - £22.34 p/hr

25262 Technical Analyst - prototype spend improvement - Gaydon - £18.13 p/hr

25261 Research Fleet & Quality Co-ordinator - Midlands - £20.77 p/hr

25208 Programme Analyst - Gaydon - £18.71 p/hr

25220 Programme Planner - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

25184 Finance Analyst - bill of materials - Gaydon - £16.84 p/hr

25161 Data Analysis - governance & validation of code systems - Whitley - £16.84 p/hr

23820 Outbound Distribution Specialist - Gaydon - £16.84 p/hr

24916 Technical Administrator - product information - West Midlands - £16.84 p/hr

24531 Technical Analyst - engineering to order - Gaydon - £19.41 p/hr

24506 Technical Analyst - project management support - Whitley - £16.32 p/hr

23773 3 x Programme Lead roles - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr



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23845 Process Leader - optical quality - Gaydon - £23.93 p/hr

24005 Quality Data & Project Analyst - Gaydon - £24.75 p/hr

EP1107 Quality Specialist - Oxford



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25302 Specialist Engineer - system integration of cooling system design - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

25194 Specialist Engineer - brakes homologation - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

25157 Specialist Engineer - powertrain programme support - Whitley - £25.64 p/hr

25146 Technical Leader - base engine - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

25167 Specialist Engineer - perceived quality attributes - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

25113 Powertrain NVH Engineer - exhaust & air induction - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

24914 Specialist Engineer - human machine interface - Whitley - £23.80 p/hr

24898 NVH Project Engineer - NVH technologies - Coventry - £25.64 p/hr

24691 Specialist Engineer - cosmetic standard requirements - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

24741 Transmissions Research Project Leader - Gaydon - £25.64 p/hr

24798 Special Projects & Project Planning Specialist - fuel economy (CO2) - Whitley - £25.64 p/hr

24739 Attribute Leader - PED - Whitley - £29.84 p/hr

24678 Performance Attribute Team Leader - PED - Gaydon - £29.84 p/hr

24300 Performance, Economy & Driveability (PED) Attribute Engineer - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

22953 Specialist Engineer - diesel emissions - Gaydon - £open bids



CALIBRATION ENGINEERING

23825 Controls Integration Engineer - engine management software - Whitley - £open bids p/hr

24616 Transmission Research Controls Engineer - Gaydon - £28.28 p/hr

24684 EMS Calibration Engineer - Whitley - £29.81 p/hr

22502 Calibration Engineer - DPF Engineer - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

22517 Calibration Engineer - BIPO/DV - Gaydon - £open bids

22503 Calibration Engineer - SCR engineer - Gaydon - £open bids

22501 Calibration Engineer - driveability - Gaydon - £open bids

22500 Calibration Engineer - vehicle emissions - Gaydon - £open bids

22498 Calibration Engineer - actuation engineer - Gaydon - £open bids

22497 Calibration Engineer - boost & air path - Gaydon - £open bids

22495 Calibration Engineer - test bed support - Gaydon - £open bids

22494 Calibration Engineer - vehicle support - Gaydon - £open bids

22492 Calibration Engineer - lead calibrator - Gaydon - £OPEN BIDS

22491 Calibration Engineer - Project Leader - Gaydon - £open bids

22487 Calibration Engineer - cold start & idle - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

22499 Calibration Engineer - test bed emissions - Gaydon - £29.81 p/hr



ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

24908 Electrical Systems Engineer - infotainment hardware - Gaydon - £open bids p/hr

25117 Electrical Systems Engineer - standards for electronics - Gaydon - £30.19 p/hr



SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

25010 Software Engineer - prototype vehicle - Coventry - £28.68 p/hr

25082 Software Development Engineer - Gaydon - £28.68 p/hr

24910 Software Engineer - powertrain transmission - Whitley - £31.43 p/hr

24273 Software Engineer - internet connected infotainment - Gaydon - £31.43 p/hr

24265 Software Engineer - connected technology - Gaydon - £28.68p/hr



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24863 Facilities Engineer - powertrain test operations - Whitley - £20.34 p/hr












Amanda Bristlin
01827 893721
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[blank]

And that list is probably just JLR!

[New POD]

blank said:

And that list is probably just JLR!

There's one in Oxford at MINI that I 'quoted a rate' for and had an interview for. Will find out tomorrow.

[Ron98]

oil and gas is 2 weeks on 3 off.

[intrepid44]

Ron98 said:

I started there then ended up some how fixing aircraft! and now oil rigs. skip all that get a HNC in some thing technical then go in to the power / oil / wind sectors. what do you get fixing cars? 25k???? Aircraft industry is 35-37k powers station 45K you pick m8.

That's not engineering.

[crosseyedlion]

intrepid44 said:

That's not engineering.

+1

Theres absolutely no shame in being a technician, none at all. Yet so many are told they're engineers. It just confuses peoples perception of what an engineer is/does.

I think its part of the reason theres a shortage of engineers, the youth think its all technician work.

[Yadash]

Thanks for all the help, I've just sent off my Uni application for Automotive Engineering!

Is it actually possible to get automotive engineering work experience. Admittedly I have been very ambitious by approaching McLaren and Gordon Murray Design, but does anyone know any Automakers who offer work experience, even if it's only for a day?

[Kawasicki]

Yadash

Good career..generally great people to work with, that's important. Great job prospects too...you'll probably never be rich though...but you can get paid to have experiences that would be difficult to buy...

My advice..get some Chinese or German language skills going too. You don't have to, but it won't do any harm.

[Engineer1]

Good if you pick the right course at the right uni try and get a sandwich course placement and if you pick a "sponsered" project otherwise there are plenty of engineering graduates doing dull stuff for poor money.

[Cyder]

Yadash said:

Thanks for all the help, I've just sent off my Uni application for Automotive Engineering!

Is it actually possible to get automotive engineering work experience. Admittedly I have been very ambitious by approaching McLaren and Gordon Murray Design, but does anyone know any Automakers who offer work experience, even if it's only for a day?

Automotive engineering is a big broad brush ranging from design through to test and warranty work. What area do you want to work in?
Reason I ask is that in some areas you might get a small amount of work experience (if you're really lucky) but in design and test I'd say it's almost impossible because of the confidential nature of the work, and tbh 1 day won't teach you anything apart from how much engineers like to bh like old women.

I'd definitely take up the option of doing the placement year between year 2 and 3 if you get offered it though. It's good for learning a lot about how the industry works.

Me and a few others have taken the placement student to plants and suppliers for visits along with trips to proving grounds and on road evaluation to try and give him a taste of as much as possible.

The Engineer put it far more succinctly than me!