How to become an Automobile Engineer

Automobile Engineers are skilled professionals who are responsible for designing, developing, and manufacturing automobiles. This includes researching, safety and performance testing as well as repairing, modifying, reconstructing and maintaining the automobiles such as cars, trucks, scooters, buses, trains, motorbikes and other motorized vehicles as well as their related components or systems. They combine principles of mechanical, electronic, software, and electrical engineering to develop the components and systems that make up the automobile. They are involved in the entire lifecycle of the product from its conceptualization stages to the production and maintenance stage. These professionals focus on developing vehicles that are economically viable, functional, reliable, efficient, and safe.

Automobile engineers work in close collaboration with other engineers as well as the management in order to maximize the functionality of the design while also ensuring it is economically and ergonomically feasible. Therefore, these professionals design new designs and even develop the improved ones in the domain of structuring the machine engines or the vehicles using the computer assisting design based technology. It also involves the thorough testing of the vehicles or even the small components of it.

• Collaborate with the project managers to determine the budgets, timelines, and project specifications
• Create designs for automobile models that are functional and safe according to the design specifications
• Produce detailed, accurate visual representations of the designs using computer software
• Build prototypes of the components and systems to be used in the product
• Design test procedures for virtual and physical testing of the product performance and safety
• Ensure compliance to the health and safety standards throughout the development and production process
• Investigate any mechanical failures that occur in the automobile and determine causes for the same
• Supervise the manufacturing and product assembly process to ensure quality control
• Conduct repairs, replacements, modifications and maintenance services for the automobile
• Produce detailed documentation in the form of official reports

For an automobile engineer, mathematical skills and technical aptitude are crucial to utilize data in a reliable and precise manner as they are responsible for the safety of the future drivers and passengers of the vehicle. Knowledge of machine design, various manufacturing processes and that of mechanical components is crucial for occupying this role. They should possess the working knowledge of the relevant software such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Automation).

They should be highly methodical, analytical and detail-oriented in order to develop products that are safe, functional, and ergonomically friendly. Their communication skills are necessary in order to work in collaboratively with the management and fellow professionals in the team and to convey technical information in simple terms through presentations or written documents. Their leadership skills must be honed such that they are able to organize and direct the activities of their team. They should be skilled at critical thinking and creative problem-solving in order to identify potential or existing issues in the product and propose innovative solutions for the same. Some of the other general skills and abilities that are absolutely important and required to work in this capacity are mentioned below. Complex problem solving is one aspect that works quite thoroughly in this capacity.

Complex problem solving involves identifying the complex based problems and reviewing all the relative information for the development and the evaluation of the designs and the technical aspects of making and structuring a machine.

Critical thinking is another aspect that is considered important to understand the aspects required to enhance the technical work at hand. This also requires the thorough understanding of one's strengths and the weaknesses of the individual to work on the required solutions and options in a thorough manner. These individuals are also supposed to have good decision making skills along with having their thorough judgement about their work and the technical designs they create. All the protentional actions, thorough analytical judgement and the detailed processing is involved in this category.

Other than that, better reading comprehension skills and the speaking (communicative) skills are also considered good in providing an upper hand to these professionals. Apart form having these skills, automobile engineers are also supposed to have both, deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning skills at hand. Their oral and written comprehension and oral communication and expression anyway provides them with an edge to be better in their personal analytical skills and their professional skills while working in a company or with any organization.

The salary of an "Automobile Engineer" can vary based on factors such as experience, qualifications, employer size, geographic location, and the specific role within the automotive industry.
Minimum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be INR 25,000 to INR 40,000.
Maximum Monthly Salary: The monthly salary can be INR 1,00,000 to INR 2,50,000 or more.
Annual Salary: The annual salary can be INR 3,00,000 to INR 30,00,000 or more.
Highest Paying Job and Scope: The highest paying job for automobile engineers can be the role of a Chief Engineer or Senior Research and Development (R&D) Engineer in reputable automobile companies. The scope for automobile engineers is promising, with opportunities in various sectors of the automotive industry, including automobile manufacturing companies, research and development centers, automotive consulting firms, and suppliers of automotive components.

In order to enrol into a Bachelor’s program at an esteemed university, aspirants are expected to clear the JEE main and subsequently, the JEE Advance exam which makes the aspirant eligible to apply anywhere in India. It is a very difficult and challenging exam to crack that requires hard work as well as rigorous and consistent preparation. Some states have their own entrance exams that are admissible in their respective universities. Many educational institutes conduct their own entrance tests. 

Depending on one’s educational background, experience, and skillsets, aspirants may apply for the following computer engineering jobs:

• Automobile Engineer
• Technician
• Engineering Trainee
• Embedded Automotive Engineer
• Design Engineer
• Service Engineer
• Software engineer
• Service Maintenance Engineer
• Product development Engineer