Automotive Careers - Automotive Engineers?

Anyone on here take this route? I'm going to be a sophmore in college studying Mechanical Engineering but I want to branch off and specify on Automotive Engineering. I would really like to be an Engineer for GM but with the automotive industry taking a shit I don't know if that is going to be a wise decision.

I am into racing very much and would love to make it a career. I was wondering if the pit guys in like NASCAR or NHRA are Engineers at all...or at least maybe the pit managers. It seems like there would be at least one Engineer.

Anyone on here take this route? I'm going to be a sophmore in college studying Mechanical Engineering but I want to branch off and specify on Automotive Engineering. I would really like to be an Engineer for GM but with the automotive industry taking a shit I don't know if that is going to be a wise decision.

I am into racing very much and would love to make it a career. I was wondering if the pit guys in like NASCAR or NHRA are Engineers at all...or at least maybe the pit managers. It seems like there would be at least one Engineer.

I was going to do the same thing as you... best thing you can do is get an internship. I interned at Chrysler and decided against moving up towards Detroit, even though I had an opportunity to work in SRT. Production cars aren't very fun.

NHRA has few engineers on the circuit, though they hire a lot of outside consultants for work that needs to be done. NASCAR/IRL do have quite a few engineers, but good luck getting a spot unless you know somebody or just get lucky. It helps if you start by moving to North Carolina.

Pretty much all motorsports engineering requires an MS, which I am now working on while working full time. Kinda wish I would have stayed in school just to finish it. Formula SAE experience is huge too.

Good luck!

Yup.. Formula SAE best project possible to get you into the automotive field.

Remember.. the Automotive industry is not going away, its just changing.. and it requires ENGINEER's to change it! There are jobs for those who are passionate about what they do and are good at it.

As a side note, there isnt nearly as much money in motorsports engineering.. unless your high up there in a top racing field.

Two Things:
The intership advice is solid, GM at least works where they scout people in sophmore years and take them in for three years in a row. GM is also a good company to look at since they have a high average age. The downside is that you only have 5-10 years of job security before you get laid off and they hire some young college kid to the job for half the pay.

Secondly, consider going with suppliers. If you want job security a place like DENSO is a good place to go. A had a friend do some time at DENSO, he got posted as a resident to GM, and GM hired him away so he got into GM with that method. Another friend of mine wanted to work for GM and had blinders on, he never bothered to apply to DENSO, A/C Delco, etc. Just went to GM year after year and got rejected every year. Now he works for John Deere and engineers lawn tractors.

I'm trying to get into the automotive field, but I would like to stay in central FL, or maybe the NYC area, but don't really think there's anything there for me to get started in. I'm just talking internships, which wouldn't be worth moving for.

I'm trying to get into the automotive field, but I would like to stay in central FL, or maybe the NYC area, but don't really think there's anything there for me to get started in. I'm just talking internships, which wouldn't be worth moving for.

Most interships off a moving stipend to set you up in an apartment and stuff for the summer.

automotive engineering interships usually pay pretty well....

I have a current internship at American Axle, I go to Michigan. Tech and know a bunch of people at GM, most of them were involved in a project called Challenge X. If you go to a school that is involved with that you have a really good chance.

I am signed up in the Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE) with school and we did the mini baja and the formula. It just seems like its so hard to get even an internship at these places and with our economy so messed up I'm not sure its even worth doing engineering.

I am signed up in the Society of Automotive Engineers(SAE) with school and we did the mini baja and the formula. It just seems like its so hard to get even an internship at these places and with our economy so messed up I'm not sure its even worth doing engineering.


believe me it is worth it to do engineering, it will pay off, it is a hard degree to get but the earnings that you will receive from your degree will make it all worth it

believe me it is worth it to do engineering, it will pay off, it is a hard degree to get but the earnings that you will receive from your degree will make it all worth itI agree. BSEE here. I currently work on ECMs (we call them PCMs) and the work is great, fun, and always around. And the earnings allow me to have a F/I f-body as well as 2 bikes, on top of my DD. Earning the degree was a true pita, but well worth it in the long run.

How old are you guys? Did you get your jobs right outa college?

Not an automotive engineer but am a degreed mechanical engineer.

Have worked at Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman and now am currently working at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena.

Has been an awesome career and would do it all over again if had to.

Formula SAE + internship

This is a bad time to get on as well. Maybe it'll be better when you graduate.

I wanted in the auto industry, did aerospace for a few years, and ended up in the oilfield...who knew.

The problem is that you don't make any money in the Auto industry but I am sure it would be fun. I love solving problems.

GM sucks to work for though.

How did you get your internships Ritchie?

I did 9 years at GM. Had it's ups and downs. Did quite a few different positions while there, from production stuff on the software side to Performance Division to some race support back to production on the calibration side.

To be honest I got really tired of the monotony, and jumped ship about 18 months ago before the shit really hit the fan.

Did the FSAE gig, no internship, direct hire to powertrain out of college with BSEE/MSEE. Never used a thing I learned in college either :eyes:

Never used a thing I learned in college either :eyes:

I couldn't agree more. Former FSAE member from UofA. Tried to get interships but no luck ended up working in optics. Then recently making the jump to Raytheon.

Defense pays good and as long as your not a moron you have will always have a job.

Good luck but remember some times a hobby should stay a hobby so you don't get burnt out.

I worked as a Test Engineer for GM until a few years ago, and a Japanese manufacturer before then. My experience at GM was fantastic and I would have stayed there forever if not for layoffs. Other Engineers I worked with at the Japanese Company thought they were automobile experts because they read Car and Driver (for real:nod:).

Now I'm in the Missile Defense Industry and would probably recomend Defense depending on the product. If your just getting out of school and want to go to work for GM, go for it. As said above, there is the supplier route.

There's a ton of people who work for the auto manufacturers who are not even into cars, and thats a shame. Good luck.

There's a ton of people who work for the auto manufacturers who are not even into cars, and thats a shame. Good luck.

that's also the root of alot of problems :eyes: no fundamental understanding of the product you design.

that's also the root of alot of problems :eyes: no fundamental understanding of the product you design.
Yup and you can see this every time you go to work on a new car.
"What the hell were they thinking?" I love that line.

As a side note, there isnt nearly as much money in motorsports engineering.. unless your high up there in a top racing field.

Couldn't disagree more with that comment. And if you don't mind the travel Trackside engineers can make six figures pretty much starting out.

Its all about contacts. Go to conferences and shows and don't be afraid to get your name out there. Know your $hit as much as possible too before talking to them. Remember no guy is too small. While its great to know pres., vp's, directors, etc it often only takes a reference from a tech to get your foot in the door.

Last thing is get an advanced degree. These are almost mandatory these days with the engineer pool becoming so large with layoffs, etc. Mechanical or electrical is the obvious choice but also look at Engineering Management and Motorsports masters.

that's also the root of alot of problems :eyes: no fundamental understanding of the product you design.


That is true to a point. But keep in mind we are all a rare breed in that we work on the cars ourselves. This is NOT what the automotive engineers are there to design around. They are there to do packaging in a given chassis, build for a certain performance or ride quality, etc. A lot of limitations to work around. Not to mention their focus is on the initial manufacturing feasibility. If they can shave two mins off the build time to assemble the car but add an hour of work after the sale if there is an issue later in its life, which route do you think they will go??? Can't say I blame 'em either. If they dont make a profit they will be no more...as we are seeing lately...

I did 9 years at GM. Had it's ups and downs. Did quite a few different positions while there, from production stuff on the software side to Performance Division to some race support back to production on the calibration side.

To be honest I got really tired of the monotony, and jumped ship about 18 months ago before the shit really hit the fan.

Did the FSAE gig, no internship, direct hire to powertrain out of college with BSEE/MSEE. Never used a thing I learned in college either :eyes:

My first year as an engineer I started in automotive manufacturing, same problem. I got tired of the monotony, as well.

I got spoiled in college jumping around from bioengineering to alternative fuels research as an M.E.

Started off as a design engineer where I am now and I have somehow got myself put into a management position.

I had a hard time getting through grad school while I was working because I knew I wasn't going to use any of it :lol: :lol:

My first year as an engineer I started in automotive manufacturing, same problem. I got tired of the monotony, as well.

I got spoiled in college jumping around from bioengineering to alternative fuels research as an M.E.

Started off as a design engineer where I am now and I have somehow got myself put into a management position.

I had a hard time getting through grad school while I was working because I knew I wasn't going to use any of it :lol: :lol:


Do you like it better now? Did you get an internship through school as well?

Do you like it better now? Did you get an internship through school as well?

I'm content with what I'm doing now. I asked my boss for more project lead roles, and I got what I asked for. I've got 9 engineering techs working for me with a $1M+ operating budget for my team/project. It's not really technical in nature, but it's a GREAT learning experience. I'm getting exposed to problems that I should be dealing with later in my career.


I didn't get an internship through school, but I would highly encourage you to do so. In fact, if I could go back through it again I would do an internship/Co-Op every summer with a different company to get a taste of what you might like without a serious commitment. Not only that, it's a good time to take a break from school and get paid for it :D

Automotive Engineering degree here...cant say I'm using it as I intended.