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Automotive engineer Green Job

Automotive engineers design, test and build cars, vans, lorries, buses and motorbikes.

Annual Salary

£26,000 to £48,000

Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

38 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings; on shifts

Day to day tasks

You might work in design, development or production on:

  • body, chassis and engine systems
  • electrical and electronic instrumentation and controls
  • thermodynamics, aerodynamics and fluid mechanics
  • zero emission fuel technologies

You could:

  • develop new exterior and interior design concepts
  • test ideas using simulations, virtual reality (VR) and physical models
  • research the environmental impact of different designs
  • modify machine tools and processes to improve production
  • assess components' strengths, weaknesses, performance and safety
  • monitor quality, costs and production schedules

Working environment

You could work in an office, at a research facility or at a manufacturing plant.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in automotive engineering.

Employers will often accept related subjects, such as:

  • manufacturing engineering
  • mechanical engineering
  • electrical or electronic engineering
  • design engineering
  • software engineering
  • sustainable automotive engineering

Many universities offer courses that combine a degree with a postgraduate master's engineering (MEng) qualification.

Choosing a course that includes an internship or industry placement can give you an advantage when looking for jobs. It can also help if you want to join a company's graduate training scheme.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
  • university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
Apprenticeship

You could apply for a place on a degree apprenticeship scheme, with a vehicle manufacturer, for example:

  • Manufacturing Engineer Level 6
  • Product Design and Development Engineer Level 6

These take around 4 to 5 years to complete and combine on-the-job training with university study.

If you already have a degree in a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subject, you may be able to do a Postgraduate Engineer Level 7 Apprenticeship with an automotive employer.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a degree apprenticeship
  • a degree in a relevant subject
For more information
  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

More information

Career tips

Keeping up to date with developments in vehicle technology and manufacture could help you with applications and interviews. Trends include:the shift to electric vehicles, and research into alternative fuels; digital design and manufacturing of parts by 3D printing; research into semi-autonomous and self-driving vehicles; connectivity within and between vehicles, and traffic management systems

Further information

You can find out more about careers in the automotive industry through:Society of Motor Industry Manufacturers; Your Future in Automotive; Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

There is not enough data for this job to find employment statistics

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With experience, you could move into:lead engineer roles; project team management; safety and legal compliance; crash investigation; consultancy work; motorsport

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Automotive engineers will be needed as green automotive technologies are emerging fast, introducing new models including, electric, hybrid and driverless vehicles. Automotive software developers and CAD design skills are in demand to create and design software that makes electric cars run.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • Maths, Sciences A-levels
  • Level 2/3 Engineering at City of Bristol College
  • T Level Engineering and Manufacturing at Bath College

Click here to find a local provider

Apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 2-3 Engineering Apprenticeship
  • Level 4 Propulsion Vehicle Engineer Apprenticeship

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

Examples of post-18 courses you could study at local higher education providers

Click here to search for other university courses

For more information on the different routes you can take to get into working as an automotive engineer, take a look at the 'Routes into this job' section above. 

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Local employers 

  • Rolls Royce
  • National Composites Centre

For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

Click here for a profile of Matt Oshinowo, a PHD Student Research at the University of Bath Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies.

Video stories related to this job

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • maths knowledge
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • design skills and knowledge
  • knowledge of physics
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • complex problem-solving skills
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
My top 5 skills
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