Automotive Engineering Technicians

Employers prefer to hire automotive engineering technicians with at least two to three years of prior work experience. A good start in the field is through an apprenticeship program while in school and through internships and part-time work at engineering service firms and automotive manufacturers.

Successful automotive engineering technicians have analytical minds and enjoy solving problems. The work requires attention to detail, the ability to follow through on tasks, and strong communication skills. The job is team-oriented so automotive engineering technicians must be collaborative and enjoy working with others to accomplish goals. Other important traits include good time-management abilities, patience, creativity, and a willingness to continue to learn throughout one's career.

Automotive engineering technicians must known how to use analytic or scientific software in their work, including computer-aided CAD software, development environment software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, spreadsheet software, graphics or photo imaging and software. They also must be familar with emerging technologies such as advanced robotics, augmented and virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.