AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER

 

What Is Automotive Engineering:

Automotive Engineering can also be called as Automobile Engineering. Automotive Engineers mainly design, develop and manufacture vehicles such as Cars, Bikes, Buses and Trucks, and respective engineering systems. Manufacturing domain and related works deal with the creation and assembling the whole parts of the automobiles is also included in it. 

Automotive engineering is a combination of various branches that deals with mechanical, electrical, and materials science. It also includes the branch study of mechanical, electronic, software, and safety elements. You will be specialized in a particular area such as engines, exhaust systems, structural design, vehicle electronics, etc.

Not only manufacturing, as an Automobile you will design new products and in required conditions, you also need to modify the designs or some machines that are currently in use. You will also need to identify and solve engineering problems.

As an Automobile Engineer, you will focus on one of three main areas:

•  design
• production
• research and development.

So, What Automotive Engineers Do:

Most of the Automotive Engineers work with vehicles like Cars, Motorbikes, Buses, Trucks, and some off-road vehicles. Their work includes designing, manufacturing products (both vehicles and their spares and also respective engineering products), modifications, solve the engineering problems of the existing models. The following are the most popular works of the Automotive engineers.

• Design new products.
• Modify existing ones.
• Troubleshoot and also solve Engineering Problems.
• Plan and design manufacturing processes.
• Research, design, develop, and producing vehicles and components.
• Preparing cost estimates and design specifications.
• Analyze the energy, environmental, and safety aspects of the planned project.
• Predict the vehicle behavior under different conditions using computerized models.
• Developing testing procedures.
• Investigating product failures.

Some important job profiles in this field are:

• Mechanical Design Engineer: They create, develop and test machine products, tools & sensors by applying the principles of physics, chemistry and mechanics to the real world. They work on prototype performance and supervise the manufacturing process for their designs.
• Automotive designer: Automotive designers come up with ideas for overall vehicle designs or specific components within an automobile's structure.
• Automotive service technicians: They maintain, repair, test and inspect vehicles.
• Executive and Managerial Positions: An executive manager defines the vision and goals of the company, by implementing policies and procedures, and by establishing budgets.
• Diesel Mechanics: Diesel mechanics complete inspection, maintenance and they keep track of important system components such as diesel engines, brake systems, electrical systems, cooling systems, steering systems and transmissions.
• Production Engineer: Their responsibility is to make production as efficient as possible by using various principles of engineering, technology, manufacturing and management science.
• Driver Instrumentation Engineer: They help in perfecting the accuracy and performance of devices or systems and should have skill in the Installation, Maintenance, Repair and Calibration Of Metering Devices, Electronic Instrumentation Systems, Process Control Computers And Peripheral Equipment.
• Quality engineers: They work across all phases of product development to make sure that processes and procedures are followed correctly or not.

Responsibilities Of An Automotive Engineer:

The responsibilities may vary according to your specialization, levels in a job, work area and they also vary depending on the company you work. The following are some of the fundamental responsibilities of an Automotive engineer.

• Use Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to develop designs.
• Develop new test procedures, using both conventional and innovative methods.
• Inspect and test-drive vehicles and check for faults and also report the problems.
• Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems.
• Take into consideration and changing customer needs and government emissions regulations when developing new designs and manufacturing procedures.
• Solve engineering problems by using mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, thermodynamic, and other principles.
• Build prototypes of components and test their performance, weaknesses, and safety and perform changes to the design if requires to meet the needs.

Qualifications for Automotive Engineer:

Very few universities and colleges in India offer bachelor’s degrees in automotive engineering. So, many students do their B.Tech in Mechanical engineering because automotive engineering is a specialization of Mechanical Engineering and much of the coursework is the same. However, there are some Mechanical Engineering colleges that offer undergraduate courses that cover diesel engine theory, automotive electronics, and automotive power systems.

You may also need to have a degree to become an automotive engineer and relevant subjects include:

• Automotive engineering
• Electrical/electronic engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Production and manufacturing engineering.

Skills Required for Automotive Engineer:

In addition to Educational qualifications, the automotive engineer should also have some special qualifications:

•  Interest in motor vehicle engineering and design..
•  The ability to analyze and interpret data to help with problem-solving.
•  The ability to work effectively in teams or independently, and to take responsibility.
•  Solid analytical skills.
•  A creative approach to problem-solving.
•  Capability of understanding of technical concepts and federal safety standards and laws.
•  Good time-management and organizational skills.

Job opportunities:

• Commercial vehicle and motorcycle manufacturing companies.
• Vehicle Design houses and Test laboratories
• Automotive component suppliers.
• Tyre manufacturers, accessory, and safety equipment manufacturers.
•  Motorsport teams, preparation specialists, and engineering consultancies.

Salary:

In India, an Automotive Engineer as a fresher is paid from Rs. 3L to Rs. 6L per annum. Where an experienced Automotive Engineer with a master's degree may be paid above 20L per annum. On average, an Automotive Engineer paid about Rs. 670k.

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MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Why Mechanical Engineering?

Mechanical Engineering is recognized as one of the widely and appreciated branches of engineering and also one of the oldest and broadest of the engineering branches. It is also named as the mother-branch of engineering.

You may surprise what made mechanical engineering that special. Lets us observe some of the things that are contributed by mechanical engineers in our daily life. They range right from a simple zip we use for textiles to the designing of textile manufacturing machines. We need heat exchanging devices like the refrigerator, air conditioner, coolers, etc. to make our lives comfortable, all of these will happen when the mechanical engineer comes into action.

It seems boring to stay all the time at home, isn’t it? Ok, come let’s go out for while. We need different types of vehicles to fulfill our transportation requirements, it ranges from bicycle to cargo. All the design, manufacturing, and maintenance work of vehicles is directly related to mechanical engineering. All the devices and gadgets we use are directly/indirectly related to mechanical engineering. There will be hardly a thing that is not related to mechanical engineering. I hope now you are aware of the importance and role of mechanical engineering in day-to-day life. Now let’s jump into our actual topic. 

What Is Mechanical Engineering?

Mechanical engineering is a combination that combines engineering physics, mathematics principles along with materials science that involves the design, analysis, production, operation of machinery, and maintain mechanical systems. The mechanical engineering field requires an understanding of core areas including mechanics, materials science, thermodynamics, structural analysis, dynamics, and electricity.

Mechanical engineering is not limited only to the core areas/principles. In addition to these mechanical engineers use tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and product lifecycle management to design and analyze manufacturing plants, industrial equipment, and machinery. And also include transport systems, aircraft, watercraft, heating, and cooling systems, robotics, medical devices, weapons, and much more.

What mechanical engineers do?

Mechanical engineering is the application of principles and problem-solving skills of engineering from design to manufacturing. Mechanical engineers analyze their work using the principles of motion, energy and force ensuring that designs function efficiently, reliably, and safely. Mechanical engineers play a central role in the design and implementation of moving parts in a range of industries. Mechanical engineers design machines, such as electric generators, internal combustion engines, and steam and gas turbines, as well as power-using machines, such as refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.

Let’s list out the most popular duties of mechanical engineers. 

• Design mechanical devices and create blueprints so the device can be built
• Analyze and solve problems of mechanical devices by performing respective changes
• Develop a prototype of the device and perform a test on it
• Analyze the test results and changes the design if needed to get the maximum output
• Take care of the manufacturing process

The above are the fundamental duties of mechanical engineers at the industry level. The duties may vary based on the company and the work environment.

What type of machines/tools mechanical engineers deal with?

As a mechanical engineer you deal with many types of machines, among them, the bellow are most commonly used.

• Internal combustion engines
• Steam and gas turbines
• Refrigeration and air-conditioning
• Electric generators
• Industrial production equipment, such as robots, conveyor belts
• Machines such as elevators and escalators which are inside building machinery
• power plants, and factories.
• Automobiles, airplanes, and ships
• Biomedical devices

What after mechanical engineering?

Mechanical engineering is a very broad category with a lot of opportunities. There is a great scope for mechanical engineers in India. After completing your Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineers, you can directly go for a job or do further specializations in which you are passionate. Below are some of the fields where mechanical engineers can work.

1. Automotive Engineer: 

Automotive Engineering can also be called Automobile Engineering. Automotive Engineers mainly design, develop and manufacture vehicles such as Cars, Bikes, Buses and Trucks, and respective engineering systems. Manufacturing domain and related works deal with the creation and assembling the whole parts of the automobiles are also included in it. Automotive engineering is a combination of various branches that deals with mechanical, electrical, and materials science. You will be specialized in a particular area such as engines, exhaust systems, structural design, vehicle electronics, etc.

2. Aeronautical Engineering:

Aerospace Engineering, a special branch of engineering which deals with the study of Aircraft and Spacecrafts including their production and maintenance. This is also called as Aeronautical Engineering. Aeronautical Engineering not only deals with Aircraft and Spacecraft, but it also deals with the study, design, and production of Flight-capable machinery which includes the spare parts. It is also a study of the design and operations of an Aircraft that involves practical and theoretical understanding of materials, assembling parts, testing, and maintenance of aircraft.

3. Machine Designer:

Machine Designs is one of the most important branches in engineering designs. The Product designer creates a range of items, from everyday products such as Household appliances, mobile phones, Automobiles, etc. to larger items like industrial tools, large equipment, and machinery. As a designer, you might work on a new product or improve the existing ones, and use your understanding of technology, materials, and manufacturing methods to improve the design and usability of an item. Designers also modify existing products or processes to increase efficiency or improve performance.

4. Chemical Industry:

There is a major role of mechanical engineer in the chemical industry. Lots of Mechanical engineers are hired by the chemical companies. Mechanical engineers in the chemicals industry are mainly involved in improvements, technical support, or major complex projects on a range of automated production assets including conveyors, industrial ovens, pipeline works, valves, pumps, and robotics. Mechanical engineers who work in the chemical industries need to have an in-depth knowledge of maintenance and repair of the machinery.

5. Construction Industry:

In the construction industry, various mechanical engineering jobs are always carried out by a qualified mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, building, establishing, and maintaining all kinds of mechanical related machinery, tools, and components. The mechanical engineering field covers every aspect of building design, from material selection to structural integrity. All machinery within the site is considered part of a mechanical engineer's domain.

6. Marine Industry:

The life of a Marine Engineer is very Challenging. Typically a Marine Engineer runs the entire Technical Department on board of a Merchant Ship. A Marine Engineer plays a key role in Moving International Freight of Cargo around the world and Oil and Offshore Naval Industries. He starts his career by Joining as a Junior Engineer, after undergoing Pre Sea Training ashore, one progresses on the path to become the Chief Engineer of the Ship.

7. Defence Industry:

There are many roles to mechanical Engineers in the defense industry. Their first task is to provide mobility to own forces by constructing bridges, tracks, removable obstacles, making safe passages through enemy minefields, and so on. And they also needed to develop prototypes and new designs. Engineering plays an important role in day-to-day life including everything even the defense sector. In the defense sector being an engineer, you will also be a defense person.

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