Description
Support automotive engineers by evaluating the practicality of proposed design changes and by planning, setting up, and conducting tests on prototype components, systems, and vehicles to validate performance, durability, and efficiency.
- • Analyze performance of vehicles or components redesigned for higher fuel efficiency (e.g., camless or dual-clutch systems, alternative A/C technologies).
- • Evaluate lightweight materials (aluminum, magnesium alloys, plastics) to improve fuel efficiency.
- • Support research and testing of computerized automotive applications (telematics, intelligent transportation systems, artificial intelligence, automatic controls).
- • Test performance of vehicles using alternative fuels or power methods (alcohol blends, natural gas, LPG, biodiesel, solar, hydrogen fuel cells).
- • Build instrumentation or laboratory test equipment for special purposes.
- • Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
- • Set up mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical test equipment per engineering specifications, standards, and procedures.
- • Recommend tests and conditions aligned with designs, customer requirements, and industry standards to ensure validity.
- • Monitor computer-controlled test equipment per written or verbal instructions.
- • Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
- • Maintain test equipment by performing routine maintenance and minor repairs or adjustments.
- • Install instrumentation, test equipment, engines, and aftermarket products to ensure proper interfaces.
- • Inspect and test parts to determine causes of defects or malfunctions.
- • Document test results using cameras, spreadsheets, and other tools.
- • Fabricate or modify prototype components and fixtures.
- • Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, and components.
- • Recommend design improvements based on test data and observations.
- • Perform manual and automated tests of system or component performance, efficiency, and durability.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
