Lesson 4Automotive Careers

What we will cover in this lesson:• Types of careers in the automotive industry• The types of degrees and courses offered at BYU-Idaho that

can prepare you for these careers

Career OpportunitiesWhen we list our basic needs, we usually start with things like food, clothing, and shelter. However, in today’s world, transportation must be included on that list. Without our automobiles to get us to work and to the store, we would probably quickly have no food, clothing, or shelter.

This fact, coupled with the rapidly advancing technology of today’s automobiles, means that there is a large and growing demand for skilled and knowledgeable automotive professionals. Whether you choose to help design, build, and test new automobiles, to sell or repair them, or teach or write about them—or any of a hundred other things—career opportunities are plentiful.

While the automotive industry is not for everyone, if you have a passion for cars

and technology, you may want to consider one of the many exciting career

opportunities in this field.

Automotive jobs can be found in virtually every city and town and range in complexity. There are jobs for the small-town technician or the big-city managers and engineers.

In the next few slides, we will explore some of the most common automotive careers.

Engineering Technician / Test EngineerAn automotive engineering technician or test engineer helps to develop the cars and trucks of the future. By building and testing new automobiles and their components, they work to make cars faster, safer, more efficient, and more reliable.

People in these positions perform tests, analyze data, and thoroughly assess the performance of new automobiles or components. They often design and fabricate new parts, as well.

To prepare for work in this area, you may want to earn a degree inAutomotive Engineering Technology

Other titles for this job include: product engineer, research and development technician, or lab engineer.

Service EngineerService engineers help automotive manufacturers find better ways to design and repair their vehicles. They work with dealership technicians to help them solve challenging problems with the cars and trucks they are diagnosing and repairing.

To prepare for work in this area, you may want to earn a degree in either

Advanced Vehicle Systems,Automotive Engineering Technology,

or Automotive Technology Management.

They also identify trends and work with engineers to find solutions to problems with the vehicles so that they don’t keep reoccurring.

Electrical Engineering TechnicianElectrical engineering technicians are individuals who are familiar with electrical engineering principles, software development, and/or computer networking. They test the computer controls and software that is going into the new vehicles.

They may be charged with helping to write or test the software in the computers to maximize performance or fuel economy, to test audio or navigation systems, or to make sure that safety systems such as airbags or anti-lock brakes are functioning well.

To prepare for work in this area, you may want to earn a degree in Advanced Vehicle Systems

or Automotive Engineering Technology

with a minor in electrical and computer engineering.

ManagerThe term “manager” is very general. It usually involves someone who oversees all of the operations of a business or department. A good manager must be effective at dealing with people.

In dealerships and repair facilities, a service manager directs the operations of the service department.

Virtually no one starts out as a manager in any field . . . even with a degree, a

person is usually not qualified for that position until they have had a few years of experience in an area related to the one they will be managing. Generally,

college graduates start out in management training positions.

At the corporate level, managers are needed to improve the business operations of departments, plants, warehouses, and much more.

To prepare for work in this area, you may want to earn a degree in

Automotive Technology Management

Service TechnicianOne of the most prevalent job opportunities in the automotive

industry is the position of service technician. A technician is someone who performs maintenance, diagnosis, and repairs

on the cars and trucks on the road today.

A generation or two ago, technicians (often called mechanics) were often low-paid workers in a dirty environment.

Today, things have changed drastically. Technicians must be highly skilled, highly educated people. Modern cars can have well over 30 computers on board, with network communications and dozens of sensors and actuators that make components like engines and transmissions work correctly. Technicians who are able to accurately diagnose and repair these systems are in very high demand.

•Technicians usually work in dealerships or in independent repair shops.•The average annual salary of a technician in the U.S. is around $60,000—some make more, some make less—depending primarily on location and skill level

To prepare for work in this area, you may want to earn an associates (two-year) degree in

Automotive Technology

In the next few slides, we will introduce you to some of the recent graduates from the

BYU-Idaho automotive program so that you can see the various jobs and careers that

they are enjoying.

BYU-Idaho Graduate Profiles

“I test prototype engine components to check their dynamics and durability. This job is more than just turning wrenches, it’s being involved in the creative process and stepping outside of the box to help find solutions to problems.”

Upon graduation, Spencer got a job as an Engineering Technician for Eaton Corporation in Marshall, Michigan.

At Eaton, they design and improve engine components, locking differentials, and superchargers. Spencer helps to make the first prototypes and then to test them.

Spencer—Engineering Technician

Andy is a product engineer for Toyota Motor Company in Torrance, California.

“My job is to solve problems. I watch for trends in problems the vehicles are having and then investigate to find out what the cause is. Part of this investigation involves taking the cars apart to discover what is failing and why so that I can create a proposed solution.

I also spend time driving new cars before they come out so that we can try to eliminate all of the problems before they go on sale. I like being able to help make cars better and more reliable for people to drive.”

Andy—Product Engineer

Nathan is a service engineer for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. He helps the manufacturer to improve the processes of designing and repairing their vehicles. He also works with dealership technicians to help solve challenging problems with the cars and trucks that are already in service.

“This is the best job that a college graduate could ever imagine. I still can’t believe that I am doing what I am doing. I am learning new things every day, and the opportunities for career growth are enormous.”

Nathan—Service Engineer

Ralph is a research and development technician for Toyota at their North American proving grounds in Arizona.

He tests and helps to resolve problems on the new cars before they are released to the public.

Note: One of the videos for this lesson show Toyota’s Arizona proving grounds.

“I could have never guessed that my automotive major would lead me to such a great job!”

Ralph—Research and Development Technician

Christian is a District Service and Parts Manager for Toyota Motor Company in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I am the lead contact for Toyota within the assigned district of 11 Toyota Dealers. I am responsible for improving dealership service and parts operations in the areas of sales, marketing, customer satisfaction, retention, warranty and profitability. I help these dealers obtain their monthly assigned goals and objectives by utilizing my relationship building skills and general automotive experience.”

Christian—District Service andParts Manager

Kevin is in charge of a team of “build” technicians, electrical technicians, and fabricators. The teams come together to build thousands of large hybrid vehicles. Kevin also travels and trains other teams at multiple locations.

Kevin is a production manager for Prodigy Engineering near Salt Lake City, Utah. He manages the team of technicians and engineers that make prototype hybrid electric vehicles for VIA Motors. They work to perfect the designs before they go into production.

Kevin—Production Manager

Michael is the operations manager for the Lexus customer assistance center in California.

Michael is responsible for the overall performance of the of the Lexus Customer Assistance Center. This includes hiring the right people and managing all of the operations to ensure that customers are satisfied.

Before taking this position, Michael worked as the accessory marketing manager, where he helped to create and market accessory packages for Toyota’s new vehicles.

Michael—Operations Manager

As a financial analyst, he identifies risks, informs the team of the financial impact certain decisions might have, and determines the value of synergies with other companies and their assets.

Dallas works as a financial analyst for Chrysler. When the company makes decisions about new products, new investments, or other new opportunities, Dallas gets involved.

“My job in business development so far has been really exciting. I have been involved in several projects involving billion dollar investments.”

Dallas—Financial Analyst

“As a technician, I work on everything inside and outside the car. From changing the oil to replacing body panels, from replacing tires to installing rear entertainment systems. I do it all and enjoy the challenge.”

Rick is a technician for Land Rover in Centerville, Utah.

He works on high-end cars to diagnose, repair and maintain them so that they meet their customers’ expectations.

Rick—Service Technician

Caleb is the director of education at WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming. He oversees six campuses nationwide. His program offers degree and diploma programs in the fields of automotive, diesel, collision refinishing, motorcycle, marine technology, as well as construction trades.

Caleb—Director of Education

Where do BYU-Idaho’s Automotive Interns and Graduates work?

Service En-gineer55%

Engineering Technician/Test Engineer

14%Product Engineer

7%

Technician10%

Manager7%

Other7%

• Service Engineers• Field Service Engineers• Product Engineers• Engineering Technicians• Research and Development

Technician• Dynamometer Technician• Manager• Service Technician• Business Owner• Sales Representative• Technical Writer• Educator

What is the job market like?

If you want to see this for yourself, click here to go to General Motors’ careers webpage and search for “engineering technician” positions. You will see how many current jobs only

one company is trying to fill right now.

Year: 2004 Year: 20140

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

Job Market for Automotive Engineering Technicians / Service Engineers

Current job openings Active job seekers Highly qualified job seekers

The demand for educated and skilled automotive professionals has always been strong—but it is poised to grow even more.

A great example of this is shown in the chart to the right. There are currently 65,000 more engineering technician jobs than there are qualified applicants.

Also, you might notice that the number of jobs has increased almost twice as fast as the number of job seekers.

This means that with a degree in this field, you will not only have many options for internships and jobs, but the pay should be good, as well!

Don’t choose a major!As you are considering your future options—whether those options include a career in the automotive industry or not—you should at least consider this advice:

Instead of choosing a college major, choose a career. Once you have chosen a career field that you want to pursue, then choose the major, minor, and other education that will help you get there.

Keep in mind that many college majors are fun and interesting, but they might only have 10% job placement rate upon graduation. If you are considering studying in one of these fields, you should at least be aware of where the path you are on will lead you to.

Did you know? Because of the high demand for educated, highly skilled

professionals, automotive majors have 100% job placement upon graduation!

Don’t follow your passion!Myth: “It doesn’t matter what you study in college; just get a degree,” The truth: If you want to contribute to society and provide for a family, what you study in college matters a lot.

Myth: “Follow your passion—find something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”The truth: Find a career that will allow you to make a good living and that will leverage your talents and interests. Once you have chosen a field, choose to become passionate about it. This is your greatest shot at happiness and success.

Are there opportunities for women?Some people have mistakenly believed that the automotive industry doesn’t offer attractive careers for women. This idea is false! There are tens of thousands of women working in the industry today. These women have been able to find careers that they enjoy, using their unique talents and skills to add tremendous value to the automotive industry.

If a woman has an interest in this field, she should not be intimidated or discouraged at all. She will find that her automotive education provides a lot of flexibility and employability that can benefit her throughout her life.

Who can I work for?Manufacturers:

Tier One Suppliers:

Dealerships:

Independent/Aftermarket Service Providers:

Tier Two suppliers:

When you think of an automotive career, you may think initially of one of the major automobile manufacturers. There are enormous job and location possibilities when working for a manufacturer. Examples of a manufacturer include: General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Kia-Hyundai, Volkswagen, Honda, and many more. You’ll recognize the names of most of them!

You may not recognize the names of these companies. Each manufacturer has thousands of companies that supply it with components. They have contracts and partnerships to engineer, test, and develop these parts. Any company who supplies directly to a manufacturer is called a “tier 1” supplier. Examples include Delphi, Borg Warner, Denso, Bosch, and thousands more.

Tier 2 suppliers are simply the companies that supply parts or services to the tier one suppliers. This trend continues to tier three, tier four, etc. As you can see, a lot of people and talent contribute to the making of an automobile.

You have driven past many dealerships. While they carry the name and logo of the manufacturer, they are actually “franchises.” This means that local people usually own the dealership and contract with the manufacturer to sell and service their products.

You don’t have to work for Ford to repair or sell accessories for Ford vehicles. All across the country, you will find innovative people who have built businesses around providing goods and services for people’s cars. You could work for or be one of them!

BYU-Idaho Automotive degree options:Students who choose to study Automotive Technology at BYU-Idaho can select one of the following degrees:

• Study all major systems of the modern automobile in depth to prepare for a wide variety of professions ranging from test engineering to management

• Recommended: choose a minor or cluster(s) that will add an area of emphasis to your skillset

Advanced Vehicle Systems (B.S.)

• Two-year degree that specifically trains students for a profession as a service technician

Automotive Engineering Technology (B.S.)

Automotive Technology Management (B.S)

Automotive Technology (A.A.S.)

• Combine automotive and business management training to prepare for management careers within the automotive industry

• Combine automotive and engineering skillsets to prepare for a career as a test engineer, product engineer, or engineering technician

What do I do next?For those who enjoy cars and are interested in learning more about careers, degrees, or classes, please contact an automotive faculty member. We would be happy to answer questions so that you can decide for yourself if this is a path you want to take (there is a link below for faculty contact information).

If you have already decided on a different major, but would like to learn more, you can earn a minor (21 credits) or cluster (12 credits) in Automotive Technology

• Auto 131 (introduction to electrical systems)• Auto 132 (introduction to engine performance)• Auto 155 (brakes, steering, and suspension systems)

Click here for automotive faculty member contact information

If you are unsure about what to do next, you are always welcome to take more automotive courses that may help you as you make this decision. Here are some courses that we suggest:

Do I need to know about cars?A lot of people are concerned about taking more automotive classes or switching their major because they feel that they don’t know enough about cars. This is an unfounded fear. The reason we have the classes is to help you learn about cars!

The only prerequisites for this major or minor are a desire to learn and a willingness to work hard. Even if you have no experience or background with automobiles other than driving them, you can be successful in your education and career in this field if you apply yourself.

Required ToolsEvery automotive course except Auto 100 and Auto 125 requires students to purchase tools. You will use these tools in the labs and in your first internship. To see the lists of required tools, go to www.byui.edu/automotive, and click on the “student resources/tool list” link.

We recommend that you purchase high quality tools and consult with automotive instructors if you have questions about which tools to get.

A tool show is held on a specific date during the first few days of each semester. There, automotive students can purchase tools at great prices—usually 50%-60% off.

You should plan to save up in order to purchase your tools—for automotive major, minor, and cluster students, these tools will likely cost a minimum of a thousand dollars. Your tools will be a good investment and will quickly pay for themselves. Unlike internships in most other degrees, automotive internships are paid internships. In some cases, grants or scholarships are available to help you purchase these tools. Contact an automotive faculty member for more information.

ConclusionIn this lesson, we have discussed the many great career opportunities in the automotive field, and some of the educational paths that lead to them. Remember that the possibilities are limited only by you. Hopefully this lesson has helped you understand the breadth and depth of the industry along with its opportunities and expectations.

We have been briefly introduced to the automotive program at BYU-Idaho. It is a rigorous program that produces students who compete among the best in the nation. If you want to learn more about degrees, minors, clusters or courses in the program, please contact us. Ultimately only you can make decisions about your future, but we would be glad to answer your questions!

If you do choose to study and make a career in the automotive industry, choose to be good at it. The world already has enough mediocrity!