High School Student Question: Where do you work and what does the company do?

Answer: Many of our current and graduated students work for the big three and their subcontractors. Examples would be DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Chrysler, GM and Visteon. We also have had students from Toyota, Honda, Bosch, Yakazi North America and Hyundai-Kia Motor Company. All of these companies are involved in building cars and trucks for the United States and overseas.

High School Student Question: Describe the duties and responsibilities of someone working in your field of engineering.

Answer: The duties of Automotive Engineering graduates differ a great deal depending on their job title. Examples are as follow: they work on the design of engines-from conceptual design to detail design by using various kinds of softwares and methodologies. Their jobs are designing engines, scheduling the development process, co-engineering with our parts supplies for development of important engine parts, supporting engine prototyping and mass production.

Some engineers are responsible for launching new vehicles at various assembly plants. They have responsibility to work with tooling suppliers/vendors to install manufacturing tooling and run prototype builds in preparation for launch. They are also responsible for bringing the new products into full production and achieve quality metrics.

Engineers assist in the creation of the physical part. Work daily with customer to ensure all requirements are met. Work directly with manufacturing to ensure that proper building specifications are met. Provide on-site vehicle build (plant) support.

High School Student Question: Are there specializations in your field of engineering and do you have a particular specialty?

Answer: Fields of specialization in engineering differ widely. Examples of these are listed below:

• Engine Design
  Engine Block and lubrication system design, cylinder head and cooling system design, breathing systems design, etc.
• Valve Train System Design
  Timing drive system, camshaft and balance shaft, value system. All of these contribute to intake and exhaust process of combustion at the right phasing with piston movement.
• Launch/Process - Body Construction Engineering Welding or dimensional control, etc.

High School Student Question: What are some of the projects you've worked on and do you have one that your most proud of?

Answer: Our students have worked on a wide range of development projects from gasoline engine development projects and diesel engine development projects.

A number of our students are very proud of successful launch of Ford Freestar/Mercury Monterey, Dodge Ram and Hemi, Jeep Liberty and Stratus/Sebring programs.

High School Student Question: Is any part of your job hazardous or dangerous?

High School Student Question: How much of your time is spent on the computer?

Answer: Most engineers spend between one third to two thirds of their time on the computer each day.

High School Student Question: Are theire specializations in your field of engineering and do you have a particular specialty?

Answer: Engine design (intake and exhaust process of combustion at the right phasing with piston movement), Launch/Process engineer with the group known as Body Construction Engineering, Welding or Dimensional control are only a few of the specialty fields in the engineering of a vehicle.

High School Student Question: What is your work attire?

High School Student Question: Do you work alone or with other engineers? What other types of engineers do you work with?

Answer: Car manufacturing engineers work with a wide range of individuals from manufacturing engineers and design engineers, wire harness design teams, mechanical design engineers, electrical system engineers, etc. Production line to market planning and management people are all crucial to the successful launch of a vehicle.

High School Student Question: How much knowledge of other fields of engineering do you need to know in order to perform your job requirements?

Answer:

• Mass Production Line Installation: The requirement of mass production line to install the machine for new engine.
• Part Supplier Capabilities: Possibilities and capabilities of supplier to make the engine that is designed by the engineer.
• Vehicle installation: The space and requirement of vehicle to install the engine
• All the structures and connections of engine and chassis to properly design the engine
• Material Engineering: Since much of the problem are related to material failure, design engineer need to know the material science.
• Vehicle performance and drivability and Noise Vibration Harshness: To optimize the engine performance to vehicle, engineers should know the vehicle performance designing and development process in detail.
• Electrical Engineering concepts.

High School Student Question: What do you like most about your job?

High School Student Question: What do you dislike about your job?

Answer: Most engineers dislike the paperwork and how demanding the customer can be. It is very stressful at times, especially right before and during a launch of a vehicle.

High School Student Question: Are there advancement opportunities with this type of engineering?

Answer: Yes, some people have interesting career paths that have taken them all over the country and world in supervisor and program management positions as well as in sales.

High School Student Question: Is there further education offered where you work?

Answer: Yes, Along with standard corporate training, tuition reimbursement is also available and encouraged. Many engineers go on for a master's degree in order to advance in their careers.

High School Student Question: Where did you go to college, how long did it take to earn your degree, and what kinds of courses did you have to take?

Answer: There are many excellent colleges and universities in the United States and around the world that offer degrees in engineering. Most of the students who enter the Automotive Engineering masters program have an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. This degree normally takes five years to complete. Mechanical Engineering has a broad range of courses to help prepare an individual for employment in the automotive industry. Examples of the courses taken for the Mechanical Engineering degree can be found at the University of Michigan, Mechanical Engineering department http://www.me.engin.umich.edu. and on web sites from numerous other universities.

The masters in Automotive Engineering includes classes in powertrain (engine, transmission), body structures, production methods, financial analysis, automotive dynamics and automotive engineering seminars.

High School Student Question: What are the beginning, average, and top pay one could expect to earn working in this profession?

Answer: Beginning salary for a Bachelor degree in engineering is around $50,000 with average about $70,000 - $80,000 and top could be over $100,000.

High School Student Question: How many hours do you work per week?

Answer: The number of hours per week varies depending on the time of the year. Low time would be between 35 - 40 hours per week. When deadlines are approaching between 45 - 60. Launch at a plant could be 80.

High School Student Question: Are the benefits good and do you get much vacation time?

Answer: Benefits are good. All medical and dental are covered. They used to be better but they are shrinking as cost cutting actions are being taken throughout the industry and country on the whole.

We get a lot of holidays and 10 vacation days a year, but after 5 years you get an additional week.

High School Student Question: Do you have to travel?

Answer: Travel differs from position to position depending on your area of expertise. Some travel to supliers, plants and overseas for a project. If your job requires it you may be asked to relocate for a year or more. Other positions may never require you to travel at all.

High School Student Question: Is it possible to work at home (like if you're sick)?

Answer: It is very difficult or next to impossible to work at home. If someone is sick they usually take a sick day and don't work, or they come to work sick.

High School Student Question: In what kind of environment is the work done? Indoor? Outdoors?

Answer: Most of the work is done inside at business offices and manufacturing plants, but 30% are outdoors.

High School Student Question: Were there any tests or licenses you had to get before you became an engineer?

Answer: Most professional engineers do not require certification. Interviews and transcripts are the materials for job screening.

High School Student Question: Is this what you thought you were going to do in high school?

Answer: Most of the engineers knew they wanted to go into engineering in high school. Some had no clue coming out of high school. Others grew up in the industry with their fathers or a relative working in the auto industry.

High School Student Question: Do you have any advice for someone looking to go into engineering?

Answer: Learn people skills and study hard in school. Engineering requires understanding the roots behind the phenomenon and lots of knowledge in various engineering fields. It would be helpful to exercise to think deeply what is the cause for the problem and to know the relevant science.