Jobs .. Science .. Automotive engineers
Education programmes of job
Mechanical Power Engineering
Automotive engineering

Nature of work

Your responsibilities as an automotive engineer range between designing, producing visual interpretations of automobiles and their components using computer-aided design packages, deciding on the most appropriate materials for component production, and applying mechanical, thermodynamic, pneumatic, hydraulic and electrical principles to resolve engineering problems and find appropriate solutions.

Also, you have to carry out building prototypes of components, developing and conducting test  procedures using software packages and physical testing methods, researching, designing, and developing machinery and systems for automobiles. 

 Moreover, you will handle preparing material, cost and timing estimates, reports, designing specifications. As well as, studying the energy, environmental and safety aspects of the planned work, supervising, inspecting the installation, modification and commissioning of mechanical systems in industrial facilities or plants. In addition to supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers, reviewing and approving designs, calculations and cost estimates.

Furthermore, you will  investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems and liaise with suppliers.

 

Environment of work

As an automotive engineer you have to dedicate yourself to work from 8:30 am to 3:30pm. However, expect to stay at work for longer hours when you must complete projects to deadlines. If you are considering  working as an Aeronautical Engineer,  you may  need to work on an 'on-call' consultation basis dealing with such issues as a change in the priority of repairs or in case of an emergency investigation. Your job will take place in office, factory production hangar or aeronautical laboratory. If you work in Design in a laboratory, you will  use sophisticated computer visualization tools and software. In case you work at the forefront of technology, long career breaks are difficult. As a professional you need to keep up to date with industry developments. Because this career relies on a heavy research, the work is often undertaken as part of a team with other colleagues and departments; therefore, Self-employment opportunities are limited. Travel within a working day and absence from home over night are rare, for this job is available in the main aerospace manufacturing locations in Damascus suburb, Aleppo.  Because of the nature of this career, Only a small percentage of women are working in this field.

 

Professional life

You are lucky to apply for this career because you will have a range of development opportunities. It is highly possible to move into senior engineer position, where you oversee work within your department, or move to project management position.

Also you can specialize in a certain area such as manufacturing processes, systems integration or quality assurance. Not satisfied yet? Well, you have a big chance to move into more commercial roles like sales, or into education-based roles such as training and lecturing.  Still have another opportunity which is the possibility to work up to managerial roles within a company.

Your start monthly salary ranges between  34000 to 40000 SYP.

Getting the job

As you see this career offers flexible  choices for the candidate. Therefore, you can have a Bachelor's Degree in one of the following:

  mechanical engineering

  physics/applied physics

  production/manufacturing engineering

  electrical and electronic engineering

  computer science/software engineering

  mathematics.

Skills

Along with the academic qualifications, your job as an automotive engineer requires certain skills such as, strong technical knowledge, ability to think creatively, meticulous attention to detail, a level of commercial awareness, strong communication skills, problem-solving skills, analytical and team working skills. Also, you should be initiative, innovative, able to work to deadlines with self-motivation. Furthermore, you should show evidence of organizational and time management skills, and the ability to cope with new demands and new problems to be solved. Language skills may be useful because of joint ventures with international companies and the possibility of opportunities to travel to company sites outside Syria. Employers may stipulate that you have normal colour vision.

Sources and references

If you need any further information on what is provided in this file, you can visit the following websites:

  www.syriaengineer.com,  Syrian Engineer Directory

  The Order of syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256

  www.sae.org/mags/aei, Automotive Engineering International Magazine Online

  Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization

Summary

As an automotive engineer be prepared to  design, manufacture, and operate of ground-based vehicles, such as motorcycles, automobiles, buses and trucks and their respective engineering subsystems. You will be involved in the whole product design lifecycle from the initial concept through to delivery, but generally work in one of three main areas which are design, research and development or production.