Engineering and Automotive
There are numerous formula one racing teams based in the UK, including McLaren, Williams and Renault, and for good reason. The specialist automotive engineering in the UK is considered second to none.
Car manufacturing in the UK has become a cottage industry meaning that there are lots of smaller companies developing sports and racing cars from scratch that require the highest levels of innovation and engineering expertise. There is also a shortage of engineers, so if you ever dreamed of working in the motorsport industry developing racing cars then your dream could be well within your reach.
Automotive engineers may work on developing and improving a vehicle or designing and testing a new part. With experience, engineers in this sector tend to specialise in a particular area of vehicle design, research or testing, focussing on engines or exhaust systems, for example.
Automotive engineers tend to work longer than the normal 35-hour working week, especially when deadlines must be met. Working environments vary from the office to the workshop depending on the nature of your role.
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Starting salaries for newly-qualified graduates are around £28,000, rising to £30,000 to £40,000 after significant experience. An automotive engineer earns an average of £40,000 per year and they can earn up to £65,000 in more senior roles.
Graduates wishing to become automotive engineers will need a technical degree, preferably in engineering, and postgraduate degrees with training in specialist areas could make you more attractive to employers. Gaining relevant work experience is important if you would like to develop a career in automotive engineering and some companies offer work placements or volunteer opportunities. If you are looking for experience, it might be useful to have a look at the volunteers in motorsport website or the Institution of Mechanical Engineers formula student initiative.
Technical ability and enthusiasm for automotive engineering and design are a prerequisite for a career in the sector. You will need excellent numeracy and IT skills and strong analysis and problem-solving skills. Graduates interested in a career in this sector need to be able to work on their own initiative as well as part of a team, and have effective leadership and communication skills. Time management and the ability to meet tight deadlines are also important attributes.
