<p>Put simply, I absolutely love cars and everything about them. I've recently been thinking of studying MechE and becoming an Automotive Engineer (design, powertrain, dynamics...anything really).</p>
<p>To anyone in the field now or considering it: what is the future of automotive engineering? With the sinking economy and domestic industry losing market share, are they still hiring engineers? I have little interest in working as a mechanical engineer in any other industry. Since I'm at a liberal arts school (engineering would mean doing a 3-2 program with Georgia Tech) it would be easier to stay along a path that would most likely lead me to law. Any advice?</p>
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domestic industry losing market share, are they still hiring engineers?
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<p>Well, it depends on what you mean by 'domestic industry'. If by that, you specifically mean auto firms that are headquartered in the US, then sure, the domestic industry is declining, and will probably do so for some time.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you were to include foreign manufacturers that just so happen to have extensive operations in the US, then the domestic industry isn't really declining at all. I believe I read somewhere how while the Big 3 Detroit firms are frantically slashing US workers, foreign auto manufacturers are adding US workers such that the overall US auto employment is basically the same. Auto jobs are effectively moving from the Midwest where the Big 3 have their major operations and to the US South where foreign firms run their US operations. For example, Toyota has a huge manufacturing plant in Kentucky, and Nissan has a huge plant in Tennessee. To answer your question directly, yes, foreign auto firms hire plenty of US engineers. I happen to know several such guys. </p>
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what is the future of automotive engineering?
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<p>Right now, it's all about energy efficiency, which in the short-to-medium term means the decline of SUV's and big trucks and the rise of small cars, which is going to greatly hurt GM and Ford (and to a lesser extent Chrysler), but will boost foreign firms, especially the Japanese and Koreans. I suspect it will also mean the popularity of flexfuel (i.e. E85) cars and obviously more hybrids. </p>
<p>In the longer term, I think the real game changer will be the electric plug-in car and possibly the hydrogen/fuel-cell car. I personally view this as clearly the most exciting engineering opportunity in the automotive space, and the one with the most potential for growth.</p>
<p>I believe the automotive industry in the short term is likely to be declining moderately making it difficult to get employment in the next 3-4 years. However, due to US currency devaluation I believe that more and more automotive production will occur in the US (not sure about design though).</p>
<p>Ditto on what sakky said about powertrain development.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great replies. Sakky, I know that foreign manufacturers have been moving much of their production into the US, but I was under the impression that the vast majority of product development still occurs in their home nations. Specifically, which foreign firms hired the guys you know?</p>
<p>car manufactures aren't the only companies in the automotive field. Motorsports is a growing field if your into racing. There a bunch of schools that offer a minor in Motorsports Engineering.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind Mechanical Engineering is a really broad field. I kind of had the mentality that I only wanted to be in the automotive field for the longest time, but I started to like other industries over the course of my past two semesters.</p>