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Automotive Design Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

Quest Global

Controls System Design - Intern

Houston, TX · On-site

$14 - $16/hr

Job Requirements Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging ... defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor ...

ITW Car Care

Senior Engineer

Houston, TX · On-site

$99K - $137K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Design Engineering, or a related field. * 3-5+ years of engineering experience in automotive engineering, consumer product ...

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All JobsAutomotive Design Engineer JobsAutomotive Design Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

Automotive Design Engineer information

See Houston, TX salary details

$38.7K

$84.2K

$151.4K

How much do automotive design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for automotive design engineer in Houston, TX is $84,180.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,900.00 and $94,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an automotive design engineer do?

An Automotive Design Engineer is responsible for developing and improving vehicle designs, focusing on aesthetics, functionality, and safety. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create blueprints and collaborate with engineers to refine concepts. Their work includes designing body structures, interiors, and aerodynamics while ensuring compliance with industry standards. They also test prototypes and analyze performance to enhance efficiency and durability.

What does a typical day look like for an automotive design engineer?

As an Automotive Design Engineer, your days often involve collaborating with other engineers and designers to create and refine vehicle components using CAD tools, participating in design reviews, and ensuring that your solutions meet safety and regulatory standards. You might analyze prototypes, troubleshoot design challenges, and incorporate feedback from cross-functional partners such as manufacturing or testing teams. It's common to split time between computer-based design work and hands-on activities like inspecting prototypes or components. This role offers a dynamic mix of creative problem-solving, technical analysis, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an automotive design engineer?

To thrive as an Automotive Design Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical engineering, proficiency in CAD software, and a strong understanding of automotive systems and materials. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like CATIA, SolidWorks, and relevant certifications such as FE or PE are highly valued. Creativity, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork skills help set candidates apart in this field. These skills and qualities enable engineers to develop innovative vehicle designs that meet safety, performance, and manufacturing requirements within cross-functional teams.

How much do automotive design engineers make in the US?

Automotive design engineers in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $75,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers with specialized skills or advanced degrees can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $120,000 annually.

What are the most commonly searched types of Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX?

The most popular types of Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:

What are popular job titles related to Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX?

For Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Automotive Design Engineer jobs in Houston, TX are:

Automotive Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Automotive Design Engineer job openings in Houston, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,180 per year, or $40.5 per hour.

FPGA Design & Validation Engineer

Quest Global

Houston, TX • On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Quest Global rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

243rd of 450 rated engineering

Job description

As an FPGA Engineer in our Oil & Gas division, you will develop high-reliability digital systems for demanding environments, such as downhole drilling tools, subsea instrumentation, or refinery monitoring systems. You will leverage VHDL to implement complex data acquisition and signal processing algorithms that must operate under strict power and thermal constraints. A significant portion of this role involves hands-on lab validation to ensure system integrity before deployment in remote or hazardous field locations. 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Ruggedized Design: Implement synthesizable VHDL code optimized for low power consumption and high-temperature stability (e.g., surviving 150°C+ for downhole applications).
  • High-Reliability Validation: Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing in the lab to simulate harsh field conditions. Utilize oscilloscopes, logic analyzers (ILA/SignalTap), and thermal chambers to verify timing and functional reliability.
  • Protocol Management: Develop and test custom and industry-standard communication bridges (e.g., Modbus, Ethernet/IP, CAN, or proprietary mud-pulse telemetry).
  • Data Integrity: Design robust memory interfaces (DDR3/4) and error correction (ECC) for large-scale data logging during seismic or pipe inspection missions.
  • Certification Support: Maintain detailed documentation of testing protocols and validation results to support safety and industry compliance standards. 
  • Perform functional and timing verification using respective simulators
  • Conduct post-synthesis and post-layout verification.

Work Experience

Required Technical Skills

  • Language & Logic: Expert proficiency in VHDL; experience with high-reliability design techniques like triple modular redundancy (TMR) is a plus.
  • Tools: Expert-level use of Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus, Lattice FPGA or Microchip Libero.
  • Lab Expertise: Mastery of high-speed digital probing, power analysis (using tools like XPE), and debugging hardware-software interfaces.
  • Industry Interfaces: Experience with ADC/DAC interfacing (using JESD204B or LVDS) for high-precision instrumentation.
  • Environment: Understanding of design constraints for battery-operated or power-limited remote systems. 

Qualifications

  • Education: B.E./M.Tech in Electrical, Electronics, or Instrumentation Engineering.
  • Experience: 3+ years in FPGA development, preferably with exposure to industrial automation, subsea electronics, or downhole tools.
  • Soft Skills: Strong analytical mindset for "root cause" debugging in complex, multi-disciplinary systems. 

Company Description

Who We Are:
Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and digital expertise. By bringing together technologies and industries, alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise, we are able to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most critical and large-scale challenges across the aerospace & defense, automotive, energy, hi-tech, healthcare, medical devices, rail and semiconductor industries.
We are looking for humble geniuses, who believe that engineering has the potential to make the impossible possible; innovators, who are not only inspired by technology and innovation, but also perpetually driven to design, develop, and test as a trusted partner for Fortune 500 customers. As a team of remarkably diverse engineers, we recognize that what we are really engineering is a brighter future for us all. If you want to contribute to meaningful work and be part of an organization that truly believes when you win, we all win, and when you fail, we all learn, then we’re eager to hear from you.

The achievers and courageous challenge-crushers we seek, have the following characteristics and skills:

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