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Graduate Automotive Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... ARV Automotive and Vehicle related tasks, activities, risks and issues. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline, graduate degree in engineering or management ...

Post-secondary graduate with a degree/diploma in Quality Engineering and/or Mechanical/Automotive Engineering or equivalent work-related experience in the Quality or related field. WORK EXPERIENCE:

Post-secondary graduate with a degree/diploma in Quality Engineering and/or Mechanical/Automotive Engineering or equivalent work-related experience in the Quality or related field. WORK EXPERIENCE:

Quality Engineer

Mccalla, AL

$65.10K - $84.10K/yr

... Engineering CI or similar (recent college ... graduate is considered acceptable). * Less Than 1 Years of Experience within the automotive ...

Quality Engineer

Romulus, MI

$69.40K - $89.60K/yr

... graduate is considered acceptable). * 3-5 Years of Experience within the automotive industry ... Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, or Science related field with 1-3 years of related work ...

Quality Engineer

Romulus, MI

$69.40K - $89.60K/yr

... graduate is considered acceptable). * 3-5 Years of Experience within the automotive industry ... Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, or Science related field with 1-3 years of related work ...

Quality Engineer

Romulus, MI · On-site

$69.40K - $89.60K/yr

... graduate is considered acceptable). * 3-5 Years of Experience within the automotive industry ... Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, or Science related field with 1-3 years of related work ...

Quality Engineer

Romulus, MI · On-site

$69.40K - $89.60K/yr

... graduate is considered acceptable). * 3-5 Years of Experience within the automotive industry ... Bachelor's degree in Quality, Engineering, or Science related field with 1-3 years of related work ...

Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in automotive systems engineering or other quantitative ... graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a ...

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Showing results 1-20

Graduate Automotive Engineer information

See salary details

$30.5K

$68.6K

$115.5K

How much do graduate automotive engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate automotive engineer in the United States is $68,617.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52,000.00 and $74,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Graduate Automotive Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Automotive Engineer, you need a solid foundation in mechanical or automotive engineering principles, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with CAD software (such as CATIA or SolidWorks), simulation tools, and familiarity with automotive industry standards are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, adaptability, and effective communication help you excel in dynamic engineering environments. These skills ensure you can contribute to innovative vehicle design, collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, and meet industry safety and performance standards.

What types of projects do Graduate Automotive Engineers typically work on in their first year?

As a Graduate Automotive Engineer, you will often start by supporting more experienced engineers on projects such as vehicle testing, component design, or process improvement initiatives. Typical responsibilities include data analysis, creating CAD models, participating in prototype builds, and conducting performance tests under supervision. You'll likely rotate through different departments to gain exposure to various aspects of automotive engineering, helping you develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry while building specialized skills. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams—including design, manufacturing, and quality assurance—is common, ensuring you learn to communicate effectively across functions.

What are Graduate Automotive Engineers?

Graduate Automotive Engineers are recent university graduates who specialize in designing, developing, and testing vehicles and their systems. They typically work on projects involving the improvement of vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency. These engineers may work for car manufacturers, suppliers, or research organizations, and often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. Their responsibilities can include using computer-aided design (CAD) software, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to solve engineering problems in the automotive sector.

What is the difference between Graduate Automotive Engineer vs Automotive Design Engineer?

AspectGraduate Automotive EngineerAutomotive Design Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's degree in Mechanical, Automotive, or related engineeringBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Automotive, or Industrial Design Engineering
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, training-focused, team-based projects in automotive companiesDesign studios, R&D departments, collaborative design projects
Industry UsageCommonly used for new graduates starting in automotive companiesUsed for specialized design roles within automotive firms

The Graduate Automotive Engineer typically focuses on learning and supporting automotive engineering tasks, while the Automotive Design Engineer specializes in vehicle aesthetics and design development. Both roles require relevant engineering or design degrees and are integral to automotive industry projects, but they differ in focus and responsibilities.

More about Graduate Automotive Engineer jobs
What states have the most Graduate Automotive Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Graduate Automotive Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Automotive Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Automotive Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Graduate Automotive Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $68,617 per year, or $33 per hour.
Project Engineer III/IV

Project Engineer III/IV

Textron

Slidell, LA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 26 days ago


Textron rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 29 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

26th of 59 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Who We Are
Textron Systems is part of Textron, a $14 billion, multi-industry company employing 35,000 talented makers, thinkers, creators and doers worldwide. We make things that fly, hover, zoom and launch. Things that move people. Protect soldiers. Power industries. We serve customers in industries spanning aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems.

This role is in Textron System's Land Systems business area. Visit TextronSystems.com & Lycoming.com to read more about who we are and the products we make!

About This Role
Textron Systems is seeking engineers of all disciplines to support the United States Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program. For this program, Textron Systems has developed the Cottonmouth ARV, a recon vehicle to be feared and a force-multiplier armed to the fangs with advanced full-spectrum reconnaissance and surveillance sensors.  It's expertly designed to defeat threats beyond line of sight and comes complete with cutting-edge technologies that will keep adversaries up at night. Cottonmouth was developed using a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) that is Ground Vehicle Operating System (GVOS) based employing the Tactical Assault Kit Extended (TAK-X) framework for easy capability integration. This modern vehicle platform has superior mobility capabilities to tackle treacherous off-road terrain and waterways while keeping Marines safe thanks to its advanced survivability suite and Human System Interface (HSI) focus. Amphibious mobility, unrivaled versatility, and electronic warfare capabilities define a vehicle that is adaptable, stealthy and thrives wherever enemies hide. Our teams are engaged in multiple cutting-edge development programs for defense applications.

We are seeking multiple highly qualified candidates to lead and support our Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) engineering projects supporting our internal development initiatives and our contract programs.  The Project Engineers will work primarily with the engineering disciplines and program teams to plan and execute ARV project to achieve defined objectives within cost and schedule constraints.  Project Engineers lead a multidisciplinary team and provide technical leadership and guidance on development efforts that impact on ground vehicles products and programs.  As a member of ARV Project Engineering team, the ARV Project Engineers ensures that the engineering efforts meet customer and internal requirements.   


ARV Project Engineer roles and responsibilities :
    Collaborate closely with Program Management to tightly control program schedule and budget per customer Earned-Value Managements System requirements (EVMS)
    Resolve schedule, resource, and technical conflicts
    Navigate and lead multidiscipline teams through unusually complex technical problems and provide solutions 
    Collaborate with functional managers to organize and delegate key tasks
    Interact daily with program managers, planners, engineers and technicians
    Generate statements of work and managing outside contractor performance
    Act as a technical interface between engineering development team, Integrated Product Teams, and Integrated Supply Chain for product and program needs
    Chair (or delegate) responsibilities to execute change control boards for your project /product
    Develop discretionary funding plans and requests outlining program needs for successful execution 
    Provide recommendations to senior management regarding critical risk acceptance 
    Develop proposals (cost and technical) and basis of estimates for new business opportunities
    Prepare and present engineering work products to internal review teams and external customers at program milestone reviews
    Responsible for Average Unit Manufacturing Cost (AUMC) of PPD vehicles and future LRIP/full-rate production environments


ARV Automotive Project Engineer Roles/Responsibilities:
    Responsible for managing and coordinating all ARV Automotive and Vehicle specific-related activities, acting as a liaison between different teams and stakeholders to ensure project objectives are met on time and within budget.
o    Manage and coordinate Vehicle and Automotive Design, Development, Integration and Test Activities
o    Supports Chief Engineer to drive technical risk and maturity into Vehicle/Automotive system designs and development
o    Coordinate Engineering support of Vehicle of builds, outfitting, test and final delivery 
o    Responsible for delivery of associated technical artifacts including Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL's)
o    Support of all Vehicle, Survivability, and Automotive related Technical Customer Integrated Product teams (IPT's) and Working groups (WG's)
    Responsible for coordination and communication with Integrated Supply chain, Engineering, Program Management and Government customers on all ARV Automotive and Vehicle related tasks, activities, risks and issues.
 

Qualifications:
    Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline, graduate degree in engineering or management disciplines desired
    8 years of related experience and ability to obtain Secret clearance
    Development of systems architectures and concepts of operations
    Experience in program planning, control account management, and risk management
    Experience in leading internal and external programmatic and technical reviews
    Experience in proposal processes and basis of estimate review

How We Care
At Textron Systems, our talented people make us successful.  We promote an inclusive environment where we value individuality, differences, and unique perspectives.

Our Company is committed to offering employees opportunities to grow and develop. Our benefits and compensation packages are designed to help our talented employees excel and achieve their goals, so they can make a difference every day in and outside of the workplace. Below are just a few examples!
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Education Assistance
- Career Development & Training Opportunities
- Wellness Program (including Fitness Reimbursement)
- Medical, Dental, Vision & 401(K) with Company Funding
- Paid Parental Leave

Are you a Military Veteran?
Textron's products and services are trusted everyday by those who protect our country.  We are dedicated to hiring these Veterans and aim to translate their skills to make an impact on our Company.  


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About Textron

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Textron Systems is part of Textron, a $14 billion, multi-industry company employing 35,000 talented makers, thinkers, creators and doers worldwide. We make things that fly, hover, zoom and launch. Things that move people. Protect soldiers. Power industries. We serve customers in industries spanning aerospace and defense, specialized vehicles, turf care and fuel systems.

Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Providence, RI, US

Year founded

1923