# Automotive Engineering Technicians

> Assist engineers in determining the practicality of proposed product design changes and plan and carry out tests on experimental test devices or equipment for performance, durability, or efficiency.

- **SOC code:** 17-3027.01
- **Canonical URL:** https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3027-01
- **Also known as:** Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician), Research Technician, Automotive Design Checker (Auto Design Checker), Automotive Engineering Technician, Automotive Technician (Auto Technician), Automotive Test Technician (Auto Test Technician), Durability Technician, Performance Technician
- **Frame:** "AI exposure" means task overlap (how codifiable the work is), not jobs lost or a forecast. Every figure below is traced to a named public dataset.

## What this work is

**Core tasks** (O*NET):
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
- Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
- Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Perform or execute manual or automated tests of automotive system or component performance, efficiency, or durability.
- Maintain test equipment in operational condition by performing routine maintenance or making minor repairs or adjustments as needed.
- Analyze performance of vehicles or components that have been redesigned to increase fuel efficiency, such as camless or dual-clutch engines or alternative types of air-conditioning systems.
- Improve fuel efficiency by testing vehicles or components that use lighter materials, such as aluminum, magnesium alloy, or plastic.
- Fabricate new or modify existing prototype components or fixtures.

## Skills, tools, capabilities

**Knowledge, skills & abilities** (O*NET, highest importance first):
- Engineering and Technology _(knowledge)_
- Mechanical _(knowledge)_
- Computers and Electronics _(knowledge)_
- Mathematics _(knowledge)_
- Written Comprehension _(ability)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- English Language _(knowledge)_
- Problem Sensitivity _(ability)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(ability)_
- Near Vision _(ability)_
- Physics _(knowledge)_
- Reading Comprehension _(essential_skill)_

**Skills in demand:**
- Mathematics _(Common Skill)_
- Deductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- English Language _(Common Skill)_
- Inductive Reasoning _(Common Skill)_
- Physics _(Specialized Skill)_
- Reading Comprehension _(Common Skill)_
- Information Ordering _(Specialized Skill)_
- Critical Thinking _(Common Skill)_
- Speech Recognition _(Specialized Skill)_
- Finger Dexterity _(Common Skill)_
- Writing _(Common Skill)_
- Complex Problem Solving _(Common Skill)_

**Tools & technology:**
- Microsoft Excel _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Office software _(hot technology)_
- Microsoft Word _(hot technology)_
- SAP software _(hot technology)_
- A&D Technology iTest
- Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical
- Autodesk Inventor
- Data acquisition software
- IBM Notes
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- PTC Creo Parametric

## AI exposure & outlook

- **AI task-overlap index:** 54th percentile (Moderate) across all occupations — composite of current-era exposure studies (ai-exposure-index-v1).
- **Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.):** 46th percentile (Moderate) — source: felten_aioe.
- **LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou):** 44th percentile (Moderate) — source: eloundou_gamma.
- **AI assistant applicability (Microsoft):** 75th percentile (High) — source: microsoft_applicability.
- **Frey–Osborne (2013, historical computerization estimate):** 43rd percentile — kept separate from current-era studies.
- **Remote-capable (Dingel–Neiman):** no — task structure, not who actually works remote.
- **Projected employment (BLS 2024–34):** 0.0% growth (About average); 3.2k annual openings; 38.3k → 38.3k jobs.
- **Pay & employment (BLS OEWS, May 2024):** median $68,730; 37,450 employed.

## How people actually use AI here

Anthropic Economic Index — measured AI conversations mapped to this occupation's tasks:

- **Automation vs augmentation:** 44% automation, — augmentation (usage-weighted).
- **Autonomy median:** 3.0 (higher = AI acts more independently).
- **Dominant collaboration mode:** directive.

**Tasks most handed to AI here:**
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts. _(0.4% of measured AI use; directive)_

**Example prompts (honest phrasings of the tasks above — starting points, not endorsed instructions):**
- Help me read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.

## Sources

- **O*NET** (30.3) — U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development. https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html
- **BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** (May 2024) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- **BLS Employment Projections** (2024–2034) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- **Anthropic Economic Index** (v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27)) — Anthropic. https://www.anthropic.com/economic-index
- **Microsoft “Working with AI”** (working-with-ai) — Microsoft Research. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/
- **“GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.)** (arXiv 2303.10130) — OpenAI / academic. https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130
- **AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE)** (Felten, Raj & Seamans) — academic. https://github.com/AIOE-Data/AIOE
- **Frey & Osborne (2013)** (frey-osborne-automation) — academic. https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-future-of-employment/
- **Dingel & Neiman (2020)** (dingel-neiman-workathome) — academic. https://github.com/jdingel/DingelNeiman-workathome

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_Generated from Singulariki's joined dataset; data snapshot 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-17-3027-01_