Will AI replace Automotive Engineering Technicians?
AI reaches some of this job’s work, but most of it stays with people.
24/100
Moderate exposure
More exposed to AI than 41% of US workers.
- AI already used in
- 13% of the work
- As AI tools mature: up to
- 36% of the work
What the job involves
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.
Where AI reaches the work
The job’s main tasks, heaviest first, by how far AI reaches them.
Already happening(2)
- Document test results, using cameras, spreadsheets, documents, or other tools.
- Read and interpret blueprints, schematics, work specifications, drawings, or charts.
Within reach(4)
- Monitor computer-controlled test equipment, according to written or verbal instructions.
- Analyze test data for automotive systems, subsystems, or component parts.
- Order new test equipment, supplies, or replacement parts.
- 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.
Out of reach(12)
- Set up mechanical, hydraulic, or electric test equipment in accordance with engineering specifications, standards, or test procedures.
- Install equipment, such as instrumentation, test equipment, engines, or aftermarket products, to ensure proper interfaces.
- Inspect or test parts to determine nature or cause of defects or malfunctions.
- 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.
and 7 more
Also called
Laboratory Technician (Lab Technician) · Research Technician · Automotive Design Checker (Auto Design Checker) · Auto Design Checker · Automotive Engineering Technician · Automotive Technician (Auto Technician) · Auto Technician · Automotive Test Technician (Auto Test Technician)
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What these numbers mean
The score is the share of this job’s work, weighted by how important and frequent each task is, that AI could do in half the time: tasks an AI model could do alone count in full, tasks that need software built on AI count half.
“AI already used” is the share of the work in tasks where people are recorded using AI today. “As AI tools mature” counts every task AI could halve, with or without extra software.
The percentile compares the score with every job’s, weighted by how many people in the US do each one. Exposure means AI could change how the work is done, not that the job goes away. These are estimates for the typical job, not predictions.
Sources
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
- GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs (task labels), Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), OpenAI and University of Pennsylvania
- Anthropic Economic Index: labor market impacts (task penetration), Anthropic
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national and metropolitan areas), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics