Driverless Car Engineers
Overview
Introduction
Driverless car engineers apply their knowledge of specialized software and engineering to design and improve on the operating systems and controls of self-driving automobiles. They may work for start-up companies or for established automotive companies, both of which types are developing autonomous cars. There are more than 1.46 million software developers employed in the U.S.
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Driverless car engineers are typically paid high wages due to their specialized knowledge and experience. Autonomous Vehicle Systems Engineers employed in the U.S. in April 2021 earned an average salary of $102,837, according to PayScale.com. Software engineers earned an average base salary of $87,146 in May 2021. Base salaries ranged from $63,000 or less to $137,000 or more, including bonuses,...
Work Environment
Driverless car engineers work on computers in offices, in research labs, and at autonomous vehicle test sites. They work independently as well as in teams with other engineers. They work business hours and typically 40 hours or more per week. They may work evenings, weekends, and during holidays to meet project deadlines. The work can be rewarding, particularly because automated vehicles is a n...
Outlook
The outlook for the global automated vehicle industry is brightening, and therefore good opportunities are predicted for driverless car engineers. The coronavirus pandemic caused slower growth than expected in this industry in 2020, with a 3 percent decline over the previous year due to the economic slowdown, according to the research group Statista. The containment of the pandemic and economic...