Today more than ever truly feels like a crossroads between the ways of yesteryear, and future possibilities. 2005 is as far as way as 2025. Think about that for a second. This crossroads can’t be more evident when looking at the state of the automotive industry.
We’re beginning to see alternative methods of fuel such as electric vehicles and hybrids become more mainstream, and autonomous driving has become a serious conversation as of recent. General Motors realizes this, and while taking steps to fill the company’s needs in these departments, it has listed the top ten jobs of 2025.
“In the automotive industry we have the opportunity to make our technologies impact real change,” said Gary Smyth, executive director, global research and development at General Motors. “Not many other industries can embrace the future so holistically: We have battery chemists, electrical engineers, manufacturing experts, software developers and social media operators all in one industry, working at making our lives easier and more productive.”
The following list has been compiled from various GM employees of different backgrounds but, as you could imagine, engineering is going to play a big role. The top ten jobs listed are as follows:
- Electrical engineers: with electric vehicles and PHEV becoming more commonplace, demand is only expected to grow. GM sees a major need for electrical engineers over the next ten years to explore and develop these vehicles.
- Analytics experts: There’s no hiding from data these days, even behind the wheel. Data can help diagnose problems before things become much more serious, or even pick a better route when navigating. GM says analysts will be needed to create algorithms to decipher how this data can best help drivers.
- Interaction designers: Who are these people? These are the guys and gals who make sure your HVAC controls are placed in the best possible position while driving, and are responsible for incorporating more features into the vehicle’s steering wheel. There job is to keep all operating technology simple, and always in hand’s reach.
- Web programmers: The automobile isn’t a smartphone, but it’s starting to act like one. Web programmers will be needed to allow the next big thing to be connected to cars. As more software is included in cars, more programmers are going to be needed.
- Autonomous driving engineers: Here’s the big one. We’re on the forefront of self-driving cars, and the industry will need people to help hone in this technology. This will also be part of what GM envisions as vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or V2V. This is a world where cars communicate with one another, providing better routes and avoiding crashes. We’ll have our first taste of this technology when Cadillac’s Super Cruise technology debuts on the Cadillac CT6.
- Customer care experts: With all of this new technology, consumers are going to have questions. Those running social media for automotive companies consistently have a direct link with the consumer base, and they’ll need to be as sharp as ever.
- Sustainability integration experts: Sustainability is key in the automotive field. GM already operates 122 plants which produce no garbage waste whatsoever, and more people like that are going to be needed to ensure a greener production process.
- Industrial engineers: Vehicles are mass-produced products. Obviously. Therefore, finding new ways to produce multiple complex products at once will be key in the future, creating less waste, and making operations more efficient.
- 3D printing engineer: The power of 3D printing has just begun to be realized. A part mockup that once took weeks to fabricate can now be created in a few hours. This makes for faster prototyping, and better quality vehicles. People who are at the forefront of this technology will be greatly needed.
- Alternative propulsion engineers: Petroleum, diesel, batteries, fuel cells or something else we haven’t even come across yet, the industry will need bright minds to deliver the latest in how our cars move.