Autonomous Vehicles

How to Get Started

The Autonomous Vehicles industry is rapidly growing and is expected to bring tens of thousands of jobs to Southeast Michigan. These range not only from manufacturing, but to other fields such as software engineering, industrial design, civil engineering, and much more.

With the many colleges and training programs in our region, you can gain the skills and qualifications needed to land a career in this growing industry! Download the guide for a detailed summary of the different jobs, pay, and education needed.

Entry level opportunities in Connected and Automated Vehicles:

Mechanical Drafters (17-3013.00)

Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, fastening methods, and other engineering information.

14 Annual openings

$25.70 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians (17-3023.00)

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, calibrate, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

24 Annual openings

$25.70 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Mechanical Engineering Technicians (17-3027.00)

Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, test, or calibrate machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

28 Annual openings

$24.88 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Engineering Technicians (17-3029.00)

All engineering technicians, except drafters, not listed separately. Includes: Non-destructive Testing Specialists (17- 3029.01), Electrical Engineering Technologists (17-3029.02), Electromechanical Engineering Technologists (17-3029.03), Electronics Engineering Technologists (17-3029.04), Industrial Engineering Technologists (17-3029.05), Manufacturing Engineering Technologists (17-3029.06), Mechanical Engineering Technologists (17-3029.07), Photonics Technicians (17-3029.08), Manufacturing Production Technicians (17-3029.09), Fuel Cell Technicians (17-3029.10), Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists (17-3029.11), and Nanotechnology Engineering Technicians (17-3029.12).

28 Annual openings

$26.69 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Electricians (47-2111.00)

Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

167 Annual openings

$29.82 median hourly wage

High School diploma paired with apprenticeship preferred

Team Assemblers (51-2092.00)

Work as part of a team having responsibility for assembling an entire product or component of a product. Team assemblers can perform all tasks conducted by the team in the assembly process and rotate through all or most of them rather than being assigned to a specific task on a permanent basis. May participate in making management decisions affecting the work. Includes team leaders who work as part of the team.

170 Annual openings

$21.61 median hourly wage

Some college proffered, no experience ok

Computer User Support Specialists (15-1151.00)

Provide technical assistance to computer users. Answer questions or resolve computer problems for clients in person, or via telephone or electronically. May provide assistance concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, installation, word processing, electronic mail, and operating systems.

170 Annual openings

$21.61 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Computer Network Support Specialists (15-1152.00)

Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), and Internet systems or a segment of a network system. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.

36 Annual openings

$29.25 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred, entry level

Life, Physical and Social Science Technicians, All Other (19-4099.00)

439 Annual openings

$14.43 median hourly wage

Associates Degree preferred

Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers (51-9061.00)

Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

267 Annual openings

$15.79 median hourly wage

High School Diploma

Computer Operators (43-9011.00)

Monitor and control electronic computer and peripheral electronic data processing equipment to process business, scientific, engineering, and other data according to operating instructions. Monitor and respond to operating and error messages. May enter commands at a computer terminal and set controls on computer and peripheral devices.

12 Annual openings

$14.27 median hourly wage

High School Diploma

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (11-3071.00)

Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.

17 Annual openings

$51.01 median hourly wage

High School Diploma with 5+ years of experience

Civil Engineering (17-3022.00)

Perform engineering duties in planning, designing, and overseeing construction and maintenance of building structures, and facilities, such as roads, railroads, airports, bridges, harbors, channels, dams, irrigation projects, pipelines, power plants, and water and sewage systems.

14 Annual openings

$27.69 median hourly wage

Associates Degree

Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (49-9052.00)

Install and repair telecommunications cable, including fiber optics.

10 Annual openings

$21.49 median hourly wage

High School Diploma paired with long-term on-the-job training

Want to learn more about training opportunities for Connected and Automated Vehicles?