The words “career in the auto industry” may conjure up images of spot welding on an assembly line, but today’s auto industry is so much more than assembly.
There are jobs like developing artificial intelligence for self-driving vehicles, 3D printing parts, creating cyber security programs, developing apps or new ways to pay for vehicles or even more efficient ways of running the business. It’s all about innovation. Yes, there are, and will be, jobs in assembly, and they will require a combination of math skills, some engineering knowledge, and often a college degree.
You can be part of those who will develop and deploy the mobility technologies driving the future, and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is ready to help you find and prepare for one of those jobs.
On January 20-21, for the first time, the Future Automotive Career Exposition will be part of NAIAS. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will belocated in AutoMobili-D in the Cobo Center Atrium overlooking the international waterway and the adjoining Planet M hall. Admission to AutoMobili-D is included with the price of a NAIAS ticket. Up to 500 people can attend the career expo for free by obtaining a FACE ticket at the show.
FACE is a partnership between the Department of Talent and Economic Development, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and NAIAS.
The event will include informational panels and presentations featuring employers, educators and others who can talk about the types of skills in demand, opportunities for training and where the evolving automotive and mobility industries are headed.
“This isn’t a typical career expo, but an excellent opportunity for people to be informed and inspired,” says Roger Curtis, director of the Michigan Department of Talent and Economic Development. “There will be many experts assembled there, excited about what their companies are doing and able to talk about how people interested in automotive and mobility can get started in their fields. There are many great opportunities right here in Michigan for talented people.”
The amount and variety of jobs needed to get a vehicle from the drawing board to the dealership and beyond are staggering. With nearly 80 employers in attendance, the number and variety of job opportunities are impressive.
From Google and its self-driving cars to Uber to attempts to find new fuel sources, the auto industry strives to stay current and relevant in a changing market. That means identifying what new trends it has to follow or set and, most importantly, hiring the people who can make it happen.
With 75 percent of the world’s automotive research done in Michigan, there are numerous job opportunities available with the automakers, suppliers, startups, dealerships and more. The entire supply chain, today and in the future, needs people with science, technology, engineering and math skills. The jobs are waiting.
Part of reason many jobs aren’t being filled is because people don’t know they are available, how to get them or have or have outdated perceptions of modern manufacturing and professional trades. Right now, Michigan employers are looking to fill high-skill jobs in many industries with about 85,000 jobs posted on mitalent.org.
Many of the companies exhibiting at AutoMobili-D are hiring. Applications for employment may be made through each company’s website. Participating companies include:
- A2Mac1 Automotive Benchmarking
- ABC Group, Inc.
- Ainstein Inc.
- AOL AutoBlog
- Aramco Services Company
- Autoliv
- Autotalks
- Blackberry
- Caresoft Global
- Carnegie Mellon University
- CCPIT- Shangrao Changyue EV Auto Co. Ltd.
- CCPIT – Changan Kuayue Cutomobile Co., Ltd
- CCPIT – Cloud Era Investment Group Co. Ltd.
- CCPIT – Chonqing Kuayue (Group) Co. Ltd.
- CCPIT – Leeschs Technology Co., Ltd.
- Celanese
- Clemson University – International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)
- CNET
- Coroplast
- Dassault Systemes
- Delphi Automotive
- DMI
- DropCar
- Eastern Michigan University
- eCharge.work
- EDAG Inc.
- Einride
- Flex
- General Motors
- HARMAN, A Samsung Company
- HELLA
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Hitachi Automotive Systems
- Immotor
- JTEKT North America Corporation
- Karma Automotive
- Kettering University
- Magna International
- Magneti Marelli
- MAHLE
- MEDC/PlanetM
- Michigan State University
- Michigan Technological University
- MIT
- Mobiliti
- Navya Inc
- Nexteer Automotive
- Nissan
- North American Bancard
- Northwood University
- Ohio Smart Mobility
- Ontario – Canada
- OSRAM Opto
- P3 North America
- ParkWhiz
- Phoenix Contact E-Mobility
- ReviverAuto
- Ridecell
- Savari
- Siemens PLM Software
- sitronic North America Corp.
- SME
- Square One Education Network
- Stratasys
- TARDEC
- Techstars
- thyssenkrupp
- Traffic Technology Services
- Transportation Research Center, Inc.
- University of Michigan
- University of Michigan – Solar Car
- University of Michigan-Dearborn
- University of Toronto Electric Vehicle Research Centre
- University of Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research – WatCAR
- URB-E
- Valeo
- Visteon
- VOXXHirschmann Corp.
- Washtenaw Community College
- Wind River
This year when you walk into Cobo to eyeball the new vehicles models you might leave on path to be part of the companies deciding what those cars and trucks will be in the future.
“The way the world views mobility is being reshaped and redefined right here in Michigan,” says Rod Alberts, executive director, NAIAS. “There’s unparalleled research, design, testing and infrastructure development happening right in our backyard.”
Automotive, mobility jobs available, find out more at the North American International Auto Show added by M Lapham on
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