Profession automotive test driver

Automotive test drivers drive prototype and pre-production vehicles and assess their performance, safety and comfort. They test the models in various driving situations and prepare reports to help engineers improve their designs and identify problems. They can work for manufacturers, independent vehicle test organisations or automotive magazines.

Personality Type

• Conventional / Realistic

Knowledge

• Types of vehicles

  Field of information which distinguishes rental agency classification systems, containing types and classes of vehicles and their functioning and components.

• Mechanics

  Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

• Health and safety measures in transportation

  The body of rules, procedures and regulations related to health and safety measures intended to prevent accidents or incidents in transportation.

• Mechanics of motor vehicles

  The way energy forces interact and affect components in motor vehicles such as cars, buses, invalid carriages and other motorised vehicles. 

• Car controls

  The functioning of specific car equipment such as how to operate and handle the clutch, throttle, lighting, instrumentation, transmission and the brakes.

Skills

• Wear appropriate protective gear

  Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.

• Work ergonomically

  Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.

• Drive vehicles

  Be able to drive vehicles; have the approapriate type of driving license according to the type of motor vehicle used.

• Record test data

  Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.

• Perform test run

  Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

• Control the performance of the vehicle

  Understand and anticipate the performance and behaviour of a vehicle. Comprehend concepts such as lateral stability, acceleration, and braking distance.

• Liaise with engineers

  Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB