What does a vehicle mechatronics technician do on the job?

A motor vehicle mechatronics technician is a specialist in vehicle technology and mechanics. It is a job title for people who deal with the repair, maintenance and servicing of motor vehicles. 

Is that enough of an explanation? No, of course not! You can't really understand a job in two lines and that's why this article is broken down into paragraphs and provides bullet points, examples and also the usual day of an automotive mechatronics technician so you can understand what exactly this job entails in Germany - including a paragraph focusing on the apprenticeship if you're willing to do one (or thinking about a lateral entry opportunity in this field).

What are the tasks of an automotive mechatronics technician?

As an automotive mechatronics technician, you will have a wide range of tasks and activities in the automotive industry. Here are some of the main tasks you will perform in this profession:

• Diagnosis and troubleshooting
• Maintenance and inspection
• Vehicle repair
• Electronic and electrical work
• Customer advisory service

These tasks require technical know-how, manual dexterity and the ability to work independently and precisely. As an automotive mechatronics technician, you are part of a team in a vehicle workshop or car dealership and make a significant contribution to the mobility and safety of vehicles.

What is everyday life like as an automotive mechatronics technician?

A typical day as an automotive mechatronics technician begins at 7:30 a.m. with a team meeting at which the tasks are distributed. At 8:00 a.m., you start with the inspection of the first customer vehicle (before that, of course, transportation to the workshop) - oil change, brake check and visual inspection of the engine. Later, you fix an electronic fault by replacing the alternator and possibly explaining the repair to the customer. The hefty bill of €400+ is then usually taken care of by an office worker. 

After the lunch break at 12:30, you take care of a car with starting problems, find a loose cable and fix the problem. But the car has a little surprise in store for you: rust! So first you document it and let the customer know. Your working day ends at around 4:30 pm, after you have carried out a brief check on another vehicle.

Your workplace can be in a vehicle workshop, a car dealership or an industrial company. It is important that you work carefully, precisely and responsibly to ensure the safety and functionality of the vehicles.

Generally, you'll work in a team and have direct customer contact - and to be honest, you'll either love that or hate it (or hate it at the same time). If you hate dealing with people and you're lucky, you'll find a colleague or your master mechanic to take the customer contact off your hands - so you can just focus on the vehicles! In large garages, it is also more common for office staff to take care of direct customer contact.

What are the special requirements for training as an automotive mechatronics technician?

If you are reading this article because you are about to decide to do an apprenticeship in the automotive sector, this part will interest you the most.

There are certain requirements and prerequisites to complete an apprenticeship as a motor vehicle mechatronics technician . These include:

• Minimum age of 16 years (depending on country and education system)
• Usually at least a lower secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent educational qualification
• Particularly important: Interest and affinity for vehicle technology
• Craftsmanship and technical understanding
• Good knowledge of mathematics and physics
• Reliability and a sense of responsibility
• Teamwork and communication skills
• Physical fitness and resilience

The automotive industry is also affected by the shortage of skilled workers in Germany: Trained automotive mechatronics technicians are now in high demand!As a result, formal qualifications no longer count as much as they used to for training companies. So regardless of whether you have a secondary school leaving certificate or not, if you are genuinely interested in training, nothing stands in the way of a career as a car mechanic!

Find jobs as a car mechatronics technician

Are you an automotive mechatronics technician and want to discover new career prospects? Then WorkerHero is the right place for you! We offer you the opportunity to search specifically for exciting jobs as an automotive mechatronics technician and advance your career.

Simply enter your location and your desired criteria such as working hours, salary and field of activity and find suitable job opportunities in your region or throughout Germany.

WorkerHero makes it easy for you to find automotive mechatronics technician jobs. You'll find a wide range of job opportunities, from small garages in Wendemark (Greater Hanover area) to large international commercial vehicle manufacturers. - You can also create an individual profile in which you present your qualifications and professional experience. This gives companies the opportunity to contact you directly and send you tailor-made job offers. Our specially trained team will also contact you as soon as your profile matches a new vacancy. Together we will then find out whether the job matches your preferences.

FAQ:

Here you will find all questions on the subject of automotive mechatronics:

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What is the annual salary as an automotive mechatronics technician?

As an automotive mechatronics technician, your annual salary is around €32,900 (Stepstone, 2024). How much car mechanics earn depends on the exact industry, federal state and your work experience. It also plays a role whether the company is bound by collective agreements and how many employees there are. 

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How long does training as a vehicle mechatronics technician take? 

Training as a motor vehicle mechatronics technician usually takes 3.5 years. Your training salary as a motor vehicle mechatronics technician starts at around 700 euros and 980 euros gross per month (Stepstone, 2024) in the first year and increases each year.