The car of the future is green, can predict traffic jams and drives on autopilot. We are looking for people to develop, further develop and manufacture it - at the car manufacturers themselves as well as at supplier companies.
At first glance, there isn't much that connects Zurich Airport, the Gotthard Tunnel, an MRI machine and a Senseo coffee machine. But: None of them would work without cables - which often come from Leoni, a leading manufacturer of wires, cables and cable systems. However, health technology and infrastructure cables for oil platforms only make up a small part of the business - Leoni generates 75 percent of its sales in the automotive industry. A relationship that reflects the importance of the entire industry: The automotive industry is one of the main pillars of the German economy. It has an annual turnover of around 350 billion euros, and German manufacturers and suppliers invest around 27 billion euros in research and development every year - more than any other industry. The chances of getting a job in the automotive world are good - this applies not only to the car manufacturers themselves, but also to their suppliers, who make up three quarters of the added value of an automobile. Headlights from Hella, cockpit modules from Draxlmaier, window regulators from Brose or tires from Continental – behind every big brand there are countless supplier companies. In the navigation system and audio systems, in the interior lighting, seat heating or electronic seat adjustment - large and small cables run everywhere, Leoni is on board everywhere: "We're sitting at an interesting interface in the car," says Stefan Krug, nanostructure technician and trainee at Leoni. And because the electrical system is a kind of nervous system in the car that connects all areas in the vehicle, the employees are always close to new developments: “Since every technical innovation also has repercussions on the electrical system, we are involved in innovations at an early stage,” says Jug. And there is a lot going on. Driven by changing consumer habits and growing environmental awareness, two major trends are emerging in the automotive industry that are increasingly merging together: environmentally friendly and intelligent driving. The topic of safety also remains current: “New gadgets such as distance warning radar, head-up display, surround view or tire pressure sensors are also important here,” says Sandra Courant from the Association of the German Automotive Industry (VDA).
INNOVATION AS A GOAL
But what progress is still possible in areas such as materials, alternative forms of drive, electromobility and networking? How do you make the models even lighter and more fuel-efficient? And who can answer these questions? Stefan Krug became enthusiastic about this industry from an early age, which literally moves people. While he was studying in Würzburg, he was already on the assembly line doing internships at car manufacturers. As a trainee, he now runs through various areas of the Research & Development department at Leoni-Bordnetzsysteme GmbH, is involved in pre-development in the central department as well as in the laboratory for release certification - and appreciates the breadth of his work. After all, an electrical system in a Dacia has to work just as well as in an Aston Martin.
E FOR ELECTRIC
As a nanostructure engineer, Krug sees a turning point, particularly in the area of electromobility. Because an electric vehicle does not have an internal combustion engine, high-voltage cables run over the on-board network instead of standard cables as before. »So you need much higher voltages of more than 100 volts - so far a 12-volt battery has done it. This is a new technical dimension." His colleagues are also working on the development of alternative conductor materials that could help reduce the weight of the cable set: "Whether the cable set weighs 50 or 20 kilograms makes a big difference," says Robert Manger, who works at Leoni Global Recruiting & HR Marketing leads: Less weight means less CO2 consumption. The Germans are still lagging behind in the development and production of environmentally friendly electric and hybrid drives. But the environmental issues in the automotive industry have long been a political matter: According to the federal government, there should be one million electric cars on Germany's roads by 2020. So far, however, there is still a lot of catching up to do in international comparison. Other countries, for example, support electric vehicles with money or special rights: In Norway, for example, owners of an electric car are allowed to use the bus lane, and anyone who buys an electronic Tesla model in California receives up to $10,000 in state support. In Germany, electric cars are usually only seen in rural areas and smaller cities; behind the wheel are typically technology-savvy private customers with a strong environmental awareness - and money. Electric vehicles are still far too expensive for most consumers. After all, according to the Fraunhofer Institute, the trend is moving from off-road vehicles and SUVs to smaller bodies. A development to which the industry is also reacting. According to its 'Think blue' initiative, VW wants to be the most sustainable car manufacturer in the world by 2018, which means offering the car with the best CO2 balance in every segment.
RIDE AND SHARE
The best way to save CO2 is still not to use any in the first place. In fact, fewer and fewer people are getting their driver's license, a car is no longer seen as a status symbol and, especially in big cities, the following applies: if you have a car, then it's 'to go'. Daimler responded to this consumption pattern early on with its 'Car2Go', as did BMW with 'DriveNow' and Peugeot with the 'Mu' car sharing model. VW's 'Quicar' is a mixture of these concepts: You register online, get a seal on your driving license in the shop, book via app or internet and open the car using a chip. And at this point, job prospects with new focuses open up. Most companies in the industry are still looking for graduates of traditional training and study programs such as industrial engineers, automotive technicians or mechanical engineers. In addition to designers and marketing experts, the companies are also recruiting experts in modern information technology. According to the VDA, software developers, sensor and electronics specialists in particular have good prospects.
ALL BY YOURSELF
These experts could also promote another trend that is within reach: the car without a driver. Audi actively promoted this idea, says Jessica Geutner, Head of 'Audi Employer Branding'. She believes that piloted driving will fundamentally change the way we drive cars: “We have just demonstrated the 'piloted driving concept' at the Hockenheimring. The Audi RS7 circled the Grand Prix circuit – at racing speed, without a driver. That really impressed me." Also because the synchronization of driving data and the constant networking of the piloted vehicles with each other and with the surrounding area could prevent traffic jams and thus relieve the burden on the environment. “A real win-win situation,” says Geutner. “This technology also makes road traffic safer.”
MULTI AND MINT
In order to further develop innovations that increase efficiency, Audi wants to increase staff, particularly in technical development and production, for example where alternative drives such as the Audi e-tron and g-tron are involved. Environmental issues, IT and mobility are becoming more and more intertwined, says Jessica Geutner: “We are in greater demand than ever for IT people, especially when it comes to networked mobility.” IT people, yes, but no nerds please – HR managers at manufacturers and suppliers agree on that: Even if the demand for MINT graduates remains unbroken, soft skills are of course part of the applicant profile. Engineers should also be able to work in a team, work independently and with commitment. And: “An engineer who cannot sell his idea will reach its limits in large companies,” says Audi employee Geutner. Candidates could also score points with extracurricular involvement. Good grades are welcome, “but in the end the overall package has to be right.”
BEYOND THE PLATE
This package increasingly includes foreign experience and foreign language skills, says Robert Manger from Leoni: “We also expect commercial and intercultural know-how from the engineers. « After all, the majority of Leoni employees work at production sites in countries such as Romania, Tunisia, Morocco, Mexico, Brazil and China. In Germany, innovative minds are particularly in demand, and the potential is far from being exhausted at other companies in the industry: According to the Fraunhofer Institute, German car manufacturers are world leaders when it comes to efficient combustion engines - but are lagging behind when it comes to electric and hybrid drives. But no matter whether the car of the future is borrowed or shared, runs with or without fuel and a driver - it always needs people to make it. Of course, Leoni's cable sets have long been created in 3D programs on the computer. “But prototypes are sometimes built in the workshop and it can happen that you have to pick up the soldering iron yourself,” says trainee Stefan Krug.
editorial@uniglobale.com
Related articles:
- Working in the Internet of Things
- “Understanding how things work”
- Much more than white coats
- Brandenburg offers interesting career opportunities
- Get in please!
- Theory meets practice – dual study with Lidl as a training partner
- We asked – careers in retail
- How private labels became very hot
- Career at the EU
- The off-voices of EU politics
The car of the future is green, can predict traffic jams and drives on autopilot. We are looking for people to develop, further develop and manufacture it - at the car manufacturers themselves as well as at supplier companies. At first glance, there isn't much that connects Zurich Airport, the Gotthard Tunnel, an MRI machine and a Senseo coffee machine. But: They would all be without cables
