Chassis Engineering
Learn About Chassis Engineering
Chassis engineering is a division of automotive engineering. For those who are unfamiliar with a vehicle's design, the chassis is the main structure of the vehicle—the frame, drive system, exhaust system, engine, and suspension. For a car to be safe, a chassis must be well designed and able to hug the road.
Chassis engineering, part of automotive engineering, involves the design and creation of a chassis that fits a vehicle's needs. For trucks, the drive system will be much stronger than that in a sedan. In a racecar, the chassis must be highly tuned to be fast, hug the road on curves, and able to take some quick maneuvering. Men and women will gain their four-year college degree in automotive engineering and then often take specialized classes in chassis engineering in order to enter this specific career field.
Most chassis engineering workers opt to with racecars. The demand for chassis engineering professionals is high, but it can be a very competitive market. Those interested in this field should plan to start out on a local level and then work their way up. For some, it can be a struggle to make it to the big leagues like NASCAR, but if they do make it to that level of chassis engineering, the salaries are incredible.
When working in chassis engineering, your schooling will cover specific courses in axles, frame design, suspension systems, springs/shocks, dynamics, weight distribution, tires, roll force, aerodynamics, advanced math, inertia/rolling inertia, and engine tuning. Those in chassis engineering programs must enjoy working with cars because skill working on engines is critical. Chassis engineering is a unique field, but one that most car enthusiasts truly enjoy. Math courses are important, so if you hate math, this might not be a great career choice. Fractions and ratios are extremely important in this career.
