Electrification has created one of the most fast-paced periods of development OEMs have ever experienced, and with it has brought a whole host of new challenges when it comes to skills and recruitment.  

What skills are in demand 

The kind of skills OEMs are recruiting for largely depends on which kind of approach to technological development they are taking.  You can find out all about this in our latest insight report here.

Where OEMs are developing new technologies, they are often choosing to upskill their existing workforce by redeploying them so that they can work on EV components as well as the ICE technology they are used to. This allows them to retain their existing engineers as well as providing them with a greater breadth of experience. Now this isn’t a foolproof method and sometimes it doesn’t work, so there is still a demand for new engineering talent who have more experience in the electric space. 

OEMs who are partnering with supplies are finding themselves needing to employ fresh skills. Strategic partnerships require liaison between the OEM and the manufacturer so talent who have credible knowledge on the areas the suppliers work in is critical. Plus, negotiation and interpersonal skills become increasingly important where partnerships are present as candidates need to be able to effectively communicate externally to the business as well as internally. 

Finally, those who are buying technologies are in a similar position, requiring people to liaise directly with manufacturers. This can often mean a whole new job type appears, which brings us on to… 

New roles are being created 

OEMs are finding themselves having to employ role types that they previously may not have had the need for. For example, the people they employ to liaise with suppliers will be working in a capacity not dissimilar to a Project Manager.  

It’s not as easy as finding someone with project management experience, though. These roles are tricky as the person doing it isn’t physically doing the engineering, but they need to have knowledge or experience of doing it so that they are able to advise appropriately. Essentially, OEMs are looking for people who have the knowledge of an engineer but the skillset of a Project Manager.  

Our latest report, Electrification and the Skills Impact Part 2 covers this in more detail. You can download it here!

Where are OEMs getting these skills from? 

OEMs are in a saturated market when it comes to skills, competing against each other as well as Motorsports companies and more. Out of the box thinking is required and the result is that a variety of industries are being targeted, including: 

• Motorsports 
• Aviation 
• Defense 
• Energy 
• Consumer Electronics 
• Telecommunications

Are you an OEM who need to expand their team in light of electrification? FMC Auto Innovation can help. Get in touch on adam.stackhouse@fmctalent.com or visit www.fmcautoinnovation.com