Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Career Overview
Mechanical Engineers are involved in researching and designing mechanical devices of all types, including tools, engines, and machines. This makes Mechanical Engineering a very broad discipline, as Mechanical Engineers can work in a diverse range of industrial and commercial locations. They may work on electric generators, internal combustion engines, appliances such as refrigerator or air-conditioning units, machine tools, elevators, and even on tools that other types of engineers use in their work. Mechanical Engineers are also employed in agricultural or manufacturing fields, technical sales, and due to the nature of their job, may advance to senior administration or managerial positions.
Mechanical Engineers should have strong analytical skills, and problem-detection and problem-solving skills, and be able to approach new ideas and concepts creatively. The ability to work well both independently and in a team is an essential skill, and good communication and interpersonal skills are also important. Mechanical Engineers will benefit from the ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines, a high level of computer literacy, and good time-management and work prioritization skills.
Mechanical Engineering Training & Education
All careers in Mechanical Engineering require a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. They may also pursue post-graduate study to obtain a Master of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management, or a related subject.
In addition, Mechanical Engineers who offer their services to the public (rather than working within a company) must also obtain licensure, which requires a degree from a school approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, as well as the successful completion of an examination.
Note that obtaining accreditation is not an issue for most Mechanical Engineers, as the majority work for companies. However, those who work on a consultancy basis may require licensure.
Mechanical Engineering Career & Salary
According to US Department of Labor predictions, career opportunities in Mechanical Engineering will grow at a rate of approximately 4% through to the year 2016 (slower than average growth), due to the trend towards downsizing employee numbers in many manufacturing industries. However, job opportunities will be created as a result of new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology. A Mechanical Engineer with these types of skills may find they have a competitive advantage in the job market.
Mechanical Engineers tend to have relatively high starting salaries, with the average college graduate earning at least $45,000 in their first job. The median salary for Mechanical Engineers is $69,000, while at the top end of the range a salary of up to $105,000 can be earned.
Average salary for Mechanical Engineers varies according to their place of work, too. For example, a Mechanical Engineer working in aerospace product and part manufacturing earns an average of $77,000, while a Mechanical Engineer in scientific research and development may earn around $83,000.
Career Fields/Specializations
Mechanical Engineer Career
Mechanical Engineers design, install, and maintain a wide variety of mechanical machinery, equipment and tools. They may work in a range of industries, including:
- Manufacturing
- Transport
- Power
- Construction
- Medical fields
Their work might involve designing and developing prosthetic implants, developing new methods of harnessing different types of energy, or improving industrial manufacturing processes.
The Mechanical Engineer's work involves three main areas: research and development, to develop and test new mechanical technology, the use of computer-aided design tools to model ideas in a 3D environment, and using new developments and designs to improve manufacturing processes.
Mechanical Engineers must have a logical and analytical approach to their work, with excellent problem-detection and problem-solving skills. They should be able to work well both alone and in a team, and be able to work well under pressure to meet deadlines. Good communication and interpersonal skills are also important for Mechanical Engineers.
Machine Design Engineer Career
Machine Design Engineers develop new ideas and technology to improve the efficiency of existing machines, and design new ones. For example, they may be involved in developing new and more efficient machines for industrial manufacturing to improve quality of finished products, or reduce the time taken during a manufacturing cycle.
Machine Design Engineers use techniques such as mathematical modeling and computer-aided design to develop improvements to machines and systems, with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing costs. They must rigorously test their improvements at each stage of development, and will often work through several cycles of testing and modifying their designs before completing a project. The Machine Design Engineer must take into account :
- Efficiency
- Safety
- Usability
- Strength
- Reliability
Machine Design Engineers should have the ability to think both analytically and logically, with strong problem-detecting and problem-solving skills. Good communication skills are also important, as well as the ability to work both independently and in a team. Good time-management and work-prioritization skills are also important for Machine Design Engineers.
Manufacturing Engineer Career
Manufacturing Engineers design and refine manufacturing systems used by large industrial operations. All products must be manufactured, and for most companies the focus is on manufacturing products efficiently and cost-effectively. The Manufacturing Engineer uses their knowledge of production methods and planning, quality control, tool design and computer-aided design, industrial robotics, and other concepts to improve manufacturing systems.
The majority of Manufacturing Engineers work in factories, where they control and improve factory production processes to improve the quality of finished products, increase production efficiency, and reduce production costs. Their work might involve:
- Using computer software to build 3D system models
- Estimating system costs
- Testing and refining system prototypes
- Installing new machinery
- Troubleshooting problems
- Training employees to use new systems and equipment
Manufacturing Engineers should have a logical and analytical approach to both problem-detection and problem-solving, with strong skills in all of these areas. Good communication and interpersonal skills are also important, as Manufacturing Engineers will typically work both independently and as part of a team. Organizational and work-prioritization skills are required too, as well as the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
Project Engineer Career
Project Engineers typically work closely with Project Managers, over the course of executing one or more projects. Their duties may vary according to the specific nature of a given product, but generally center on:
- Planning the work required for a given engineering project
- Organizing a team of workers
- Reviewing plans and budgets
- Providing engineering advice to the Project Manager
Project Engineers have a more managerial-oriented job than many other types of Mechanical Engineer, and therefore must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well as leadership skills and the ability to work with and motivate their team. Excellent analytical, problem-detection and problem-solving skills, as well as good judgment and decision-making skills are also very important for Project Engineers.
Mechanical Design Engineer Career
Mechanical Design Engineers develop new technology to improve the efficiency of machines, or to design new machines for novel purposes. Often their work may involve developing entirely new tools and equipment that must be able to fulfill a certain purpose. For example, they may develop and design new medical instruments, or larger systems such as an automated manufacturing system used for industrial purposes.
Mechanical Design Engineers use mathematical models and computer-aided design tools to develop new mechanical machinery and equipment. Their focus may be on improving existing mechanical machinery to improve efficiency, or on developing entirely new machinery that must be able to operate in a certain way to fulfill the required purpose. The Mechanical Design Engineer’s work typically involves several cycles of development and testing before a given project is completed, and they must take into account factors such as:
- Efficiency
- Usability
- Safety
- Reliability
Mechanical Design Engineers must have excellent problem-detection and problem-solving skills, with the ability to take a logical and analytical approach to these aspects of their work. Communication, time-management, and work-prioritization skills are also important for Mechanical Design Engineers. They must also be able to work well independently and in a team, and be able to prioritize their work effectively to meet deadlines.
