Mechanical Engineer
A mechanical engineer is a professional who specializes in the design, development, testing, and maintenance of mechanical systems and equipment, including engines and machines. They play a crucial role in various industries, working alongside physicists, chemists, and other engineers to create complex mechanical systems such as transportation vehicles and heating and cooling devices. Their responsibilities often involve the development of automated systems and the application of innovative materials to improve efficiency.
Mechanical engineers typically operate in diverse environments such as factories, laboratories, and offices, where they engage in collaborative projects with multidisciplinary teams. Effective communication is vital, as they must articulate technical ideas clearly to colleagues and stakeholders. Education paths for mechanical engineers usually require a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, with many pursuing advanced degrees for further specialization. This field attracts individuals who enjoy solving technological challenges and applying scientific principles to practical problems, making it a dynamic and rewarding career choice.
Mechanical Engineer
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Architecture & Construction, Manufacturing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Interests: Mechanics, science, design, technology
Earnings (Yearly Median): $96,3100 per year $46.31 per hour
Employment & Outlook: 10% (Much faster than average)
Entry-Level Education Bachelor's degree
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training None
Overview
Sphere of Work. Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining mechanical equipment such as engines and machines, taking into account the ways in which temperature, energy expenditure, and other forces will affect the product materials while a device is in operation. These engineers are often involved in the development of automated systems using robotic technology and the production of transportation vehicles, heating and cooling devices, and other complex mechanical systems. Mechanical engineers work with physicists, chemists, and engineers in other fields to meet design and performance needs for diverse consumer products. They apply their expertise to meet evolving needs and develop better materials to refine mechanical technology and achieve optimum efficiency.
Work Environment. Depending on the specific projects they are assigned, mechanical engineers may interact with engineers and scientists from a wide range of disciplines. Each person involved in product design and development might specialize in a particular type of machinery, such as a specific component of automobiles or ventilation equipment, to which they devote time in laboratories, factories, and test facilities to improve the design and performance.
Mechanical engineers rely on effective communication, both verbal and written, to coordinate their unique ideas and strategies with colleagues, managers, and technicians. They also consider consumer input regarding needs and proposed uses for products created, as well as accessibility and ease of operation.
Occupation Interest. Mechanical engineers are innovative individuals who are competent in scientific and technical fields and consider technological challenges appealing. They typically enjoy finding solutions to meet the various demands posed by industrial employers and consumers, creating the best designs to perform specific functions successfully, safely, affordably, and efficiently.
Schools and other educational institutions can prepare students to enter the field of mechanical engineering by developing curricula that emphasize basic technical proficiency and offer engineering and science electives which enhance the skills and insights of aspiring engineers.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Mechanical engineers perform diverse tasks, including designing, programming, and project managing, depending on their credentials and the employers who need their services. These engineers apply their ingenuity in such areas as structural analysis, mechanical design, and systems manufacturing for corporations such as Boeing and government agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Specific project goals determine how mechanical engineers conduct their daily tasks, whether in office buildings, factories, or other sites. Many devote part of their time to meeting with managers, colleagues, and clients to establish how a project should proceed. Mechanical engineers are often responsible for determining the budgets for specific projects. Sometimes, these engineers are tasked with evaluating how their innovations might affect the environment and implementing measures to limit emissions and energy consumption. They consult with colleagues, both mechanical engineers and representatives of other specialties, when necessary. Mechanical engineers may also create computer software to aid them in assessing their manufacturing systems. Many mechanical engineers work to improve the safety and quality standards for new technology set by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
Mechanical engineers working for universities are responsible for preparing engineering-specific curricula and guiding students in their course choices and research projects. Engineers who patent devices or processes may spend time seeking investors to fund their research and help them manufacture and sell their products. Some mechanical engineers assist government officials, including members of the US Congress and the White House Office of Science and Technology, by advising leaders regarding mechanical engineering issues that affect federal policies addressing safety, environmental, or economic concerns.
Utilization Engineers (007.061-034). Utilization Engineers solve engineering problems concerned with the industrial utilization of gas as a source of power.
Plant Engineers (007.167-014). Plant Engineers direct and coordinate activities relating to the design, construction, and maintenance of equipment and machinery in an industrial plant.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Mechanical engineers may work in a variety of facilities, including factories, colleges and universities, laboratories, and corporate or government offices. Many mechanical engineers use laboratories equipped with advanced computerized systems to aid them in designing and analyzing prototypes. Test sites enable mechanical engineers to evaluate and adjust products in appropriate settings, such as paved tracks for vehicle assessments.
Human Environment. Lower-level mechanical engineers typically work under the supervision of their more experienced counterparts, while experienced engineers often perform managerial roles, overseeing multiple projects and employees at a site. Engineers often collaborate in teams with scientific and engineering colleagues, technicians, and interns. Mechanical engineers may also meet with business advisers.
Technological Environment. Mechanical engineers use diverse technologies, ranging from basic communications technology to advanced computer software and hardware, that are essential to performing their tasks. They may also use handheld tools when testing or maintaining mechanical equipment.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. While attending high school, students interested in pursuing careers in mechanical engineering should enroll in available science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classes to learn fundamental scientific and technical concepts and to improve computer proficiency. Students also can acquire practical engineering experience by joining clubs in their schools or communities, such as the Boy and Girl Scouts and 4-H, to earn robotics merit badges, participate in science and engineering programs, and enter competitions such as the FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition.
Science fairs, camps, extension courses, and internships offer students access to mechanical engineering professionals and experiences, which can provide them with the opportunity to explore various aspects of mechanical engineering research. Engineers Week activities, often hosted by universities, help teenagers gain awareness of professional opportunities. ASME has sponsored the lesson plan “Heroes of Engineering: Design Challenges” for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Postsecondary. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited program is required for employment as a mechanical engineer. Such programs typically teach basic engineering courses in addition to thermodynamics, hydraulics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and robotics. Many mechanical engineers also pursue advanced degrees, such as master’s or doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering. Engineering students investigate in-depth subjects relevant to specific aspects of mechanical engineering, such as the role of vibrations and heat transfer, that they intend to pursue professionally.
Students may also pursue internships or cooperative education jobs, which enable them to experience professional situations and meet potential employers. Many students participate in mechanical engineering competitions at their universities or at contests sponsored by state and national engineering organizations.
Related Occupations
− Electrical & Electronics Engineer
− Marine Engineer & Naval Architect
− Water & Wastewater Engineer
Bibliography
“Mechanical Engineers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.
“Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022: 17-2141 Mechanical Engineers.” Occupational Employment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 25 Apr. 2023, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172141.htm. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023.