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Mechanical Engineers

Also called: Mechanical Engineer, Design Engineer, Product Engineer, Mechanical Design Engineer

What they do:
Perform engineering duties in planning and designing tools, engines, machines, and other mechanically functioning equipment. Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of equipment such as centralized heat, gas, water, and steam systems.
On the job, you would:
  • Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
  • Assist drafters in developing the structural design of products using drafting tools or computer-assisted design (CAD) or drafting equipment and software.
  • Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, and maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems and processes to meet requirements, applying knowledge of engineering principles.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • product and service development
  • design
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
  • physics
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Math
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
Ideas and Logic
  • order or arrange things
  • use rules to solve problems
Verbal
  • read and understand what is written
  • listen and understand what people say
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Dependability
  • Initiative
  • Cooperation
  • Persistence

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software
  • MAYA Nastran
  • The MathWorks MATLAB
Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD software
  • SolidWorks CAD software
Development environment software
  • Ladder Logic
  • Microsoft Visual Basic

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
master's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$79,230
per year, on average
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Green
This work is part of the green economy.

Explore More

See more details at O*NET OnLine about mechanical engineers.