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Mechanical Engineer

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Mechanical Engineers design and create devices to solve a problem. For practically every technological device ever created, there are mechanical engineers responsible for creating it. A Mechanical Engineer will:

  • Research
  • Design
  • Develop
  • Build
  • and Test

a device (such as a tool, engine, machine, etc). Furthermore, they often design and oversee the manufacturing of their products as well. Keep on reading below to understand Mechanical Engineering within minutes.

 

What kinds of Mechanical Engineer Jobs are there?

There are many different industries for those with a Mechanical Engineering background. For example, below are some common specializations in which a Mechanical Engineer can work and create devices (list partially inspired by Jake Voorhees).
  • Aerospace – related to planes, rockets, space transportation/exploration companies, etc.
  • Automotive – related to cars, vehicles, transportation, etc.
  • Biomedical – artificial limbs, artificial valves, surgical assistance, etc.
  • Built Environment – heating, ventilation, air conditioning, smoke vent systems, etc.
  • Chemical – often involved in the production materials used in the chemical industry like pipework, pumps, ovens, robots that aid in production processes, etc.
  • Consumer Goods – of or related to the manufacturing and production of consumer goods. A bit broader skill set exposure.
  • Defense – of or related to the military, and tools/facilities they use.
  • Marine – engines, boilers, and other tools and devices for ships
  • Oil and Gas – work with energy companies. Build devices or systems for the storage, transportation, and usage of the energy source.
  • Power Generation – build and maintain structures and systems that collect, contain and transfer energy (solar, wind turbines, etc.)
  • Rail – railroad-related businesses
In general, engineers usually stay in one specialization for the majority of their careers. You can switch early on, but after 5-10 years you become an expert in your specialization, and people often elect to remain in the same industry.
 

What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do?

Mechanical Engineers almost always work in teams. On a normal day, one collaborates with their team members on the specific project at hand. Typically, a project will have a few key milestones and you’ll be working toward meeting each of these milestones (while regularly sharing progress with your project manager).

 

Some daily activities include:

  • Work with mechanics and users to understand the problem, and how a product/device/part currently works (so that you can address the problem and fix it).
  • Create or review technical drawings (aka design of a product, tool, machine, part, etc.)
  • Design parts or other objects in CAD (computer-aided design) software
  • Create Prototypes of parts you designed and test them 
  • Research and monitor the performance of parts you created

Mechanical Engineer Project Workflow:

Mechanical Engineers might be involved in just one or two of the following processes (sometimes all of them), but below are some examples of their main responsibilities and the order in which they occur for a typical project:

 
 

Example of a Mechanical Engineering Project:

A common project might be improving the design of a part, tool, or other objects. The process might go as follows:

  1. The project begins with being notified that the existing design of a part (of a device) has a flaw or can be improved. You’d usually be given a series of complaints or data regarding its failure.
  2. Need to understand the flaws and failures of the existing design. 
  3. Conduct research on how the part is currently being used, how it fails, and what things you must design around (ergonomics, size, fit with other parts, etc). 
  4. Once you have an idea of what the current problems are, you start thinking about how you might make improvements.
  5. You’ll usually come up with a few solutions, and design them in a CAD (computer aided design) software so you can visualize and design the details.
  6. Generally, you’ll have the opportunity to 3D print your new designs and test how they fit and how well it works. In this first testing phase, you can be very creative and try as many ideas as you like.
  7. From here, you work with another engineer, plan how to build these parts, and decide the best materials to use to make it.
  8. Once all these processes are complete, the findings are shared with the team and leadership. Then, after everyone is in agreement, the designs are built according to your specification and is used in the real world.

Furthermore, you’ll sometimes have the opportunity to create parts or tools that are completely new and original. You’ll usually be given a list of limitations, and take time to come up with solutions for this unique challenge (while staying within the bounds of limitations). The general process remains the same, but research, design, and testing phases will typically be longer.

Typical MechE Hierarchy:

While this varies from company to company, a typical promotional path looks as follows:
career hierarchy mechanical engineer

Are there different types of “Mechanical Engineers”?

Mechanical engineering can be very broad. We discussed several industries in an earlier section that Mechanical Engineers work in. Furthermore, below is a list of other similar engineering titles (technically included in the mechanical engineering umbrella):

  • Mechanical Design Engineer -generally focused on the design of parts and tools.
  • Manufacturing Engineer -generally focused on how to build parts and tools.
  • Aerodynamics Engineer -generally focused on how things move through the air and water.
  • Powertrain Engineer – generally focused on how to build engines.
  • Process Engineer – generally focused on automating processes and making a manufacturing process better and faster.
  • Mechatronics Engineer – generally focused on how electrical and mechanical components work together (think robots!)

Some general examples of tools/methodologies a Mechanical Engineer uses

  • Computer-Aided Design (CAD)/computer software – used to help visualize and make changes to the design of a part, tool, machine, etc. before creating it in the real world.
  • 3D printers – to print the design and get the correct fit (see how it fits/looks in 3D rather than on paper/on a computer). You use this before creating it with the actual material.
  • Documents – to track and manage specific instructions and deliverables (material that needs to be completed and how to create it)
  • Excel – for data management and organization.
  • Powerpoint – for presentations and graphics that might be needed

Necessary skills/experience to be a successful Mechanical Engineer:

  • Engineering degree – need to have graduated from a college/university
  • Math and science skills/interests – will need to use both when working on projects.
  • Creativity – to properly identify product solutions to problems that arise
  • Team player – will usually be working on a team and need to communicate your findings, progress, and collaborate to complete a task.

What are some challenges of working in Mechanical Engineering?

  • A lot of pressure to not improperly make a tool, part, product, machine, etc. If you miscalculate or are careless it can not only be costly but dangerous to those that use it.
  • Can have an unpredictable workload – if you need to complete an urgent project, you might have to work quite hard to get it complete well, and on time.
  • As a mechanical engineer you almost always work on a project with a team. As a result, you need to depend on and collaborate efficiently with team members (who sometimes can be difficult to work with).

What are some benefits of working in Mechanical Engineering?

  • There always is demand for Mechanical Engineers – where you see technological innovation, you will find a mechanical engineer to design, develop, and test the product, tool, part, machine, etc.
  • A lot of options – can choose from many industries or disciplines with a mechanical engineering background.
  • Exciting, cutting-edge work – You get to be innovative, and create tools and devices that shape the future. 
  • Strong compensation 
  • Usually a good work/life balance – generally not long hours, but depends on the company you work for.

Typical Salary?

Salaries for Mechanical Engineering tend to be strong but vary depending on the industry and company you work for. The average salary for an entry-level mechanical engineer can range anywhere from $60k – $140k.

 

According to Indeed, the average Mechanical Engineering salary in the USA is about $89k.

 

Should I go into Mechanical Engineering?

Mechanical Engineering at its most basic level is all about looking at a problem, understanding the challenges, and coming up with a clever solution. People who are creative and like math and science excel in this career path. There is a wide range of industries and projects available to mechanical engineers. Meaning, you have many options and have the opportunity to choose a project that excites you.

 

If designing, developing, and monitoring the creation of devices/tools that shape the future sound interesting to you, and you enjoy the hands-on work of engineering, you should look further into Mechanical Engineering careers.

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