Mechanical Engineers

design equipment system operation investigative application computer research machine software

Design Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Product Engineer, Project 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.
  • Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
  • Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology

  • design
  • product and service development

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

  • manufacture and distribution of products

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • reading work related information

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

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Math

  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide

Visual Understanding

  • see hidden patterns

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Integrity
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Dependability
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

  • Minitab
  • The MathWorks MATLAB Hot Technology

Instant messaging software

  • Blink

Computer aided design CAD software

  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Hot Technology
  • Autodesk Revit Hot Technology In Demand

Education

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

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about mechanical engineers.